The Dilin Duwa Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership sits on Wurundjeri Land, and it is sustained by the commitment of both the Indigenous leaders who created it, and students and researchers who are empowered by it today. This premise is at the heart of not just the Centre’s philosophy, but also its name.
‘Dilin Duwa’ means ‘everlasting flow’ in the Woi Wurrung language, a designation gifted to the Centre by the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation and Elder Aunty Gail Smith. The Dilin Duwa Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership grew out of the success of the MURRA program, an idea developed at the Melbourne Business School by co-founders Professor Ian Williamson and Associate Professor Michelle Evans.
The overall intention of the program was to help Indigenous Australians break new ground in the business world. MURRA was developed by drawing on experiences Professor Williamson had gained from innovative programs he had been involved in throughout North America.
“What started as an innovative business education program has transformed into an innovation in community building,” he said.
Launch of the Centre
Following the growth of the MURRA program, a round table was organised in 2019 to consider a concept that had been discussed over many cups of tea – the foundation of a National Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership. Two years later, and in the wake of a global pandemic, Dilin Duwa was launched, with MURRA co-founder Associate Professor Michelle Evans at the helm as Director.
She continues in that role today.
"The best way for the university sector to improve Indigenous economic inclusion is to offer access to business education, no matter where people are located," Associate Professor Evans said at the time of launch. The Centre is a joint initiative between the Faculty of Business and Economics and the Melbourne Business School.
The MURRA program evolved to become Dilin Duwa’s flagship business program, and continues to empower participants to build on their business experience, create and lead initiatives within the community, and assume leadership roles.
Bringing business to everyone
“A key aim of Dilin Duwa’s work is the democratisation of our Indigenous business education offerings,” said Dr Ashlen Francisco, Lecturer in Indigenous Communities.
No matter where people are located, they will be able to acquire the tools and support necessary to start and stay on their business journey.
Dr Ashlen Francisco
This desire to bring business knowledge to everyone in the Indigenous community has driven Dilin Duwa’s commitment to work in regional centres. Recent Regional Business Series programs in Mpartwe (Alice Springs), Rubibi (Broome), Kannygoopna (Shepparton) and Yarrabah have reinforced that the Centre’s engagement and impact extends to Country far past the borders of Naarm (Melbourne).
Building an ecosystem
The Centre uses three ‘streams’ to provide structure to work and evaluate their success. The first stream, Programs, goes back to the Centre’s roots, and covers both MURRA and the Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Business Leadership.
Research, the second stream, covers the Centre’s study of the Indigenous economy, policy and Indigenous economic empowerment as well as the impact that the socio-cultural legacies within our society and history have on the economy. The final stream focuses on Engagement – harnessing the Centre’s ability to build a community and an economic ecosystem that can continue to drive change.
On the research front, the Centre is currently engaged in six different projects, most notably the annual Indigenous Economic Power Project, which released its third annual snapshot earlier this year.
Building an everlasting flow
At the heart of the Centre’s philosophy is an understanding that for true change to be made, it needs to come with a sense of ownership and belonging. Fundamentally, it was First Nations leaders who sowed the seed for the development of the Centre and they continue to shape it today.
This emphasis on collaboration enables the Centre’s biggest focus – to empower everyone within their ecosystem to lead within the business world and strengthen Indigenous business. Those that are involved with Dilin Duwa’s projects often feel a broad sense of social propulsion.
Associate Professor Rochelle Côté, a visiting scholar to the Centre, spoke of the overwhelming feeling at a recent event.
"I've researched Indigenous social mobility for quite some time and the buzz in the room when presenting at a global conference in Melbourne this year has been amazing. It feels as though the momentum is with us,” she said.
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