Engoori in Action: Strengths Based Pathways Linking First Nations Knowledge and Leadership
Tracks
Ellery C
| Wednesday, August 5, 2026 |
| 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM |
Overview
Annette Simpson, Yimburu Consulting
Speaker
Annette Simpson
Yimburu Consulting
Engoori in Action: Strengths Based Pathways Linking People, Place and Regional Development
Presentation Overview
This presentation introduces a strengths based Aboriginal framework that supports more effective, sustainable development across Northern Australia. Led by Scott Gorringe OAM, CEO of MurriMatters and a nationally recognised Engoori practitioner, the session explores how deficit discourse continues to influence policy, program design, workforce planning and engagement across Government, industry and community sectors. These deficit narratives often undermine cultural authority, diminish local agency, and weaken the relationships required for long term, place based development.
Scott will unpack how identifying and reframing deficit discourse can immediately improve trust, strengthen collaboration, and create more culturally grounded systems of decision making. Central to the session is the Engoori methodology — an Aboriginal, strengths based approach built on relationships, respect, shared story and accountability to Country. Engoori offers a practical structure for shifting development practice from problem fixing to recognising and amplifying local capability, identity and leadership.
The presentation will demonstrate how organisations can move beyond generic cultural awareness training toward genuine partnership models that support co design, shared governance, economic participation and community defined outcomes. Through case examples from Queensland, the NT, WA and Victoria, Scott will show how people, place and development can be linked through frameworks that honour cultural authority, deepen engagement and embed long term capability transfer.
Delegates will leave with practical tools to integrate Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing into their work, and to build the kinds of partnerships essential for a prosperous and culturally grounded Northern Australia.
Scott will unpack how identifying and reframing deficit discourse can immediately improve trust, strengthen collaboration, and create more culturally grounded systems of decision making. Central to the session is the Engoori methodology — an Aboriginal, strengths based approach built on relationships, respect, shared story and accountability to Country. Engoori offers a practical structure for shifting development practice from problem fixing to recognising and amplifying local capability, identity and leadership.
The presentation will demonstrate how organisations can move beyond generic cultural awareness training toward genuine partnership models that support co design, shared governance, economic participation and community defined outcomes. Through case examples from Queensland, the NT, WA and Victoria, Scott will show how people, place and development can be linked through frameworks that honour cultural authority, deepen engagement and embed long term capability transfer.
Delegates will leave with practical tools to integrate Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing into their work, and to build the kinds of partnerships essential for a prosperous and culturally grounded Northern Australia.
Biography
An Aboriginal woman born and raised on Yuggera country; Annette has Aboriginal and Chinese
maternal blood lines to the Northern Territory and also acknowledges her paternal Dutch
heritage.
Annette graduated with a Bachelor of Adult Education in 2015, majoring in Aboriginal Cultural
Studies and Language Literacy and Numeracy with awards for her academic excellence in the
field.
Having over 30 years’ experience in positions focusing on improving the physical, social and
emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Annette continues to
work with community, young people and leaders. Annette has worked across various sectors
including education, health and justice and believes these are the critical areas requiring major
support before we can look at equality and equity. She has contributed to a vast range of works
such as Indigenous health research, develop and coordinate the creation of a national
Indigenous college, implementation of Reconciliation Action Plans in the workplace, deliver
Cultural Awareness and Integrity training, facilitate cultural auditing, business case
development, facilitating educational training and developing education lesson plans and tools.
Annette’s passion is facilitating workshops that lead to a better understanding of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures and highlight inadequacies and ongoing issues
that need to be addressed.
Annette is a proud family woman and spends most weekends with her mother or children.
Having recently worked with the Indigenous Marathon Foundation, Annette was inspired and
encouraged by the graduates and coach to start training to run 10kms in the Townsville
Running Festival in July.
In the last year Annette has enjoyed Dragonboat paddling and competes in local regattas. She
is currently preparing to compete in France in August, followed by a 36km paddle across Loch
Ness in Scotland in September.
Annette says that while age is creeping up fast, she is still able-bodied, and the only person
stopping her from achieving her goals is her.
