We are grateful to live, work and gather on land that has been cared for by Australia’s First Peoples for more than 60,000 years.
Purpose will be held on Gadigal Land, at Carriageworks, Sydney
8 - 9 November, 2023
First Nations Presenters at Purpose 2023 (more to be announced)
Paul Girrawah House
Traditional Custodian, expert on Indigenous-designed capital at Waluwin Foundation
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Paul Girrawah House is a senior Ngambri-Ngunnawal custodian of the Canberra region with Wiradjuri, Walgalu and Ngunnawal ancestry.
Larissa Minniecon
Cultural Advisor, we are the mainstream
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Larissa, a Kabi Kabi, Gureng Gureng, Ambrym and a Zenadth Kes woman who lives, works and studies on Gadigal Land.
Nooky
Rapper, producer & founder, We Are Warriors
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Proud Saltwater man of the Yuin Nation.
Dr Tyson Yunkaporta
Senior Research Fellow, Deakin University. Author, Sand Talk and Right Story, Wrong Story
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Tyson Yunkaporta is an academic, arts critic and researcher, who belongs to the Apalech Clan in far north Queensland.
Kaylene Langford
Founder, StartUp Creative and Author, How to Start a Side Hustle
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An expert in bringing people, ideas and resources together, Kaylene has established a reputation for empowering individuals to harness their passion, create viable businesses, and ensure they thrive. She draws on her diverse experience and global perspective to encourage clients and audiences to explore non-traditional pathways to achieving their goals, giving them the tools and support they need along the journey.
Melissa Gilbert
Artist, Educator & Founder of UnitePlayPerform
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We are thrilled to be once again working with contemporary artist and experience designer Melissa “Missy” Gilbert. Missy founded UnitePlayPerform as a transformational therapeutic practice underpinned by applied neuroscience. …
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Tegan Murdock
CEO, Ngumpie Weaving
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Tegan Murdock is a proud Barkindtji, Yorta Yorta woman. She has been weaving for two years, taught by her mum which she now passes on to others. Tegan uses weaving as healing and medicine, to connect to culture and to share this special craft with the world.
Warren Roberts
CEO & Founder, Yarn Australia
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Warren is a proud Thunghutti and Bundjalung man and the founder and CEO of YARN Australia.
YARN Australia is a social enterprise focused on creating relationships and intentional connections through storytelling between Original Sovereign Nations of Australia and all peoples of Mother Earth with a vision of unity for this continent of Australia.
Yarn Australia is a story of collaboration through events and workshops with schools, universities, communities, organisations, festivals and individuals, to enact a vision of a more unified and inclusive Australia.
Walking together
By walking together to understand and connect with the wisdom, cultural practices, and land and sea management of First Nations and Zenadth Kes people we can together improve First People’s self determination, economic empowerment and entrepreneurship with wide-ranging and long lasting benefits for our country and our planet.
Purpose Conference is committed to creating a safe and accessible space for First Nations people, handing the mic to First Nations presenters and attendees, and creating an informed, respectful and varied conversation through a diverse program and lineup of speakers.
Unity Web Artists
At Purpose 2023, the new work Unity Web will launch as a collective legacy artwork made by First Nations weavers from across the country.
Unity Web harnesses the method and medicine of weaving circles globally and throughout time, creating a vital, embodied and organic space for people to connect, learn and share. In the context of Purpose Conference's hard truths, Unity Web is a space for healing.
Karleen Green
Bunjalung, Mununjali, Kgari (Wonapinga Weaving)
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Karleen has been teaching the Traditional Basket Weaving & Techniques. Karleen grew up in Fingal Heads. Karleen belongs to the Bundjalung Nation Tweed Heads, as well as Butchulla (K’gari) and Mununjali (Beaudesert).
Her love of Culture has led her on this path as an Educator. Karleens’ work is all over the Sydney Area.
Weaving Projects:
Weaving Bridges Manly
Australia Museum
Blak Markets, Sculptures Corporate Offices and Installations: Northern Beaches Council
Western Sydney Zoo
Macquarie Shopping Centre
Carriageworks
Artist in Residence
Currently working
Sculptures for Sky Dreaming
Coral Foley
Boorloo,Ballardong/Whadjuk, Noongar, living in Boorloo Noongar Boodja (Culture Weave)
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Meet Coral Foley. A mother, grandmother and great grandmother. By all those that love her, she is referred to as Nana Coral. She is a woman who has served her community, has a big heart and always has time for you. She connects with everyone who is willing to listen and weave while she tells stories of strength, hopes and resilience of her people.
Terase Kelly
Mirning, Kokatha, Kaurna, Narrunga (Minyamumma Weaving)
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Terase is a Mirning, Kokatha Woman from the far West Coast of South Australia. She was raised and grew up in the Koonibba Aboriginal Community, and has a strong connection to land which in her weaving, tells a story with each piece.
She is the creator of minyamummaweaving, which she started doing as a way to heal and to feel more connected to her Community, Culture & Country. She now has a passion for weaving through the trauma, loss & grief and through her beautiful life/healing journey.
Amethyst Downing-McLeod
Wandi Wandian (Ngardi Amethyst Design)
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Amethyst Downing-McLeod is a Wandi Wandian woman, her kinship and ancestral ties are woven throughout the Sydney basin and South Coast NSW. She is an emerging multidisciplinary artist, a mother, a carer and is passionate about conservation. She uses a variety of traditional and contemporary mediums, methods, knowledge's practices and techniques taught to her by Elders and knowledge holders within her kin.
Tegan Murdock
Barkindtji, Yorta Yorta (Ngumpie Weaving)
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Tegan Murdock is a proud Barkindtji, Yorta Yorta woman. She has been weaving for two years, taught by her mum which she now passes on to others. Tegan uses weaving as healing and medicine, to connect to culture and to share this special craft with the world.
ngumpieweaving.com
This project was supported by
Nadine Foley
Boorloo, Ballardong/Whadjuk, Noongar, living in Boorloo Noongar Boodja (Culture Weave)
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Nadine Foley, a Whadjuk, Ballardong and Nyikina woman, a mother, aunty, weaver who lives and breathes community. Her passion for weaving and sharing her culture and lived experience is what drives her to teach highly engaging workshops.
First Nations knowledge and cultural practices are imprinted into collaborative weaving, yarning and storytelling circles. Nadine is passionate about education and community, and finds great joy in connecting with others and fostering unity in the spirit of reconciliation.
Kym Dobby
Wiilman Noongar, Boorloo/Perth
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My name is Kym Dobby and I am a proud Wiilman Noongar woman from Boorloo currently living on Guringai country. I was taught traditional weaving by my elders and my three daughters were taught traditional weaving by their elders. I am proud that I can share culture and this connection to country with them.
Beyond ‘Unity Web’ activating the foyer of Carriageworks, Melissa has designed an interactive performance work for the conference that prompts the entire Purpose community to move collectively whilst contemplating the theory of the Symbioscene.
You can also join Guest Speakers Warren Roberts from Yarn Australia, Tegan Murdock from Ngumpie Weaving and Amethyst Downing-McLeod from Ngardi Amethyst Design as they join Melissa in a gentle heart led conversation on Day 1.
This work and public activation is conceptualised, curated and facilitated by Melissa Gilbert ongoing.
Unity Web Images by Caity Duffus
Melissa Gilbert
First Nations artist and performer, & Founder of UnitePlayPerform
We are thrilled to be once again working with contemporary artist and experience designer Melissa “Missy” Gilbert.
UnitePlayPerform pioneers new pathways born at the intersection of art, health, science and wellbeing, aiming to bring healing and creativity to the forefront of our everyday lives, in both spectacular and simple ways.
The Yarning Circle
In this very special session, we hand over to Larissa Minniecon and Raisera McCulloch, from we are the mainstream to lead us in a yarning circle to promote dialogue, understanding, empathy and trust. The inner circle will be for First Nations attendees, with a second circle of active listeners welcome. The world needs more of this right now - and it begins here.
Larissa Minniecon
Raisera McCulloch
Join us as a First Nations delegate at Purpose 2023
In 2023 Purpose Conference is providing an allocation of accessible places to individuals who identify as First Nations. If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, we have a no-questions-asked policy and you can register for a free ticket here.
Purpose Conference is sponsoring 50 First Nations attendees. This initiative is in collaboration with Future Super.
Meet our First Nations Advisory Team
Camille Goldstone-Henry
Founder, CEO, Xylo Systems
Dr Kyle Turner
Founder, Pearlii
Larissa Minniecon
Cultural Adviser, we are the mainstream
Raisera McCulloch
Leader, we are the mainstream