Naarm - Melbourne:

29 - 31 October, 2025

We look forward to welcoming you to the inaugural Dilin Duwa Dialogues: Indigenous Enterprising Conference.

Professor Michelle Evans, Dilin Duwa Director

The Dilin Duwa Dialogues is a different approach to conferencing. Since time immemorial, First Nations Australians have gathered to share stories, imagine a future together and act to achieve that shared vision. The Dilin Duwa Dialogues is a space for First Nations scholars and allies to meet, dream up research that responds to First Nations questions and challenges and calls to action.

I invite you to join us to DIALOGUE where together we build knowledge creation and academic scholarship that is grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing, doing and being. Register your interest for updates and announcements of the program. We look forward to welcoming you to Naarm-Melbourne.

Save the date

Keynote Speaker

We are so excited to announce that our keynote speaker is Professor Manley A. Begay, Jr. A citizen of the Navajo Nation, Professor Begay’s maternal clan is Ma’ii Deesgiizhinii (Coyote Pass – Jemez Clan), and his paternal clan is Táachii’ nii (Red Running into the Water People). His maternal grandfather’s clan is Lók’aa’ Dine’ é (Reed People) and his paternal grandfather’s clan is Tódích’íi’ nii (Bitter Water).

Professor Begay is a tenured Professor in the Department of Applied Indigenous Studies (AIS) and Department of Politics and International Affairs at the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Northern Arizona University (NAU) where he teaches Indigenous Nation-Building, Navajo History and Philosophy. He is also director of the Tribal Leadership Initiative in the Office of Native American Initiative and Advancement at NAU.

The Dilin Duwa Dialogues is a new approach to Conferencing.

Built around seven themes that are critical to Indigenous economic empowerment, we will convene seven working groups to explore and co-create research projects that matter to the Indigenous business sector.

Each theme will be led by an eminent scholar in the field.

Indigenous economies (led by Dr Ana Maria Peredo)
Capital (Dr Dan Stewart)
Indigenous policy, participation and employment (Dr Sharlene Leroy Dyer)
Indigenous leadership (Dr Chellie Spiller)
Indigenous entrepreneurship (Dr Ella Henry)
International trade and economic relations (Dr Jason Mika)
Indigenous business ecosystem (Dr Joe Gladstone)

Invitation to

participate

We are inviting First Nation scholars, business practitioners and community leaders to join the Dialogues to co-create the next generation of research projects.

By bringing together experts in academia, business and community leaders from across the globe, we aim to launch research that speaks to the sector, challenges outdated thinking and harness Indigenous knowledge towards a shared future.

Please register your interest below.

register here

Aim of the

Dialogues

On the final day, three research projects will be given seed funding to commence. The remaining projects will be the topic of ongoing discussion where we will explore ways to activate our network to support the work.

The Dialogues is planned to be held every three years to enable us to present the outcomes of those research projects and co-design new initiatives. In this way, we hope to ensure a continuous pipeline of projects, adequately funded and resourced and growing in scope and impact.

Program Schedule

Wednesday, 29th October

Morning session:
Registration
Welcome ceremony
Introduction and Keynote
Lunch
Afternoon session:
Ecosystem Discussion Panel
Roundtable Reflections & Development of Agenda
Conference Dinner
Thursday, 30th October

Morning session:
Roundtables
Walking Lunch (Walk along the Birrung)
Afternoon session:
Roundtables
Friday, 31st October

Morning session:
Presentations
Working Lunch
Afternoon session:
Summative Keynote
Grants Awarded
Closing Cultural Event
(*subject to change)

Dilin Duwa Dialogues:

Advisory Group 2024-2025

Professor Michelle Evans

Professor Michelle Evans is Executive Director of the Dilin Duwa Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership and Professor in Leadership at the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Melbourne, specialising in the areas of Indigenous leadership and entrepreneurship. She is also co-Founder of the award-winning MURRA Indigenous Business Masterclass Program, based at Melbourne Business School
Professor Ella Henry

Professor Ella Henry has a background across multiple disciplines including sociology, business and Māori Indigenous development. She has been actively involved in research, teaching and advocacy for Māori media for over twenty years. Ella was a Treaty Negotiator for her Iwi, Ngātikahu ki Whangaroa, and has been involved with the Post-Settlement Governance Entity, as Trustee and Chair. Ella is a professor at the Auckland University of Technology’s Business School and a Dilin Duwa Global Member.
Dr Mark Jones

Dr. Mark Jones is a Lecturer and Dilin Duwa Programs Stream Lead with oversight of the Centre’s academic programs. His PhD, First Peoples Enterprise Success: The Third Wave, focuses on Founders of for-profit enterprises, the economic landscape contributing to a worldview of economy, and the 7 Ps required for First Peoples' self-determination.
Dr Dinah Hippolyte-Blake

Dr Dinah Hippolyte-Blake is Research Streams Lead with oversight of the Dilin Duwa Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership. She manages the Centre’s portfolio of research projects working with our growing network of stakeholders. Dinah has extensive experience in policy, research and innovation and has been involved in the areas of Caribbean private sector development, international trade, and global diplomacy.
Professor Ana María Peredo

Professor Ana María Peredo is a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair of Social and Inclusive Entrepreneurship in the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa and formerly a Professor of Political Ecology at the School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria. She is also a Dilin Duwa Global Member. A native of Peru, Ana María has a strong interest in community alternatives and participatory action research among Indigenous People, arising in part from her work as an anthropologist, and as a journalist with one of Peru’s leading dailies. She is a pioneer in the field of community-based entrepreneurship, Indigenous entrepreneurship, commons and solidary economies.