Tasmania Regional Series

Launceston

Monday 16th - Tuesday 17th March 2026

Hobart

Thursday 19th - Friday 20th March 2026

In partnership with the Palawa Business Hub, the Dilin Duwa Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership is visiting Launceston and Hobart to deliver their Regional Business Workshop Series. The  2-day  program has been co-designed  to  respond  to the regions identified  business needs, including masterclasses,  a roundtable  and keynote speakers.

   

The Regional Series is only available to those who are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. You must be an Aboriginal Business and based in Lutruwita/Tasmania. Click the ‘express your interest’ button below to get in touch with the Palawa Business Hub.

Express your interest

Session Overview

Masterclasses

Customer focused marketing 
with Leesa Watego

Join Leesa in this session to gain insights into what you and your business can be doing to get your message, product or idea out there. Often left behind in the budding stages of business, Leesa will help you focus in on an achievable marketing strategy to help you tell the story of your business and its value to your potential clients and/or customers.

One-page business plan
with Jyi Lawton

In this masterclass, you’ll create a one-page business plan that sets goals for your business. The business plan focuses on what you’re selling, your competitive advantage, your marketing plan and financials to help you be strategic in your next business move. 

Creative to commercial: Exploring Pathways to a Sustainable Creative Practice
with Denni Francisco 

This masterclass is designed for creatives at different stages of their journey — from those transitioning from a hobby-based practice into business, to established creatives seeking to expand, refine, or diversify their commercial pathways. 

Together, the group will explore the opportunities and challenges that arise at different stages of creative practice— from first income streams to longer-term business opportunities and how creatives can make informed choices that support both artistic integrity and financial sustainability. 

Indigenous Culture and Intellectual Property (ICIP)
with Tyson McEwan from Terri Janke and Company

The ICIP Workshop presents a valuable opportunity to respond directly to community-identified needs for greater understanding of ICIP. By supporting Indigenous business owners, entrepreneurs and community members to build practical knowledge of ICIP, the ICIP workshop will strengthen cultural business governance, informed decision-making and promote Indigenous excellence across business and community contexts. 

Financial fitness
with First Nations Foundation

For business owners and people who are business-curious, this training will strengthen the core money skills that sit underneath a strong, sustainable enterprise. Participants can gain a better understanding of cash flow, setting financial goals, separating personal and business money, pricing products and services with confidence, and plan for tax and business expenses. Participants will also be able to build confidence to engage with banks, insurers and advisers—supporting better decisions about business accounts, credit, superannuation, and protecting income. 

What is strategy?
with Jyi Lawton & Geoff Martin

In this session, you’ll look at areas of strategic focus to help you get started in bringing your idea or budding business into fruition. This masterclass will help you understand your narrative, clarity of purpose, cultural integrity, authenticity and shared values. 

Keynote sessions

Indigenous Business model
with Jyi Lawton

In this keynote session, Jyi will take you through a business model canvas that prioritises an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective. Doing this more accurately tells the story of your business, its values, potential customers, social value and impact.  

Leadership
with Leesa Watego

In this keynote session, you’ll reflect on what leadership means to you and explore ways to become a leader in your community, your family or your business. You’ll hear examples of how to overcome challenges as a leader and learn strategies to address them effectively. This session aims to inspire participants to embrace leadership and influence with purpose. 
 

Roundtable

Where to next in your journey
with Mark Jones (Launceston) and Paul Paton (Hobart)

Meet Your Facilitators

Jyi Lawton

Jyi Lawton is a Bidjara man from Central West Queensland and the CEO of AEMEE, Aboriginal Enterprises in Mining, Energy and Exploration. A Murra Alumni Generation 7 graduate, he has facilitated the Dilin Duwa Regional Business Workshops in Yarrabah and Rubibi Broome and has undertaken tertiary study across Architectural Design, Law, Justice, and Business. Jyi was previously CEO of Triple A, an Indigenous community controlled multimedia organisation, and has held senior operational and leadership roles across State and Federal Government.

His work focuses on Indigenous economic empowerment, governance, strategy, and leadership across the Indigenous business sector. Jyi has held a number of board positions, including as a Director of Karalumba, founding Chairperson of the Queensland First Nations Media Coalition, and as a member of the Indigenous Advisory Group for the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  

Leesa Watego

Leesa Watego is the founder and current Managing Director of IM Social Impact Agency, a Queensland-based company that fosters connection between people, communities and organisations leading projects that matter. In addition to being a founder, for over a decade Leesa has been an Indigenous business eco-system enabler as a member of the South East Queensland Indigenous Chamber of Commerce, co-founder of Black Coffee Indigenous Business Networking and co-founder of Indigenous Business Month. She has previously represented small business in an advisory capacity with regional, state, and national organisations.

Since 2021, Leesa has delivered the TAFE Queensland and Queensland Government Indigenous small business program One Business to communities across the state. When not working Leesa is playing mahjong (Hong Kong Old Style), volunteering, walking, or running at parkrun, or trying to complete her 12 books in 12 months reading challenge. She may also be on TikTok.

Denni Francisco

Denni Francisco is a First Nations creative leader, entrepreneur, and the Founder and Creative Director of Ngali. 

A multi award-winning designer, Denni’s work has been shown internationally in Milan, Jakarta, and the United Arab Emirates, and is recognised for its strong cultural integrity and commercial relevance. She was named one of The Age’s 52 News Makers of 2023, alongside Australia’s Prime Minister, and was listed in Ragtrader’sTop 30 Fashion Leaders the same year. Denni is the recipient of Australian Laureate First Nations 

Designer of the Year, with four works secured by the National Gallery of Victoria for its archive collection, and has been nominated for Designer of the Year by Marie Claire magazine. 

Through Ngali, Denni has created collaboration opportunities with major organisations including Country Road, MECCA Cosmetica, Pullman Hotels, and the Richmond Football Club, demonstrating how First Nations creativity can translate into sustainable, scalable commercial outcomes when approached with respect, clarity, and intention. 

Denni is deeply committed to advocating for pathways that move First Nations creatives beyond one-off opportunities such as exhibitions, runways, and events, andtowards long-term economic participation, agency, and self-determination. Her work centres on building models that honour culture while enabling artists to generatemeaningful income, protect intellectual and cultural property, and define success on their own terms. 

As an experienced facilitator, Denni brings lived experience, honesty, and a collaborative spirit to the conversation, creating space for creatives to explore their own pathways from practice to sustainability, on their own terms.

First Nations Foundation

First Nations Foundation (FNF) is dedicated to empowering Indigenous Australians to take control of their financial future through all aspects of their training and education initiatives. As the only national First Nations financial education provider in Australia, FNF leverages evidence-based research to inform its programs and advocate for systemic changes to enhance financial security among First Nations Australians.

Through programs like On Country, My Money Dream and Rich Blak Women, community initiatives such as Financial Wellness Outreach and strategic partnerships with financial institutions, FNF provides culturally sensitive financial education, training and information that empowers First Nations people, regardless of where they fall on the wealth continuum. Analysis conducted by Social Ventures Australia determined that for every $1 AUD invested in FNF programs, $3.20 of social and economic value is created.

The Foundation’s efforts aim to increase individuals' confidence in managing finances, reduce shame associated with financial matters, and promote intergenerational knowledge sharing.

Geoff Martin

Geoff Martin joined Melbourne Business School in 2012 and is a Professor of Strategy.

Prior to completing his PhD at IE Business School in Madrid and his MBA at Melbourne Business School, Geoff held a number of senior strategy and operational risk positions.

Geoff’s research explores executive decision making and risk taking and has been published in the Harvard Business Review, Strategic Management Journal, Academy of Management Journal and more. He received research excellence awards from the University of Melbourne in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.

Geoff teaches Business Strategy, Corporate Strategy and Strategy Consulting for Social Impact units on the MBA and Executive MBA programs.

Tyson McEwan

Tyson is a solicitor at Terri Janke and Company (TJC). He is a Kariyarra and Bardi man from Western Australia. Previously he was a graduate at an international law firm. He is passionate about First Nations participation in the Australian corporate sector to enhance self-determination in First Nations communities. He has experience on research protocols involving First Nations people including ICIP.

Terri Janke and Company (TJC)

TJC is a 100% Indigenous-owned law firm with more than 25 years’ experience specialising in intellectual property and ICIP. Our work bridges Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing with legal and strategic frameworks to support the protection of ICIP. TJC has extensive experience working with Indigenous organisations, businesses and community-based initiatives to deliver practical and culturally grounded education outcomes.

Mark Jones

Dr Mark Jones is Dilin Duwa’s Programs Stream Lead, Lecturer and MURRA Program Director.

In this capacity, he has oversight of the Centre’s academic programs. Mark’s 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. He has written on a wide range of topics including the Yoorrook Truth Telling process, decolonisation of education and health.

Paul Paton

Paul is a Gunai, Monero-Ngarigo & Gunditjmara man and Associate Director at the Dilin Duwa Centre. He has held several Director, Executive and Management roles in both community organisations and government departments working with Victorian Traditional Owners in areas such as land justice, economic development and language revival. As Associate Director, Paul has responsibility for the Centre’s overall operational management and planning plus development and implementation of systems, policies, and procedures, as well as managing resources to ensure the Centre’s effective and efficient functioning. 

Launceston Program

Monday 16th March - Tuesday 17th March

*Agenda may be subject to changes

Day 1 (Monday 16th March)

  • Join us for the Welcome to Country

  • Learn about the Regional Series, Dilin Duwa and Palawa Business Hub

  • Join Jyi Lawton for this masterclass

  • Listen to Leesa Watego chat about Leadership

  • Join Jyi Lawton for this masterclass on Strategy

  • Join Leesa Watego for this masterclass focused on marketing

Day 2 (Tuesday 16th March)

  • Join First Nations Foundation for this session focused on finances

  • Join Denni Francisco for this masterclass designed for creatives

  • Listen to Jyi Lawton chat about the Indigenous business model

  • Join Tyson McEwan in this workshop to better your understanding of ICIP

Hobart Program

Thursday 19th March - Friday 19th March

*Agenda may be subject to changes

Day 1 (Thursday 18th March)

  • Join us for the Welcome to Country

  • Learn about the Regional Series, Dilin Duwa and Palawa Business Hub

  • Join Tyson McEwan in this workshop to better your understanding of ICIP

  • Listen to Leesa Watego chat about Leadership

  • Join Denni Francisco for this masterclass designed for creatives

  • Join Jyi Lawton for this masterclass

Day 2 (Friday 19th March)

  • Join First Nations Foundation for this session focused on finances

  • Join Leesa Watego for this masterclass focused on marketing

  • Listen to Jyi Lawton chat about the Indigenous business model

  • Join Geoff Martin & Jyi Lawton for this masterclass on Strategy

We are proud to partner with the University of Melbourne, the Melbourne Business School and Indigenous Business Australia to bring the Dilin Duwa Regional Series program to Indigenous businesses across Australia.