Empowering Community Through Culture-First Events: The xhalEvents Story
Tikesa Hale is the Founder and Managing Director of xhalEvents, a 100% Aboriginal-owned event management company based on Larrakia Country, delivering purpose-driven, culturally grounded events across the Northern Territory and beyond. A proud Luritja and Wuthathi woman, Tikesa launched xhalEvents in response to a critical gap in the market: the lack of event experiences designed by, for, and with Aboriginal peoples at the centre.
“xhalEvents was born out of a deep desire to create a space where Aboriginal voices are prioritised, respected, and celebrated in every part of the event journey — not just at the front of the stage, but behind the scenes too,” Tikesa shares.
“My identity as a proud Aboriginal woman is woven into every part of xhalEvents — from the suppliers I work with, to the way I engage with my community. It’s not just about running events, but also about walking with community, empowering our people, and ensuring our culture is embedded with care and integrity.”
Since its establishment in 2021, xhalEvents has delivered an impressive array of events across the Northern Territory and beyond — including The Gathering with the Healing Foundation, ICIN Conferences, Garrmalang Festival, women’s leadership retreats, and various intergenerational storytelling camps in remote and regional communities.
With funding support from
Aboriginal Investment NT’s Start-Up Business Grant Program, Tikesa was able to invest in critical infrastructure — equipment, training, and project systems — which strengthened xhalEvents’ capacity to compete for larger-scale contracts, while still staying grounded to its core values.
“The funding from Aboriginal Investment NT has enabled me to expand my business offering by investing in additional equipment and services that clients can now book. It has also allowed me to develop new revenue streams and pilot projects that explore the creative side of xhalEvents,”
Tikesa shares.
This grant support from Aboriginal Investment NT not only elevated the operational capacity of xhalEvents but also allowed Tikesa to stay true to her vision of culturally grounded, community-first experiences that empower and uplift.
Yet, success for Tikesa goes beyond timelines and logistics.
“I recently managed an event where a few logistical things out of our control didn’t go to plan. As the event manager, those hiccups made me feel like I had let the event down,” Tikesa recalls.
“But as the days unfolded, something more powerful took place — the stories that were shared, the healing that occurred, and the deep conversations that flowed far outweighed any small errors.”
For me, that’s what success really looks like — when people stay long after the formalities end, still yarning, smiling, and planning to reconnect.”
That philosophy drives the deeper purpose of xhalEvents: creating safe spaces for truth-telling, healing, and connection.
“Events are one of the most powerful ways we gather. It’s to celebrate, to pass on knowledge, to educate the wider community and come together,” Tikesa explains.
“They give us space to share our stories on our terms and invite others to listen deeply. They bring us together in solidarity, strengthen identity, and allow intergenerational healing to happen. Events can spark conversations, create change, and help us reclaim space that was once denied to us.”
One of the most powerful examples of this was The Gathering event, which brought together Stolen Generations survivors, young leaders, and service providers.
“Watching Elders share stories they’d never told in public and seeing so many young people step up with courage and compassion reminded me why this work matters,” Tikesa says.
“When we create safe spaces, real healing and connection can take place.”
Looking forward, Tikesa envisions building a Cultural and Creative Events Hub which will serve as a dedicated training and design space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives to co-create impactful, culturally safe events.
“I hope my journey inspires others to believe that running your own business is possible — whether you’ve just finished school or, like me, you’re in your 30s, married with young children,” Tikesa says.
“There is space for young Aboriginal women in every boardroom, every festival stage, every creative space, and every male-dominated industry.”
Through xhalEvents, Tikesa Hale is building more than events — she’s building legacy, one gathering at a time.
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