Garma panellists - Building the Aboriginal Development Compact - Collaboration for Economic Empowerment

Aboriginal Investment attends
Garma Festival 2026


Aboriginal Investment NT CEO Nigel Browne

For 25 years, Yolŋu and the Yothu Yindi Foundation have welcomed people from across Australia and overseas to Gulkula Country in East Arnhem Land. Aboriginal Investment NT were honoured to be part of two-way knowledge-sharing of culture and dialogue - bukmak (together) at Garma Gestival 2026.


Nigel Browne, Aboriginal Investment NT's CEO joined Australia's leading development organisations, Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) and the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation and Australian National University on a panel to discuss economic empowerment and opportunities through collaboration and alignment of capital, expertise and investment.


Nigel Browne, Aboriginal Investment NT CEO said:


"We have reached a point in time where the Aboriginal led-managed institutions across Australia are now big enough to generate real change - to influence and facilitate Aboriginal communities, and shape how the market responds to those communities. We have all, for a very long time, and in some cases, decades, been doing good things to advance the Aboriginal economy and support self-sufficiency in the Northern Territory."


Nigel Browne also joined a panel discussion with Kyam Maher, Deputy Premier of SA, Cathryn Tilmouth, Minerals Council of Australia (NT), and Ben Wyatt, former Treasurer of WA to unpack what lies ahead for Australia's Aboriginal people and the pathway to economic self-determination and self-sufficiency.


Engagement


The Aboriginal Investment NT Engagement team connected with Yolŋu Clan Groups and young, enterprising jamakouli (children), who expressed their big dreams and ideas to develop a strong economic future for Yolŋu on Country.


Garma Institute


Aboriginal Investment NT was honored to participate in a tour by Yothu Yindi Foundation to view the site for the Garma Institute. The Garma Institute has been carefully developed by the Yothu Yindi Foundation and community leaders for locally-owned and locally-run education on Country. The Institute will deliver grass-roots solutions, empower local leadership and result in positive social and economic outcomes for Yolŋu for future generations. We are looking forward to watching the Garma Institute come into fruition.


Listen to the panel