Building Community Through Clean Energy

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Tommy Hicks, Head of Cultural and Community at Indigenous Energy Australia, recorded at the First Nations Clean Energy Network Summit on the Sunshine Coast. Tommy shares his journey as a proud Badimia-Yamatji & Narungga man working at the intersection of culture, community, and infrastructure. He opens up about the importance of storytelling, relationship-building, and place-based knowledge in driving genuine progress across the clean energy and infrastructure sectors. Together, we explore what it means to put relationships before projects, how to stay grounded while leading in fast-paced industries, and the challenges and opportunities of scaling impact while staying true to community values. We also yarn about identity, resilience, and the lessons Tommy has learned as a young business leader creating pathways for the next generation. This is an inspiring conversation about culture, leadership, and why centring Aboriginal ways of knowing and being is critical to building a healthy, sustainable future for all. Resources & Links First Nations Clean Energy Networkhttps://www.firstnationscleanenergy.org.au/ Tommy Hicks Linkedin Website: www.blackmagicwoman.com.au Follow us on Instagram - @blackmagicwomanpodcast The Black Magic Woman Podcast is hosted by Mundanara Bayles and is an uplifting conversational style program featuring mainly Aboriginal guests and explores issues of importance to Aboriginal people and communities.  Mundanara is guided by Aboriginal Terms of Reference and focusses more on who people are rather than on what they do. If you enjoyed this episode, please ‘Subscribe’ on Apple Podcasts or ‘Follow’ on your Spotify app and tell your friends and family about us! If you’d like to contact us, please email, [email protected]  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.