Sharon Gray - Winangar Guru: Listen Deeply, Go Slowly and Respect Everything

This week, Trisha interviews Sharon Gray, a longtime colleague and friend, known for her extensive work enhancing inclusion and increasing Indigenous employment. Sharon shares insights from her career in the Australian government, non-profit organisations, big corporations, and her consultancy. They discuss the importance of cultural competency, walking alongside people to help them learn; effective community engagement, and creating social and economic opportunities for Indigenous communities. Sharon highlights the principles of deep listening, the cultural significance of acknowledging traditional lands, and the transformative impact of Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) in organisations. The conversation also delves into the concept of social value, emphasising its role in inclusive development and intergenerational wealth creation. Sharon’s vision is big - she advocates for local content in projects and takes a holistic approach to infrastructure development enabling community development, and ensuring widespread and sustainable benefits. This is an episode that could shift your thinking and give you hope for Australia.You can connect with Sharon via Linked in and learn more about the Social Value initiative here.