Creating systemic change,
Indigenous agency and autonomy.
Country Centered design is our methodology, which utilises Indigenous knowledge in the design of places, experiences, and critical technologies. Our process incorporates systems and design thinking, combined with futuring techniques to deliver culturally, socially, and environmentally sustainable outcomes. The four stages of our methodology are outlined in the diagram.
The company has two arms that inform each other. We deliver consultancy services designing immersive spaces and experiences that combine Indigenous cultural knowledges and placemaking principles.
Our profits support Indigenous-led initiatives and programs as part of the Research & Development arm of the company. This work provides a pathway to utilise Indigenous Knowledges and Knowledge systems in the design of new and emerging engineering practices and computer software technologies. Why? For the restoration, revitalisation, health, and well-being of Country and its communities.
Leadership
-
Professor Angie Abdilla palawa is the founder and director of Old Ways, New. In her various roles as a strategic designer, creative practitioner, and consultant, Angie advocates for Indigenous peoples, knowledges, and knowledge systems as foundational to technology automation through design and cultural practice. Her published research interrogates the praxis of Indigenous deeptime technologies and Artificial Intelligence, which continue to be informed by the Indigenous Protocols and AI working group (IP//AI), which she co-founded. As a creative practitioner, she works across film and video installation as an exhibiting artist. She created the company’s strategic design methodology, Country Centered Design, leading projects for the public and private sectors over the past decade. Angie continues to advise on the cultural and ethical affordances of automated systems and technologies internationally and locally.
-
Entering the Dreaming (1954 - 2019), Mukgrrngal was a Wiradjuri / Kuku Thaypan man. In 1988, he set up The Fourth World Foundation with the aim of promoting culture, education, and unity within an Australian context. He worked in suicide prevention, grief, drug and alcohol counseling, men’s sexual health education, and prison support with a range of organisations, including Life Promotions, The Northern Rivers Aids Council, the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, and Mona Mona Aboriginal dance company. He chaired a workshop series with Aboriginal Elders and community leaders over seven years and toured and held workshops throughout Europe promoting Aboriginal ways of knowing and being. Mukrrngal also worked as an Independent Service Provider to the education department, furthering cross-cultural understanding and conflict management.
Partnerships
Over the years we have forged partnerships with a range of entities to support a rapid growth and impact strategy for our entity, ranging from equity investment, acquisition of property and development opportunities to commercial agreements to scale the company. What we have learnt is growth of impact remains our priority and the speed of growth must be balanced with our capacity to bring our community along with us, walking as one people.
-
The ANU is a long-term partner in our future program of work, which aims for the restoration, revitalisation, health and wellbeing of Country and its communities. Over 30 years, this collaborative working partnership is scaling Indigenous-led engineering and computer science pathways and outcomes. The Australian National University provides extensive capacity to scaffold the 2050 Vision initiatives and Old Ways, New provides the cultural expertise, specialist research, strategic design and broad commercial experience within the built environment working on large scale infrastructure projects.
Elders and Advisors
Our Elders and Advisors guide us by instilling cultural knowledge and protocols, strengthening our leadership through cross-sectoral knowledges and expertise in automation.
-
Aunty Bronwyn Penrith is a Wiradjuri and Yuin woman who has worked all her life for equality and the recognition of Aboriginal people and their rights. She was the inaugural Chair of Moreton Consulting and is currently the Deputy Chair of Burbangana Group's Board of Directors. Bronwyn delivers mentoring training, cultural awareness and community education workshops. She is a highly skilled mediator and is a registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner with the Australian Government Department of the Attorney General. Additional to her life and work experience, Bronwyn's qualifications include a Diploma in Business: Indigenous Governance from Tranby Aboriginal College and a Certificate IV - Mentoring in Diversity. Bronwyn is a very experienced facilitator and consultant advisor. She enjoys working on projects to help improve communication, planning, consultation and team effectiveness.
-
Simon has been Executive Director of The Ethics Centre for 30 years, working across business, government and society. He has a PhD in philosophy from Cambridge University, is a Fellow of CPA Australia and of the Royal Society of NSW, and an Honorary Professor at ANU National Centre for Indigenous Studies. Simon was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2013.
-
Genevieve Bell AO FTSE FAHA is the Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University and an Australian cultural anthropologist. She is best known for her work at the intersection of cultural practice research and technological development and for being an industry pioneer of the user experience field.
