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Country Centred Design


Country Centred Design

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Country Centred Design


Country Centred Design

 

Country Centred Design is our methodology which utilises Indigenous knowledges in the design of places, experiences and critical technologies. Our process incorporates the most aligned elements of systems thinking, regenerative design, design thinking, UX and interaction design and futuring techniques - to deliver, culturally, socially and environmentally sustainable outcomes. The four stages of our methodology are outlined below.

 
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About Us


About us

About Us


About us

 
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We are an Indigenous-owned and led social enterprise based on Gadigal Country in Sydney, working with Indigenous Custodians, Elders, knowledge holders, and young people. We work with aligned clients who are equally committed to ensuring the key beneficiaries of our projects are Indigenous communities and peoples.

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.

Creating systemic change,
Indigenous agency
and autonomy.

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Leadership


Leadership

Leadership


Leadership

 
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Founder, Director Angie Abdilla

Professor Angie Abdilla is a palawa woman. She is the founder and Director of Old Ways, New and works with Indigenous knowledges and systems in the technology. She is a Professor at the Australian National University’s School of Cybernetics and she co-founded the Indigenous Protocols and Artificial Intelligence working group (IP//AI). Angie is a member of the CSIRO Data61 Advisory Group, the ‘Diversity and Inclusion in AI’ National AI Centre Think Tank and was member of the Global Futures Council on Artificial Intelligence for Humanity as part of the World Economic Forum in 2022.

 
 
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Co-Founder, Mukgrrngal

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 counselling, men’s sexual health education and prison support and 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. 

 
 

Our Partner

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.

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Australian National University

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.

 
 

Our Elders and Advisors

Our Elders and Advisors guide us by instilling cultural knowledge and protocols,
strengthening our leadership through cross-sectoral knowledge and experience in technology.

 
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Bronwyn Penrith
Wiradjuri / Yuin

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.

 
 
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Dr Simon Longstaff AO FCPA FRSN FARPI

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.

 
 

Distinguished Professor Genevieve Bell AO FTSE FAHA

Genevieve is a renowned anthropologist, technologist, and futurist. Genevieve completed her PhD in cultural anthropology at Stanford University in 1998 and is best known for her work at the intersection of cultural practice and technology development. She is currently the Director of the School of Cybernetics and Florence Violet McKenzie Chair at the Australian National University (ANU) and a Vice President and Senior Fellow in Intel Labs at Intel Corporation. 

 

R&D Delivery Associates