The fifth meeting of the pilot First Nations Trade and Investment Advisory Group (pilot Advisory Group) took place on the lands of the Yugambeh speaking people in Gold Coast on 3 June 2026.
Chaired by Diane Barclay, Assistant Secretary of the Office of First Nations International Engagement, members exchanged views on current trade and investment priorities with the Chair, Austrade’s Head of Indigenous Engagement and Export, Ms Melanie Harris, and Director of DFAT’s First Nations Trade Unit, Ms Lucy Ryan. By invitation, Ms Skye Reeve, Director of DFAT’s Intellectual Property Section, joined the meeting to provide an update on outcomes of the Australia–European Union Free Trade Agreement and recent intellectual property policy developments.
Members discussed outcomes from the First Nations Mission to the United Arab Emirates (January 2026), which included development of new relationships with UAE business and government representatives, as a basis of future exchange. They also discussed the Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation Arrangement (IPETCA) Trade Mission to New Zealand (March 2026), which highlighted strong international interest in First Nations led businesses and collaboration with Indigenous partners. During this mission, opportunities were identified across priority sectors, with members emphasising the value of Indigenous to Indigenous engagement, the contribution of IPETCA to strengthening international business partnerships, and the importance of follow up to support sustainable commercial outcomes.
Members also engaged with the AIATSIS 2026 Pacific Delegation, supporting cultural exchange, relationship building, and dialogue on the role of intergenerational knowledge in trade, diplomacy, and leadership across First Nations and Pacific communities.
The meeting coincided with the annual AIATSIS Summit, enabling members to engage in a range of sessions on 4 June 2026. This included participating in a panel discussion moderated by the Ambassador for First Nations People, Mr Justin Mohamed, that explored how traditional knowledge informs Australia’s international engagement and work underway to expand Indigenous participation in global trade, supporting First Nations businesses to export, create jobs, and benefit from international opportunities.
The pilot Advisory Group is expected to next meet in the third quarter of 2026.