The International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) on Gadigal Country, managed by ASM Global, made 73,600 cultural impressions across 67 events in 2022, demonstrating the impact of the venue’s global platform and advocacy for reconciliation as visitors engage with Australia’s First Nations people at events.

ICC Sydney, located in Gadigal Country where Tumbalong (Darling Harbour) meets Gomora (Cockle Bay), has revealed how its approach to reconciliation has strengthened its diverse team, delivered positive social impacts within its community, and provided meaningful event experiences by connecting hundreds of thousands of visitors to the venue each year with First Nations people and culture.

Geoff Donaghy, CEO of the ICC Sydney and Group Director of Convention Centres for ASM Global (APAC), said that the organisation’s dedication to its Reconciliation Action Plan aided it in supporting the goals of the parent group’s ACTS framework, which included things like bolstering the community around the venue, investing in its staff, and keeping the environment safe.

“As we strive for reconciliation, equality and social justice, the impact is threefold. Our team is ever more diverse and inclusive. Our clients can enrich their delegates’ experience by connecting them to the culture and businesses of First Nations people. Finally, our reconciliation advocacy helps us deepen our relationships with our First Nations community, respectfully acknowledge their culture through our practices and create the opportunities that make a difference,” Mr Donaghy said.

Mr. Donaghy said that one of the venue’s most recent Reconciliation Action Plans accomplishments is encouraging links to First Nations people and culture via its Legacy Program.

“Supported by our venue’s diverse team, event organisers have significantly embraced the venue’s Legacy Program, with almost 65% of the international events delivered in 2022 activating at least one of its five streams, and the vast majority (90%) of these activations including a connection to Australia’s First Nations culture through performances, food, artwork or gifts at their events.”

In compliance with Australia’s National Agreement on Closing the Gap and the UNESCO Global Action Plan for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, we’re incorporating the Gadigal language into our everyday operations and activities.

Cultural sensitivity training is ongoing. National Reconciliation Week, NAIDOC Week, and others are celebrated. “Our new First Nations procurement strategy has enabled us to add 11 new First Nations enterprises to our list in FY21/22, spending over A$408,000 with Aboriginal-owned, Supply Nation approved company over those 12 months,” Mr. Donaghy said.

KARI Chief Operating Officer Cain Slater said the cooperation with ICC Sydney embodies their purpose to provide meaningful points of engagement to share Aboriginal culture and success and support Indigenous communities in Australia.

“With over 90% of our KARI concerts scheduled and staged at ICC Sydney, the venue has been a primary platform to promote, share, and foster First Nations people, culture, and talent worldwide,” Mr Slater said.

ICC Sydney has frequently shown that corporate events can highlight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievements. Our corporate relationships have expanded investment in our support programmes, from helping kids study to improving career opportunities for high-performing talent and exposing our cultural acts to more local and visiting event attendees.

“With the ICC Sydney’s busy 2023 events programme in mind, visitors can look forwards to hearing the tales of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as they connect in meaningful ways with our cultures,” Ms Mundine said.

Donaghy also hoped that the ICC Sydney’s dedication to reconciliation would encourage other corporate events organisations to follow suit.

“Even before the venue opened, the ICC Sydney was dedicated to reconciliation. With our second Reconciliation Action Plan currently in place, nothing would make us happier than to see other organisations throughout the country do the same – because it is only by working together that we can turn the dial and drive change,” Mr Donaghy added.

Reconciliation Australia, Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, KARI Foundation, Aunty Margret Campbell of Dreamtime Southern X, Supply Nation, Australian Indigenous Chamber of Commerce, and Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Cooperative supported the venue’s second Reconciliation Action Plan, which began in March 2022.

To find out more about ICC Sydney’s Reconciliation Action Plan or Legacy Program, visit www.iccsydney.com