Reconciliation Action Plan: Progress Update
Prepared by The Bulwul Njindiwan Group (TBNG), Indigenous Advisors to ADP Consulting
Over the past 12 months, The Bulwul Njindiwan Group (TBNG) has been impressed by ADP’s commitment to implementing its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). We particularly enjoyed working with ESG Coordinator Ruby Buxton and look forward to continuing this collaboration with her successor, Jonty O’Hara.
The ADP RAP Working Group, chaired by Michael Delaney, has met every two months, with members consistently well-prepared. We commend the practice of beginning each meeting with a personal and heartfelt Acknowledgement of Country, a sign of the authenticity of ADP’s reconciliation efforts and the genuine commitment of its people.
ADP has completed TBNG Cultural training. Approximately 100 team members from across the whole of Australia business participated across two sessions in November 2024.
Engaging Traditional Owners (TOs) across Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland has proven complex- especially in the wake of the national referendum- but progress has been achieved behind the scenes. The groundwork laid to date gives us confidence that meaningful engagement will accelerate through late 2025 and into early 2026. Our principal consultant, Kyle Vander-Kuyp, has had informal contact with respected TOs connected to key governing bodies: the Wurundjeri Corporation in Victoria, the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council in NSW, and the Turrbal people in Queensland. Kyle will continue to guide these early discussions as ADP prepares for formal engagement.
Strategic Progress
Since the endorsement and launch of ADP’s RAP in mid-2024, efforts have focused on building internal cultural understanding while navigating the political and cultural realities TO groups currently face. Challenges such as post-referendum disillusionment, cultural workload, competing priorities, internal tensions within TO organisations, and longstanding distrust of external consultation have all been real barriers.
We commend ADP’s growing awareness of these factors. Ruby Buxton and Tom Miers, in particular, have both been instrumental in ensuring internal understanding at Board level of these challenges.
TBNG, led by Kyle Vander-Kuyp, has worked consistently and quietly behind the scenes, leveraging trusted, long-term relationships with TOs. These efforts are establishing the critical foundations for sustainable engagement.
As the RAP Working Group is aware, trust and authentic relationships take time- and rushing the process would undermine the integrity of ADP’s commitments. These challenges are not unique to ADP; they reflect broader national circumstances.
The expectation of early engagement from RAP organisations often places unintended pressure on under-resourced TO groups. This was acknowledged in our May 2025 RWG meeting, where we reaffirmed that genuine relationship building must remain the top priority over tick-box compliance.
Russell Kennedy & the Australian & International Indigenous Design Charters
A key achievement for ADP has been its meaningful collaboration with Russell Kennedy- a respected expert in Indigenous cultural heritage- who works closely with renowned Indigenous architect and leader, Jefa Greenaway.
Russell’s involvement has brought to ADP both cultural and intellectual value, and has the potential to help shape ADP’s frameworks with authenticity. He has generously shared insights from the Australian and International Indigenous Design Charters, which he co-authored, and has offered continued support to ADP in aligning its design approach with best-practice principles.
The Charters provide guidance for respectful Indigenous representation in professional design practices and are internationally recognised and endorsed by the International Council of Design and featured on the Design Institute of Australia website.
TBNG will continue to support ADP’s ongoing engagement with Russell and Deakin University to ensure that ADP’s work reflects culturally safe and appropriate design thinking.
Internal Engagement & Cultural Capability
While external engagement has been slower due to the complexities outlined above, ADP’s internal commitment has strengthened. The Reconciliation Working Group, chaired by Michael Delaney and coordinated by Ruby Buxton (now Jonty O’Hara), has maintained quarterly meetings and driven important initiatives, including:
- A Cultural Learning Survey (150+ responses; 55% of the workforce);
- Cultural Awareness Training;
- Participation in NAIDOC Week and National Reconciliation Week events;
- A presentation on Indigenous Design Considerations.
This level of internal engagement ensures that ADP’s staff are not only culturally aware but positioned to act with cultural competence once TO partnerships are formalised. TBNG values working with such a committed and responsive team.
Cultural Training
ADP team members participated in Cultural Awareness Training (pictured below), delivered by TBNG founder Kyle Vander-Kuyp. The training was delivered across two hybrid sessions (in-person and online) in November 2024. Approximately 100 people from across the whole of the Australian business participated in these sessions.
The feedback received overwhelmingly points to people having a positive and worthwhile experience. TBNG acknowledged and value the feedback that there is also room for improvement in providing more interaction, and there were also some great suggestions for additional content around culture and current indigenous affairs.
Outlook: Second half of 2025 and into 2026
Looking ahead, we anticipate:
- Continued, methodical attention to RAP actions;
- Meaningful engagement with Traditional Owners gaining momentum in late 2025;
- Formal advisory conversations and collaborative partnerships commencing in early 2026.
The groundwork laid thus far gives us confidence that ADP is on the path to forming impactful, enduring partnerships-that are co-designed, community-led, and grounded in mutual respect.
Reconciliation Working Group (RWG)
| Chair/ Champion Michael Delaney Director / Board Member | RAP Coordinator Jonty O’Hara ESG Specialist | Aboriginal Advisor Kyle Vander-Kuyp TBNG | VIC State Champion Thomas Miers Associate Director | NSW State Champion Ryan Godfrey Associate Director |
| QLD State Champion Tim Elgood Director | Relationships Lead Aishwarya Salvi Engineer | Respect Lead Marley Elleray Business Support | Opportunities Lead Penny Benjamin Consultant |
Featured image: Created by Timothy Buckley, a proud Mununjali Man, this artwork titled ‘Thrive’ was commissioned by ADP Consulting, an Ayesa company, as a representation of our Reconciliation journey.
