Sixteen leading Australian travel and tourism organisations recently met in Warrane/Sydney for the annual in-person meeting of the Tourism Reconciliation Industry Networking Group (RING), a powerful collaboration working to advance reconciliation and elevate First Nations voices through tourism.
The Tourism RING was launched in 2022 by Tourism Australia and Intrepid Travel with support from Reconciliation Australia as an industry-led, informal group committed to real action. Karryon covered its launch here.
The latest in-person gathering, held on February 12 at Tourism Australia‘s Head Office, marked a significant moment for the sector and the initiative. It brought together 16 members of the now 28-strong RING collective—all of whom have a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in place—to connect, learn, and move forward together.
While the group meets online quarterly, this annual face-to-face meeting offers a rare chance to go deeper. This year’s agenda focused on three key priorities: employment, procurement, and moving through the RAP levels—all critical levers to creating lasting impact.
Elevating First Nations Leadership
As with previous gatherings, the spotlight remained firmly on First Nations leaders and changemakers.
Shane Phillips, CEO of Tribal Warrior, delivered a stirring keynote on Building Communities, Strengthening Culture, highlighting the success of employment and cultural programs developed in Redfern and the power of their harbour tours to connect visitors to Country and culture.
Dixie Crawford, CEO of Nganya, led an impactful session on Implementing and Growing a Successful RAP Program. Drawing on her work with some of Australia’s leading corporates, Crawford challenged the room to be more ambitious and go beyond performative measures.
Next was Clark Webb, CEO of Wajaana Yaam Adventure Tours and a board member of Destination NSW, who explored Tourism as an Enabler for Creating Lasting Impact. Webb spoke about the urgent need to preserve First Nations languages and culture and shared the powerful story of the Gumbaynggirr Giingana Freedom School – NSW’s first bilingual school.
Practical workshops and a moment of reflection
Two breakout sessions, led by Kate Delaney, GM of the RAP Program at Reconciliation Australia, and Kirstie Nicholls, NSW Relationship Manager at Supply Nation, offered further depth.
Delaney unpacked the challenges and progress of navigating the RAP framework, while Nicholls shared practical steps to support First Nations procurement and encouraged businesses to build long-term, meaningful supplier relationships.
To close the day, the group gathered for a powerful smoking ceremony led by Aunty Margret Campbell, CEO of Dreamtime SouthernX.
Set against the stunning backdrop of Sydney Harbour, Aunty Margret spoke of the deep connection between Aboriginal people, the trees, and the waters and the role of tourism in sustaining cultural knowledge through storytelling.
“Her words were a poignant reminder of why we’re all here and the responsibility the tourism industry holds in helping share stories that matter,” said a RING member.
Collaboration, not competition, leads the way
More than just a meeting, the Tourism RING has become a space for collective growth – where collaboration, not competition, leads the way. For many, the network has been instrumental in shaping a more conscious and culturally respectful approach to business.
“At BridgeClimb, we are committed to contributing to lasting change toward reconciliation and aim to use our iconic platform to amplify First Nations voices, stories, and history,” said Ali Cassim, Head of Marketing, Product and Digital at BridgeClimb Sydney. “The Reconciliation Industry Network Group (RING) has played a vital role in our journey, offering valuable allyship, education, partnerships and insights.”
Lucy Siebert, GM Corporate Affairs at Intrepid Travel, said the company is proud to be part of a group that is genuinely committed to reconciliation and working together to support First Nations businesses.
Meanwhile, Reflections Holidays also shared the value of the group in shaping meaningful change across their parks and operations. “Reflections is committed to building relationships with the traditional custodians of the land on which we operate and partnering with them to introduce Indigenous culture into our guests’ experience,” said Jacinta Campbell, Executive Manager – Government and Corporate Communications at Reflections Holidays. “The Reconciliation Industry Network Group (RING) provides a valuable opportunity to share experiences and insights and to hear from leaders delivering amazing work that we can all learn from.”
Stacey Davis, COO at Tourism Holdings Limited (thl), reflected on the role of travel in fostering greater understanding. “We recognise the power of travel to open hearts and minds, to inspire, create meaningful connections and deliver economic and social benefits. We are excited to be reaffirming our commitment to reconciliation and to continuing our journey to build our cultural capability in Australia with this group of influential organisations.”
As the industry moves through 2025 and beyond, the Tourism RING is setting the pace for what true collaboration and reconciliation can look like in travel.
In a world that often feels divided, initiatives like this remind us that progress begins with listening, learning, and walking forward together — because unity, not division, is what we need now more than ever.
What is a RAP, and how can you get involved?
A Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) gives organisations a framework to contribute and commit to the reconciliation movement in Australia. RAPs deliver tangible and substantive benefits for First Nations peoples and increase cultural safety in the workplace.
RAPs can include activities such as increasing Indigenous employment, partnering with Indigenous organisations, and promoting Indigenous culture and heritage.
They are intended to be a flexible, ongoing process of reconciliation rather than a one-time initiative.
For more information on how to start your RAP journey, head to www.reconciliation.org.au
