About this event
Globally, governments and communities are driving Indigenous consultation and engagement to be an integral part of engineering, infrastructure and environmental projects. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) is now 17 years old, and the impact of UNDRIP on countries around the world has been significant and varied. Interestingly, the four countries that originally voted against UNDRIP- Australia, Canada, New Zealand and United States- are now all signatories or supporters.
Indigenous design is recognized as bringing cultural and innovative significance to infrastructure projects. In New Zealand, Māori models of care are aiming to be weaved into the digital and physical designs of hospitals; however there is still a way to go before this is common practice. Multiple countries include Indigenous engagement as part of environmental regulations, and clients frequently opt into consultation with indigenous communities, outside of regulatory requirements.
In this North American Sustainability Delivery Group Expert Talk, Jacobs’ speakers will present the current drivers for Indigenous engagement, reconciliation and design. They will focus on how to honor Indigenous knowledge, values and communities across all elements of a project.
Held in partnership with:
Hosted by
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Guest speaker
Shay McMahon First Nation: Yuin/Eora, Urban Designer, Australia @ JacobsG
Shay is an Yuin/Eora woman and an urban designer with a background in architecture and planning. Through her unique skillset in urban design, architecture and planning, she is one of a limited pool of First Nation design practitioners in Australia. Shay is passionate about working collaboratively with various design teams and amplifying opportunities to embed First Nations knowledge systems and design thinking into projects- in a way which is responsive and appropriate to First Nations’ living, culture and values. She is driven by her connection to culture a
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Guest speaker
Demetri Poulakas Indigenous Engagement Lead, Canada @ JacobsG
Demetri has focused on Indigenous consultation for the past 11 years. His background in geography and sustainable urban planning brings additional depth to his role as lead writer in the preparation of environmental and socio-economic assessments. He has prepared project and cumulative effects assessments and mitigation measures based on scientific research, in consultation with biophysical experts. He manages the permitting process regarding Indigenous engagement, ensuring permits are obtained in a timely manner. Demetri is also responsible for developing responses to inquiries from government regulators and Indigenous groups regarding various project, as well as ensuring consultation with Indigenous communities is meaningful and complete.
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Guest speaker
Rachel Morris Māori Iwi/Tribe: Ngāti Raukawa, Senior Health Planner/ Project Manager, New Zealand @ JacobsG
A reliable and demonstrated leader in health, Rachel has 20 years’ experience commencing in radiation therapy and progressing into cultural, clinical and digital health planning, stakeholder engagement, indigenous co-design, strategic planning, project management and operational readiness in the built and digital environments. Rachel’s work is focused around creating better environments for staff, whānau (family) and patients to support better health care experiences and outcomes. This is done through contemporary and culturally appropriate models of care, and supporting clinicians in the changes associated with shifting to a new facility with new digital systems and built environments. Rachel has a balanced view of health care that spans from the holistic/ traditional Māori to the acute care settings.
