Indigenous
Engagement Plan
July 2024 to June 2026

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
OF COUNTRY
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians ofthe lands on which we work across Australia andrecognise their continuing connection to land, watersand culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past,present and emerging.
We respectfully acknowledge the Turrbal people andYuggera people, Traditional Custodians of the land
where our Brisbane office is located.
We respectfully acknowledge the Wurundjeri peopleof the Kulin Nation, Traditional Custodians of theland where our Melbourne office is located.
We respectfully acknowledge the Whadjuk people ofthe Noongar Nation, Traditional Custodians of theland where our Perth office is located.
We respectfully acknowledge the Gadigal people ofthe Eora Nation, Traditional Custodians of the land
where our Sydney office is located.

2 | Indigenous Engagement PlanA MESSAGE FROM JASON OPPERMANREGIONAL MANAGING PARTNER - AUSTRALIAWe are honoured to play our part in the much bigger picture of a reconciled Australia.
As we developed this plan, we considered important questions to assist in developing a focused and determinedframework: “What steps are being taken to actively advance the shared vision of a just, equitable and reconciled
Australia, to raise awareness, and have a positive impact on our community?” and “How can we infuse ourcommitment to the goal of a unified Australia with significant actions that can continue to advance the prospects forAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?”We recognise the need for leadership and vision in all areas of our Indigenous Engagement Plan, both now and in
the future, to unite all our employees behind a common objective and encourage everyone to take an active role inmaking a positive impact by contributing to our initiatives. As a law firm, our pro bono work—in particular throughthe K&L Gates for Equal Justice initiative—is central to delivering our vision for meaningful progress.
With the guidance of our Indigenous Engagement Committee, we will focus on opportunities within our sphere ofinfluence to create a positive impact.
As a nation, we face many challenges, but we remain excited and optimistic
about the opportunities the future holds. As a firm, we will work towards
increasing the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
within the legal industry.
We look forward to advancing our partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples on the pathway to reconciliation, together.

klgates.com | 3

OUR COMMITMENT TO INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT
Our vision for reconciliation is an Australia where access to justiceis equal for all and the systemic barriers of the legal system arediminished for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples andbusinesses. To this end:
• we educate and inform our people about how the justicesystem has impacted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderpeoples since colonisation,• we provide pro bono legal support for Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people, communities and businesses,• we promote and utilise the procurement of goods andservices from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderbusinesses, and• we provide opportunities to increase the representationof Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in thelegal profession.
K&L Gates has been contributing to the work of reconciliation forover a decade through pro bono support for Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander businesses and through our Reconciliation Action
Plans. Our Indigenous Engagement Plan looks to continue thiswork and make further impact within our spheres of influence.

4 | Indigenous Engagement Plan

The Indigenous Engagement Committee is responsible fordeveloping and executing the deliverables contained within ourplan. While the Indigenous Engagement Committee provides
guidance and support, we have empowered our people tounderstand their role in reconciliation and in the actions outlined
within our plan.

Our Partnerships
K&L Gates will continue to support the not-for-profit organisation
Saltwater Country. Saltwater Country is an organisation dedicated toempowering and mobilising the connection of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples to land, horses and stockmanship pride.
Additionally, we maintain a partnership with the Independent
Indigenous Tourism Operators of Queensland (IITOQ) to promote
positive outcomes for Indigenous tourism. IITOQ was establishedupon the principles of self-determination and the empowermentof the Indigenous voice in the tourism industry within Queensland,nationally, and internationally.

OUR INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENTCOMMITTEE MEMBERS INCLUDE:
Joanna Bielby
Senior Associate
Liz Bodey
Associate Director ofMarket Development
Nick Grant
Director of Human Resources
Adam Levine
Pro Bono Coordinator and Partner
Greta Marks
Senior Associate
Joshua Robbins
LawyerKatherine Smith
Special Counsel
Jessica Thompson
Human Resources Managerklgates.com | 5

K&L Gates Australia
When Middletonscombined with K&L Gates
in 2013, the firm merged
not only its people, but its
values, bringing a numberof long standing pro bonoand community partners
into the new firm.

K&L Gates worked with a number of Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander businesses, through longstanding
partnerships. These organisations included: North Australian
Indigenous Land & Sea Management Alliance, Nyamba Buru
Yawuru, Meeanjin Aboriginal Corporation, Indigenous AFL
Players Alliance and the Nyamba Buru Yawuru IndigenousGovernance Award.

A plan begins to form
Work begins on the K&L Gates
inaugural Reflect RAP in April 2019.

RAP launched
Commencement of the K&L Gates
Reflect RAP in 2020.
Implemented guidelines for
Acknowledgment of Country in each
K&L Gates Australian office.

6 | Indigenous Engagement Plan2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

REFLECTING ON OUR RECONCILIATION JOURNEY2021
Working withAboriginal and TorresStrait Islander clients
through pro bono
We have had the privilege to act
as pro bono legal co-counsel
to Yarraka Bayles, on behalfof her son Quaden and thefamily, in a cyberbullying matterthat has attracted national andinternational media attention.
Working alongside co-counsel
George Newhouse of the
National Justice Project, lawyers
from K&L Gates assisted in
the digital crisis planning andresponse to the cyberbullyingof Quaden and implemented a
tax efficient structure to receive
the funds raised through a
US GoFundMe campaign.
The family's inspiring story ofcourage was captured in theABC's Australian Story episode,
About A Boy.

In an initiative of ourAustralian Innovation andPro Bono Committees, wehave teamed up with theNational Justice Project,
Macquarie University andJosef legal technology, tohelp create a new approach
to bringing pro bono support
to vulnerable communities,
Tech4Justice. The project
team is working with WEAVE
Youth & Community Services
to increase our understandingof how we can best support
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples through thisinitiative.

We updated the Pro Bonomatter intake processes, tocapture information to help
understand the relationships
we have with Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander peoples
and business to map theirconnections.

Building cultural
capabilities
The Cultural Intelligence
Project has led the team at
K&L Gates for three training
sessions, commencing in
National Reconciliation Week
and concluding in NAIDOC
Week, so that collectively wecan better understand:• Two Worlds: Understanding
the barriers• The Other Glass Ceiling:
Unpacking the decisions
you make

Engagement with
Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander clients
During the 2020/21 financialyear, our Australian offices
provided over 165 hoursof pro bono advice toAboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander clients, valued atover AU$95,000.
In total, our Australian teams
worked with 33 Aboriginaland Torres Strait Islanderorganisations, of which 21
businesses were categorised
as not-for-profit or charitable.

• Ally vs Accomplice: How totake action

klgates.com | 7

We launched our Innovate
Reconciliation Action Plan,furthering our commitment
to reconciliation.

8 | Indigenous Engagement Plan

The Sydney office held an event
celebrating Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples andcultures. A Welcome to Countrywas carried out. Clients of the firm
Aunty Fran Bodkin and Gavin
Andrews attended the event andgraciously loaned us a piece ofartwork. We were also joined byproud Wiradjuri man Andrew
Smith, barrister and Acting
Commissioner of the Land andEnvironment Court.

2024

2023

2022

TIMELINE CONTINUED...

The Cultural Intelligence Project
led cultural awareness training
for our people. During thisseries, people were encouraged
to consider the barriers that
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples face, as well
as how we can play a part inreconciliation through action.

Finalised our Indigenous
Engagement Plan.

Launched our inaugral Indigenous
Internship Program (IIP).

The Brisbane office hosted aNational Reconciliation Week
lunch and welcomed firm client
IITOQ to speak about the workthat they do and our contributions
to their efforts.

Left: Welcome to Country Sydney 2022

Right: Call it Out
session deliveredby National Justice
Project 2022

klgates.com | 9

Right: The Cultural Intelligence
Project ran a Cultural iQ training
series in March 2023

Left: The Brisbane
office hosted a National
Reconciliation Week
lunch and heard fromguest speakers Birrungaand Madonna Thomson,co-founders of IITOQ, afirm client.

10 | Indigenous Engagement Plan

Left and below: K&L Gates
provided subsidised tickets
to the Doveton Aboriginal
Gathering Place Youth Group(Victoria) and to Girls fromOz to attend “SunshineSuper Girl” with a Q&A
session afterwards.

Left: In June 2023, we lauched ourinaugural IIP aimed at providing work
experience to Indigenous students. The
introduction of this program is a key partof the firm’s ongoing commitment toreconciliation.

klgates.com | 11

OUR PILLARS OF INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT

Pro Bono andAccess to JusticeEducation andUnderstanding

Procurement
Opportunities

Employment
Outcomes

K&L Gates will continue
to provide pro bono legal
support for Aboriginaland Torres Strait Islanderpeoples, communities
and businesses.

K&L Gates will educate
and inform our people
about how the justicesystem has impacted
Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples andcontinue to advance ourpeople’s understanding ofAboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander cultures.

K&L Gates will promote
the procurement ofgoods and services from
Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander businesses,
encouraging positive
economic outcomes.

K&L Gates will promote
opportunities to increase
the representation ofAboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples in
the legal profession.

12 | Indigenous Engagement Plan

PRO BONO AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE
Initiatives

Timeline

Responsibility

Continue our collaboration with the Melbourne Theatre Company, sponsoring its First
Nations program, to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with affordable
access to world-class theatre. This program offers subsidised tickets to First Nationsorganisations and education institutions across Victoria.

July 2024

Committee
Relationship Lead

Seek opportunities to provide legal services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderbusinesses (as a pro bono or low bono (offering discounted rates) client) and promote
those organisations to K&L Gates staff.

July 2024

Committee
Relationship LeadThrough our pro bono program, actively seek to build relationships with organisations
that can connect the firm to opportunities to promote equal justice for Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander peoples.

August 2024

Pro Bono Coordinator

Promote our partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation SaltwaterCountry Foundation through our Workplace Giving Program, which will enable employees
to donate a portion of their salary to Saltwater Country.

October 2024

Pro BonoCoordinatorklgates.com | 13

EDUCATION & UNDERSTANDING
Initiatives

Timeline

Responsibility

Raise awareness of reconciliation across our workforce, including providing new joiners to the July 2024
firm with an overview of the Indigenous Engagement Plan as part of their induction program.

Committee Secretary

Publicly Communicate our commitment to Indigenous engagement.

July 2024

Committee Projects
Lead

Circulate National Reconciliation Week resources and materials to our people. Encourageand support our people to participate in at least one event to recognise National
Reconciliation Week.

27 May – 3 Juneannually

Committee Secretary

Organise at least one National Reconciliation Week event each year.

27 May – 3 Juneannually

Committee Chair

Circulate and promote participation in external NAIDOC events for all our people. Encourage
and support our people to participate in at least one event to recognise NAIDOC.

First week in Julyannually

Committee Secretary

Support and encourage Indigenous language by inviting the Indigenous Literacy Foundation July 2024
to present a session for our people during NAIDOC Week and consider a Corporate Library tobe displayed in each of our offices.

Committee
Governance Lead

Conduct a review of cultural learning needs within our organisation. Review our Cultural
Learning Strategy and update to ensure it remains effective.

February 2025

Committee Secretary

Provide opportunities for our people to engage in cultural training and to share with theircolleagues the outcomes of this training in practice.

March 2025

Committee Chair

14 | Indigenous Engagement PlanInitiatives

Timeline

Responsibility

Engage an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander charity as one of the recipients of the firm’s
efforts during our annual worldwide community service program, the Global Day of Service.

September 2024
and September2025

Pro Bono
CoordinatorContinue to implement and communicate cultural protocol documents for
Acknowledgement of Country. Encourage our people to implement these protocols for all
formal meetings and events.

July 2024

Committee Chair

Develop a series of lunch n’ learn sessions (KLG Yarning Circles)—a story-telling conversation October 2024with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The series will focus on the topics ofinclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, access to justice, and other storiesof supporting equality.

Committee
Relationship Leadand Committee
Projects Leadklgates.com | 15PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Initiatives

Timeline

Responsibility

Encourage procurement of goods and services from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderbusinesses via communication of options to our people who purchase goods and services.

September 2024

Committee Projects
Lead

Review and update our Procurement Strategy to ensure that practices are currentand effective.

February 2025

Committee Projects
Lead

Engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses for the firm’s printing needs
as appropriate.

July 2024

Committee Chair

Display Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artwork in each office in Australia, supporting
local artists in the area where possible.

March 2025

Committee Chair

16 | Indigenous Engagement PlanEMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES
Initiatives

Timeline

Responsibility

Strengthen relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student associations at
respective universities in each K&L Gates office location in order to drive additional interest
from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, as well as to help facilitate the desire
to expand our IIP. Distribute copies of our Indigenous Engagement Plan as part of theinformation available for university students at university events and legal career fairs.

March 2025

Committee Secretary

Review, monitor and update our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recruitment, retention
and professional development strategy.

August 2024

Committee Chair

Advertise job vacancies to effectively reach Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders April 2025
via Indigenous Employment Australia and other mediums as appropriate.

Committee Secretary

Increase the percentage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples employed in ourworkforce, to a total of 1%.

Committee Chair

October 2025

Continue to engage in the Legal Profession Reconciliation Network and establish relationships July 2024with other law firms involved in reconciliation to explore opportunities for collaboration.

Committee Chair

Engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and/or Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander advisors on our initiatives in the Indigenous Engagement Plan.

September 2024

Committee
Governance Lead

Continue to implement and build upon a national IIP.

July 2024

Committee Secretaryklgates.com | 17

GOVERNANCE
Our Indigenous Engagement Plan builds upon our learning in our reconciliation journey to date. To facilitate the ongoing progress of
the reconciliation journey, we will provide regular internal feedback via a quarterly update to our people and to the Australian Board. An
annual report will also be produced to ensure accountability.
The Indigenous Engagement Committee will meet monthly to ensure that the Indigenous Engagement Plan is advancing and that
initiatives are carried out.
Advice will be sought as appropriate from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consultants regarding the initiatives in this plan.

18 | Indigenous Engagement PlanThe artwork utilised in the Indigenous Engagement Plan has been commissioned
by Aboriginal photographer and artist Wayne Quilliam. For more than 30 years,
Indigenous storyteller Wayne Quilliam has travelled the globe as a professional
photographer/videographer and drone pilot. His images feature in publications
like National Geographic, The New York Times and Huffington Post. His
videos have appeared on Australian and international television and streaming
platforms and his creative drone work in installations and tourism videos.
K&L Gates is honoured to have Wayne Quilliam produce such powerful imagery
for the Indigenous Engagement Plan.

klgates.com | 19

Contact:
Nick Grant
Director, Human Resources - Australia+61 2 9513 2375
nick.grant@klgates.com
www.klgates.com

K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers and policy professionals located across five continents.
For more information about K&L Gates or its locations, practices, and registrations, visit klgates.com.
This publication is for informational purposes only and does not contain or convey legal advice. The information herein should not be
used or relied upon in regard to any particular facts or circumstances without first consulting a lawyer.

REQ5059©2024 K&L Gates LLP. All Rights Reserved.