ECU's first NAIDOC Speaker Series event will feature Dr Richard Walley OAM and ECU's Clothilde Bullen OAM.
ECU is proud to celebrate National NAIDOC Week by inviting the community to the first event in a new NAIDOC Speaker Series, that will feature highly esteemed cultural leaders, Dr Richard Walley OAM and Clothilde Bullen OAM.
ECU will host the monthly NAIDOC Speaker Series that recognises this year's theme - The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy – and is guided by the five life layers of ECU's newly released Cultural Narrative Framework.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students, Equity and Indigenous), Professor Braden Hill, who will MC the event, said this year's NAIDOC theme strongly reflected ECU's enduring commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education, leadership, and cultural integrity.
"This year's NAIDOC theme invites people to honour the past, celebrate present strengths, and shape a shared future – for ECU it's both a time to reflect on the two decades of Kurongkurl Katitjin's impactful work to transform lives and enrich society and to celebrate the future as we prepare the Centre's move to the City campus in 2026," said Professor Hill.
ECU's NAIDOC Speaker Series will highlight:
- Strength in Indigenous knowledge systems and intergenerational resilience.
- Vision of trailblazers in education and advocacy.
Legacy built through investing in the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, scholars, and communities.
"These events aim to provide the community internal and external to ECU with ongoing opportunities to engage with exceptional leaders doing exceptional work in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander space. It is great to celebrate NAIDOC and its theme across a number of events throughout the year.
This first event of the series featuring Dr Richard Walley OAM and Clothilde Bullen OAM will take place on 30 July and followed by a monthly event, with speakers announced soon.
Dr Richard Walley OAM
Noongar leader, performer, and cultural ambassador, Dr Walley is dedicated to promoting Aboriginal culture through the arts, education, and advocacy. As Lead Cultural Adviser for ECU City campus, Richard had a pivotal role in shaping the design and development of the new University precinct, ensuring it respectfully celebrates Noongar culture and heritage.
Clothilde Bullen OAM
An acclaimed Wardandi and Badimaya curator, writer, and advocate, Ms Bullen was honoured in 2025 with an Order of Australia Medal for her contributions to Indigenous art. Clothilde has played a key role in shaping ECU's cultural identity, leading the development of its Cultural Narrative Framework, before stepping into her current role as Manager of Art, Culture and Collections.
Event Details:
When: Wednesday, 30 July 2025, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Where: ECU, Whadjuk Boodjar, Joondalup Campus, Building 32 Lecture Theatre, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup
RSVP: Register to attend in-person or via livestream by Friday, 25 July. FREE ticketed event, open to the public.
Access: The venue is fitted with a T-Switch hearing loop system and is wheelchair accessible. If you have any accessibility needs to participate in the event, please contact ECU Corporate Events.
