Edith Cowan University is proud to celebrate National NAIDOC Week and invites you to the second event in our NAIDOC Speaker Series—a thought-provoking conversation with trailblazing legal-mind Gningala Yarran-Mark, guided by Professor Dan McAullay, ECU's Dean of Kurongkurl Katitjin and Director, Aboriginal Research. 

This event offers a unique opportunity to engage with cultural knowledge and leadership grounded in lived experience and strength-based approaches. Through the lens of the Kep – Water Life Layer from ECU’s Cultural Narrative Framework, the speakers will explore themes of responsiveness, dexterity and intergenerational opportunity.
 

Gningala Yarran-Mark

A qualified lawyer with a Master of Business Leadership and a Bachelor of Science in Indigenous Australian Research Methodologies, Gningala was the first Aboriginal State Prosecutor and the first Aboriginal law graduate in WA to serve as Associate to Justice French. She has been a trainer at WA Police, led Aboriginal employment and procurement activities, and consulted widely across sectors. Gningala holds extensive Board experience and received an Aurora Scholarship. Gningala is currently pursuing a PhD in Social Procurement and 'Black cladding.'

Event Theme: The Next Generation – Strength, Vision & Legacy

This year’s NAIDOC theme reflects ECU’s enduring commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education, leadership, and cultural integrity.

As we celebrate 20 years of Kurongkurl Katitjin and prepare for our move to the City campus in 2026, we honour the past, embrace present strengths, and look ahead to a shared future.
 

About the ECU NAIDOC Speaker Series

Held monthly from July to November, the series is guided by the five life layers of ECU's Cultural Narrative Framework, and will explore:

• 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 foster respect, truth-telling, and self-determination.

ECU's Cultural Narrative Life Layers in Action | Kep—Water

The Life Layers from ECU's Cultural Narrative, a gift from Whadjuk Noongar Elders, offers the ECU community a strategic framework that complements and enriches our University objectives. 

At this event, the audience will learn more about Kep—the Water Life Layer of the framework. This session will delve into what Kep represents and how it manifests in practice, offering deeper insight into the foundational cultural values that shape our shared journey.

This is a free and ticketed event, open to the public, facilitated by Professor Dan McAullay, ECU's Dean of Kurongkurl Katitjin and ECU's Director, Aboriginal Research.

Event Details

Date and Time
Wednesday, 27 August 2025
10.00am - 12.00pm 
Refreshments on arrival at 10.00am | Formalities begin at 10.45am

Location
Edith Cowan University, Whadjuk Boodjar, Mount Lawley Campus
Building 17 Lecture Theatre
2 Bradford Street
Mount Lawley WA 6050Accessibility
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's Corporate Events team by email (corporate.events@ecu.edu.au) or phone: (08) 6304 2011. 

Building 17 Lecture Theatre, ECU Mount Lawley

Livestream For those who are not able to attend in-person and would like to view the event via livestream, please book here. 

Future Events in the SeriesThe Edith Cowan University NAIDOC Week Speaker Series will take place every month between July-November 2025. To learn about more events in the series, visit the website. 

Contact Details

Contact Event Organiser