Rod Williams, Managing Director of Gongan Consultancy, is an Indigenous business advisor who helps private enterprise, Indigenous communities and organisations work together, by providing advice and specialist services that help bridge the cultural divide.
Rod has more than 20 years’ experience helping business, government and Indigenous organisations, groups and communities understand and overcome the cultural and communication differences that come into play when working and building business together.
He is a Bundjalung man who has pursued a private sector career that extends across industrial relations, financial, mining industries and small business development at both the national and international levels. He has a Bachelor of Business from the Elton Mayo School of Management, University of South Australia.
Rod Williams has developed three framework models that he uses to help culturally diverse organisations understand each other’s perspective in negotiations and consultation.
"When watching business talks between business, government and Aboriginal community representatives, I observed that:
The three groups often present their directions in a language that usually leads to misunderstanding and misinterpretation. The Gongan framework models were developed to give the parties a common language and framework to work through at the consultation and negotiation stages.”
“Rod really helped me improve and expand my business by working with me to clarify what my business was about, what it had to offer and where it fit in the marketplace. I had been in business for some time before working with Rod, and I used to wonder why more clients weren’t using my services. Rod’s advice enabled me to think about how my products would work for the client.
Rod has a strong corporate background and brings credibility, particularly as an Indigenous person with business experience. This credibility is really important. Ideas need to come from someone who has walked the talk, and that is something that Rod Williams has done..”
Anthony Newcastle, Founder, Natjul Indigenous Performing Arts
“I think Gongan's framework and approach to organisational development is unique in the way that Rod looks at all elements within the community context - the politics, kinship systems and relationships - as part of the process.
I see consultants in communities who have the business, administrative and governance expertise but very little understanding of how to approach or engage in a culturally appropriate and meaningful way.
Similarly, you have other consultants who have the knowledge and understanding of community protocols, language and kinship systems but do not have the experience to put the basic structures in place for the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and corporations. This includes developing business administrative and governance policies and procedures and developing business planning processes for the future.
I think Gongan is unique in what it offers, with successful outcomes.”
Janeen Bulsey, Withinka Enterprises
“I had the great privilege of working closely with Rod Williams at Galiwin’ku community in remote North-East Arnhemland throughout 2011. Rod's strengths are being able to empathetically interpret a situation and share relevant information among local Aboriginal people in ways that they easily understand, which helped underpin the success of our work.
Rod has developed an economic framework for a range of social and commercial scenarios to help Indigenous people and organisations undertake a comprehensive assessment of their plans and aspirations. I have been working very successfully for many years with Indigenous Australians using similar methodologies that Rod employs in his framework but until I met Rod I had never seen these concepts articulated so clearly, methodically and comprehensively in one package of ready to use tools.”
Danny Burton, Indigenous affairs consultant
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