Cara Peek is a multi-award-winning social disruptor from Remote Northern Australia. She identifies as many things, a Yawuru/Bunuba woman, a successful lawyer, a diverse entrepreneurial leader, and an innovative Cultural Intelligence Strategist.
Cara has worked closely with many regional communities across Australia, the U.S., and Canada as part of her personal mission to create deep, positive social change for First Peoples globally. As Co-Founder of The Cultural Intelligence Project, her work predominately addresses the need for more globally conscious business practices, with a hard lens on female empowered narratives within this space.
With a specialty in place-based, people-centered solutions with global reach, Cara is currently focused on delivering Make It Happen HQ First Nations Innovation Hub and Think Tank which recently received the 2023 NBN Innovation Award – Indigenous Business Category and raising the cultural intelligence of Australian Society through Cultural iQ Education.
Inspiringly, Cara also founded Saltwater Country, a First Australian Female-led charity committed to the advancement of First Australians by improving their social, emotional, economic, and cultural wellbeing with a particular focus on Rural, Remote, and Regional Communities.
Cara is the current recipient of the prestigious Winston Churchill Fellowship, AMP Tomorrow Maker Award, Agrifutures Western Australian Rural Woman of the Year and was most recently named Agrifutures National Rural Woman of the Year.
Talking Points
Breaking bias with the power of Cultural Intelligence
Cultural Intelligence is a life long journey to understand and manage the nuances of cultural diversity...towards 2020 vision. Changing mindset through cultural intelligence enables us to recognise, reflect, and rewire our brains to understand the bias that exists and how to break through. Unpacking the role of cultural bias in information processing and decision making is critical for this country and the globe. At a time where First Peoples knowledge is being called upon to inform and redesign systems towards sustainability, to move beyond systems that no longer serve us as a people or a planet unpack your bias to prevent appropriation and neo colonial appropriation.
Breaking bias with the power of Cultural Intelligence
Why COVID 19 is not the new world for First Nations People
2020 has resulted in life changing experiences across the world, it is a year where the defining moment seems to be a moving target. From bush fires to COVID19 Global Pandemic to the events that lead to global Black Lives Matter protest. These have been traumatic and stressful events for many, however in this session you will learn why the events, responses to them and their outcomes are business as usual for many First Nations people in Australia and the ramifications of business as usual.
Why COVID 19 is not the new world for First Nations People
Two Worlds Understanding the Barriers
Accountability through western eyes is markedly different from the world view of First Nations people. Beginning to understand the barriers that First Nations people often face walking in two worlds, balancing traditional culture and modern secular society will assist you to how you can best be of service to the advancement of First Australians. Open your mind to the world as seen through the eyes of First Australians, what battles we face every day and how you can play a role to make a positive contribution to current and future generations.
Two Worlds Understanding the Barriers
Ally vs Accomplice how you can take action to close the gap
We have come too far not to go further; we have done too much not to do more¦are you ready to take action? Ask yourself where are you on the spectrum? Are you ready to be an ally or accomplice for First Nations people. To listen and learn, to join First Nations people on their journey to social, emotional, cultural and economic wellbeing and independence. You, like may Australians have the access and opportunity to make a real difference. Ally vs Accomplice will speak to ways in which you can make meaningful changes and a contribution to the advancement of First Australians.
Ally vs Accomplice how you can take action to close the gap
Cara Peek presented the main address to the 2022 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award gala dinner at the Great Hall of Parliament House in Canberra. Cara – who is the award’s 2020 national winner ... keep reading R.M.Williams
The NEXUS Global Summit is a unique event bringing together next generation philanthropists and social entrepreneurs from cultures that are quite literally worlds apart. Cara brings an authenticity and accountability to conversations that is not often seen. Generous with her knowledge and time, Cara has significantly contributed to NEXUS’ efforts to center First Nations voices through Cultural Intelligence. She has an unparalleled ability to enable the unseen to be heard and to make everyone in the room feel represented. In doing so she is not afraid to tackle controversial and triggering subjects for the greater good.
The UWA Institute of Agriculture regularly hosts guest lectures that are open to university staff, students, and the public to attend. In 2021 Ms Peek delivered her lecture ‘Disrupt for Good’ to a captivated audience. Her powerful message was: The success of First Australians is the success of all Australians. Most memorably, she spoke from the heart about leading the annual female-run indigenous event Rhythm+Ride Rodeo and shared deeply moving and inspirational stories about the impact her work has made on young people in regional communities. Feedback from attendees was extremely positive. Ms Peek was very generous with her time – arriving early for an in-person interview and photoshoot with the Countryman newspaper, (which resulted in a large feature article the following week) and staying late to answer questions from audience members. We also garnered fantastic engagement on our social media accounts during and following the lecture.
It was fantastic to have Cara speak so impactfully at the Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry's annual Great Southern Women’s Leadership Forum in March 2022 which coincided with International Women’s Day (IWD). Cara's presentation landed perfectly with the IWD theme of Break the Bias challenging the audience as to the choices they make (and would subsequently make) from a social and business perspective. Cara held the delegates attention throughout and left the audience with new knowledge and an appetite for more education about cultural biases.
Cara Peek was named the 2020 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award National Winner and as a result of this win, Cara was the Master of Ceremonies for the 2022 AgriFutures Rural Women Award Gala Dinner and National Announcement held at the Great Hall at Parliament House in September 2022. Every year, the National Winner from the previous year MC’s the event and brings individuality to the stage. Cara was no exception. With over 500 people in attendance, she held the room with her clear and confident tone and was real, raw and honest in her delivery.
