Agreement making principles and values

After 22 years and 82 agreements reached, I can confidently say agreement making with Traditional Owners – arguably your most important stakeholder if your industry operates on Country – is what I love. The complexity, the continuous learning, and of course, the benefits we achieve for all parties.

Depending on the terms negotiated, these can range from financial benefits, equity, co-management, scholarships, the creation of thriving businesses, ranger programs and preserving environments. It’s a privilege to be involved in these outcomes and a responsibility we don’t take lightly.

Which is why, on very rare occasions, I have taken the difficult decision to walk away from leading a negotiation if I believe the motivations of one or more parties are not ethically sound. I had to do so recently, and it led me to reflect on our values and our rules of engagement.  

1. We’re not consultants whose clients give us a watch so that we can tell them the time. We prepare strategies that have been tested over decades of negotiating some of the highest stakes agreements across Australia. We offer these to clients in good faith and with the expectation that if we are to lead the negotiation our advice will be respected not ignored.

2. Agreement Hub insists on honest, respectful, and transparent communications with Traditional Owners and their representatives. We don’t play outdated negotiation games and we won’t be used as a shield for a company’s bad behaviour and disingenuous engagement with stakeholders.

3. Agreement Hub insists on going through the front door. We will not destabilise a Traditional Owner group’s representation.

4. If there is an important heritage site, Agreement Hub will advise to avoid it.

5. Agreement Hub will never waste the time of Traditional Owners. We provide all the information needed efficiently and won’t impose terms designed to boost the company’s credentials yet hold no value to Traditional Owners.

6. Agreement Hub doesn’t lead negotiations if a company is hiding behind legal advice. Good legal advice guides, not dictates, the agreements we make. Above all our focus is on delivering commercial outcomes and strengthening reputations.