CEO report from Anna Boustead

As we head into what used to be the quiet, hot season, it seems it is only getting busier! Last month saw our team and Directors out and about meeting with members on their Country, listening and engaging in major events and connecting with many of you within the network. It was wonderful and grounding and a great reminder of just how many inspiring people we are privileged to have in our network. 

Our Strategic Review is now underway. ICIN has engaged Cross Cultural Consultants to support the review. This comes at a pivotal time for ICIN. 

The ACCU Bill Amendments have been put to a Senate Inquiry, with submissions due on Friday. ICIN continues to advocate for improvements to the ACCU Scheme and improved recognition of Indigenous rights and interest in carbon to not fall foul of political game playing. We will continue to urge the Senate to pass the Bill to enable a stronger and more equitable ACCU Scheme. 

See more about our recent submissions to the Safeguard Review and ACCU Scheme below. 

Preparations for ICIN’s delegation to COP31 in Turkiye are well underway. If you will be attending COP31, please reach out so we can support connections. 

Our Director Suzanne Thompson writes from Pre-COP in Fiji today, where she is supporting a booth to showcase Australia’s Indigenous carbon industry and guides produced by ICIN. 

Indigenous carbon projects on display at pre-COP in Fiji

ICIN Director Suzanne Thompson is currently in Fiji attending Pre-COP31 from the 5-8 October. The Pacific-hosted event is an important opportunity in the lead-up to the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) which is held in Türkiye in November and will be attended by a larger ICIN group. At Pre-COP31, Suzanne is hosting a booth showcasing the benefits of Indigenous-led and Indigenous-owned carbon projects, including ICIN’s resources to support Indigenous groups interested in developing carbon projects, as well as opportunities to connect with ICIN and participate in events such as the upcoming Savanna Fire Forum. Thank you Suzanne for continuing to raise the profile of Indigenous leadership in carbon markets on the global stage. 

Photo caption: Suzanne Thompson with Fiji government representatives Solo Mara, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, and Hon Sakiasi Ditoka, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade. Suzanne Thompson interviewed by a journalist for Pacific Island Business. 

ICIN position on Climate Active and the Safeguard Mechanism 

Recently ICIN made two submissions to the Australian government through the Climate Active Consultation and the Safeguard Mechanism review. ICIN will continue to advocate for policy infrastructure that properly values ACCUs, recognises Indigenous rights and interests in carbon and supports transparency, integrity and confidence in carbon markets.   

ICIN supports reforms that strengthen the integrity and credibility of voluntary climate action in Australia, and notes that abandoning the certification standards that Climate Active provided may negatively impact the voluntary market. Find the Climate Active submission here.  

ICIN supports a Safeguard Mechanism that delivers genuine emissions reductions, maintains strong demand for high-integrity ACCUs, and supports Indigenous-led carbon projects. Find the Safeguard Mechanism submission here.  

Important carbon conversations at Kimberley gathering  

Indigenous leaders, community members and regional representative bodies gathered at the Wuggubun Aboriginal Community Campground, near Kununurra, in Western Australia, from 24-28 August. This gathering marked the annual general meetings of the Kimberley Land Council, Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Culture Centre, Kimberley Language Resource Centre and Aarnja Limited. ICIN thanks our director, and Kimberley Land Council deputy CEO, Sarah Parriman for the invitation to host a stall for ICIN, facilitating important conversations about carbon in the region and engagement with existing and new members. Read more about the importance of these gatherings and how Indigenous proponents in the Kimberley are driving impact with their carbon projects.  

The Network at Reimagining Conservation 2026 

At the end of September, Indigenous land managers and conservation scientists from across Australia gathered in Gimuy (Cairns) for the 2026 Reimagining Conservation conference, which had the theme 'Country is Life'. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems and ways of caring for Country was at the center of the agenda. ICIN Co-Chairs Cissy Gore Birch OAM was the MC and Dr Dean Yibarbuk spoke about the impacts of colonisation in his home in West Arnhem Land on the 'On Country' panel. CEO Anna Boustead and Policy Manager Jady Smith attended to listen and discuss issues critical to Indigenous land and sea management, emerging environmental markets and on-Country research. Read more about the conference below.

#Yarnaboutcarbon: Climate change and healthy Country 

Led by Project Officer Jamay Deshong, ICIN delivered its first instalment of the online Yarn About Carbon workshop series as part of the First Nations Carbon Farming Outreach Program, on 17 September, with 30 participants joining. Thank you to our presenters, in particular to Samarla Deshong, Cultural Advisor, Koinmerburra Aboriginal Corporation, who shared insights about what healthy Country looks like for her community and the impacts of climate change which are already a grave concern for her people.

The next workshop in the series will focus on Indigenous peoples’ rights and interests in carbon and free, prior and informed consent, held on 22 October. This online workshop series is designed to support Indigenous people, and non-Indigenous people working at Indigenous organisations, with foundational level information, and plain English training materials, on topics related to carbon farming, so attendees can run similar information sessions within their workplaces and communities.  A special guest speaker to be announced, registrations are open now.  

Learn about the new SFM methods at TNRM   

The Territory Natural Resource Management (TNRM) conference is fast approaching. ICIN is hosting a workshop to enable Indigenous people and representatives of Indigenous organisations to learn further about the two new Savanna Fire Management (SFM) carbon methods that were released earlier this year.  

In this workshop experts will be delivering information via plain english education modules developed through the Carbon Farming Outreach Program, and will outline the opportunities and challenges for Indigenous groups to consider before transferring to, or starting a new project within, these new SFM methods. 

The Network will also be hosting a booth at TNRM, please pop by and have a yarn about carbon! Read more about ICIN’s workshop below, and register today, as these workshops do sell out.    

Calling for sponsors for the 2027 Savanna Fire Forum   

The Network is welcoming sponsorship applications for the 2027 Savanna Fire Forum. ICIN relies upon the support of its sponsors to cover the costs of hosting this Indigenous-led and national event in partnership with Charles Darwin University which brings together 500 people from across our networks to talk about savanna fire management. The 2027 Savanna Fire Forum sponsorship prospectus can be found here, if you are interested please reach out to our events coordinator Aleea [email protected]. Learn more about the 2027 forum below.  

Present at the 2027 Savanna Fire Forum  

The Savanna Fire Forum in 2026 featured more than 50 presenters and facilitators from Indigenous organisations, government, research institutions and industry to share knowledge about the latest developments in all things savanna fire management.  

The 2027 program is currently in development, and we are inviting expressions of interest for presentations across the two-day event. If you would like to run a workshop or host a session, fill out the EOI below and a member of the ICIN team will be in contact. EOIs will close on the 31st of October