Intercultural Strategy and Governance Advisory
Strategic advice at the intersection of Indigenous culture, governance and long-term impact.
Vanessa Elliott AM
Managing Director, Yura Ngaba Pty Ltd
Vanessa Elliott is an experienced board member serving the following organisations
Yura Ngaba guides leaders and organisations to make clear, accountable decisions in complex geopolitical and intercultural environments.
We deliver practical support from strategy and stakeholder alignment to governance guidance and implementation.
A desert cultural concept and practice Vanessa learnt from her elders.
To optimise a place or purpose you must start with nourishing the will of the people, and be aware that your assets lie in upstream, midstream and down stream planning and alignment; so you do not perish.
Yura Ngaba is to purify modes of engagement to focus on what matters most.
To encourage and inspire a shared vision and movement through adversity and complexity.
To make timely decisions that demonstrate a commitment to holistic outcomes, that bring ecological and cultural stability, preservation and enhancement across seven generations.
Core advisory focus areas.
Advising organisations on responsible development aligned with cultural values and long-term sustainability.
Supporting meaningful collaboration across the whole project lifecycle through respectful consultation, co-design and integrated planning.
Guidance on land access, regulatory requirements, Indigenous rights and near neighbour impacts.
Helping organisations translate policy into outcomes that benefit communities.
Supporting leadership teams navigating complex cultural and organisational change.
Practical support grounded in people and place.
Defining intent, constraints, risks, and a pathway to action.
Aligning stakeholders around shared priorities, roles and next steps.
Guiding decisions with clear options, trade-offs and accountability.
Driving execution through practical steps, measures and outcomes.
Vanessa Elliott AM is an experienced cross-sectoral strategic planner and advisor with more than two decades working across Indigenous affairs, governance and regional development.
Her work spans ESG, Indigenous engagement, infrastructure projects and organisational change, helping organisations navigate complex decisions involving culture, governance and long-term impact.
Vanessa has a longitudinal outlook and is known for guiding organisations through sensitive and complex environments with clarity, respect and accountability.
Chairperson
Nov 2025 — present
National Aboriginal Advisory Group Member
May 2024 — present
Non-Executive Director
Jan 2024 — present
Non-Executive Director
Jul 2023 — present
Industry Fellow
2021 — present
Advisory Member
2021 — present
Non-Executive Director
2023 — present
Listening carefully, recognising cultural context and engaging with care.
Long-term relationships built through transparency, accountability and integrity.
Helping organisations move from good intentions to meaningful outcomes.
26–27 March 2026
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Stillbirth Prevention Symposium. Vanessa Elliott AM facilitating alongside national researchers, clinicians, and community leaders.
Boola Katitjin, Murdoch University, Perth
If your organisation is navigating decisions involving Indigenous engagement, governance or regional development, we welcome the conversation.
