Mikaela French – Strong networks and Blak women in law

Rich Blak Women

Mikaela is a proud Torres Strait Islander from Mabuiag Island with family connections to the Wagadagem and Ngaragi Tribes. She’s a solicitor with Native Title expertise and is involved in ensuring native title and cultural heritage obligations are complied with in commercial contexts.

She’s also involved in Cultural Heritage Management Plans, Indigenous Land Use Agreements, and participates in the Australian Indigenous Education Mentoring Program.

In this episode Mikaela talks about her work, the importance of having a strong network around you, financial literacy in a Native Title context and the changes she’d like to see for First Nations women in law.

Rich Blak Women is a podcast from national Indigenous not-for-profit First Nations Foundation, following stories of culture, strength, challenge, and resilience from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women – rich in culture, value, and mindset.

Conversations aim to deepen awareness about the unique economic inequities’ First Nations women face, investigate success and connection to culture, empower financial wellbeing through shared experiences and learnings, and build community and allies.

The First Nations line-up of guests include Leah Bennett (Board Director at First Nations Foundation and Financial Crime Manager), Mikaela French (Native Title solicitor), Dorothy Smith (Palm Island Women’s Healing Centre coordinator), Allira Davis (Uluru Youth Manager), Tanya Denning-Orman (Director of Indigenous Content, SBS & NITV), Allira Potter (intuitive healer and author), and Dixie Crawford (Managing Director, Nganya).

Host, Larisha Jerome, is a proud Jarowair, Wakka Wakka & Wulli Wulli woman who grew up on Darug Country in Western Sydney and has an extensive background in banking, women’s health, government, and community services. She leads the Foundation’s Women’s Financial Wellness work addressing the economic injustice First Nations people face and empowering women to achieve full financial wellness and independence.

Rich Blak Women will be available on most podcast platforms and can be streamed from First Nations Foundation directly. For more information, please visit tomorrowmoney.co/women/rbw

For more information on the Foundation’s Women’s Financial Wellness initiative, please visit firstnationsfoundation.org.au/indigenous-womens-financial-wellness