Economic development for First Nations people at the heart of Andrew Niven’s career goals
QUT Alumnus Andrew Niven is the Indigenous Partnership Manager at QIC and works to create economic development for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
Andrew is a proud Djaku-nde man from the Bunya Mountains in Queensland, a loving father of two children, husband, and a Guinness world record breaker. Encouraged by some of his high school teachers to study Business, Andrew graduated from a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) with Distinction at QUT in 2013 and is passionate about creating intergenerational wealth for First Nations people.
At QIC (Queensland Investment Corporation), Andrew is the first person to hold the role of Indigenous Partnership Manager after the position was created in 2020. Primarily responsible for creating economic development for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders for QIC, Andrew works to increase Indigenous procurement and employment within QIC and their sphere of influence.
"My role is very strategic and I spend a lot of time thinking about the best way to work with people internally and externally to create opportunities for mob. I have a lot of freedom to meet with people and to develop my own ideas. I really enjoy this type of work and I feel like I have a great opportunity to create long-lasting change."
Heavily engaged in community development and engagement activities, Andrew facilitates cultural awareness training programs in-house at QIC as well as playing a key role in engaging with Elders and Traditional Owners on the lands of QIC’s assets. “I’m working on some very exciting initiatives in the Indigenous investment space, and I am excited by what QIC can do to work with communities to create long-term financial sustainability for our mob,” he said.
Passionate about his community, Andrew has worked with various Indigenous organisations on pro bono initiatives and sits on two boards, the Brisbane Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service (ATSICHS), and The Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH). In 2017, Andrew recommended to ATSICHS to invest, creating an additional $5 million that has since been re-invested back into community programs and initiatives.
Regarding his personal achievements, earlier this year, Andrew broke the Guiness World Record for the most weight lifted by kettlebell swing in 24 hours, “I did 9,208 swings in total and lifted just shy of 166,000kg worth of weight. I did this while working full-time on two Boards, and with two kids under four years old. I wanted to be an example of what is possible if we really apply ourselves to something,” he said.
Andrew is passionate about creating intergenerational wealth for First Nations people, “I’ve seen those around me forced to work multiple jobs just to survive and this limits the ability to get out of the rat race and ahead of the game. Because of my first-hand experience I am very motivated to create intergenerational wealth for our mob.”
“A lot of my achievements so far have been due to the opportunities I was provided thanks to my parents working hard to own their house and live debt-free.” Andrew hopes to see Indigenous home ownership continue to rise and for, “more mob to understand the importance of intergenerational wealth.”
Andrew says his career goals are very holistic and that balance is the key to success across all areas of life, “I treat career as everything I do, not just my 9-5 work. My priorities in my career are to be the best dad I can be, to continue to create intergenerational wealth for mob, to be a role model for what is possible, to continue exercising, staying healthy and spend time with friends and family. I believe we all need balance. If we keep our priorities in check and understand what is important to us then we can live a happy and fulfilling life. I work as hard as I can when the time is right, but I also make sure I spend time with friends and family and invest time in my physical and mental health.”
While at QUT, Andrew was highly engaged throughout his degree. “I loved studying at QUT. The degree provided a great foundation for a wide range of jobs and develops fundamental, transferrable skills. I met a lot of like-minded people and was exposed to a knowledge base that has served me well in my professional career since graduating,” he said. In 2011 he was one of the first 79 students in the CareerTrackers program and credits the lifelong connections he made at university through his involvement with the Oodgeroo Unit.
Andrew’s best piece of advice, “Every day you have an opportunity to either go 1% forward or 1% backwards, staying stagnant isn’t an option, there’s no such thing. When that moment comes in the day, make the choice to be 1% better. Do that for 1,000 days in a row and great things will happen.”
Reflecting on this year’s theme for NAIDOC week, Heal Country, heal our nation, Andrew says, “For me, the focus is on Country. You will often hear Country spoken about as if it is a living, breathing entity. When Country is sick, so are its people. And most importantly, the Country does not belong to the people, the people belong to the Country. This year’s theme should be a catalyst for all Australians to deepen our understanding of a culture that has survived and thrived for 65,000 years and learn about the respect for Country. For Indigenous people, Country is not just a place, it’s everything spiritual and physical. To Heal Country means that all Australians are actively working towards respecting and understanding the underpinning beliefs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. It’s a platform for true reconciliation. I’m very fortunate to work with people that have embraced this mentality and I’m looking forward to seeing how the next generation will continue this journey.”
NAIDOC Week 2021 acknowledges and celebrates that our nation’s story didn’t begin with documented European contact. Healing Country means embracing First Nation’s cultural knowledge and understanding of Country as part of Australia's national heritage. That the culture and values of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders are respected equally to and the cultures and values of all Australians. Healing Country is more than changing a word in our national anthem – it is about the historical, political, and administrative landscapes adapting to successfully empower and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, nations, and heritage.
