In an increasingly values-driven business events landscape, destinations and venues are being measured not only on infrastructure and accessibility, but on the depth of experience they offer and the legacy they leave behind. In Cairns, Tropical North Queensland, Australia, reconciliation, culture and connection are becoming central to how events are delivered and experienced.
Located on Gimuy Walubara Yidinji Country in Tropical North Queensland, Cairns Convention Centre sits between two UNESCO World Heritage areas — the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest. The Centre brings together delegates from around the world to share knowledge, build networks and advance ideas, while grounding each event in a strong sense of place and respect for the world’s oldest continuing living cultures.
Reconciliation Action Plan 2026–2028
This approach is reinforced through the Centre’s Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2026–2028. In Australia, a Reconciliation Action Plan is a nationally recognised framework endorsed by Reconciliation Australia, supporting organisations to take practical and measurable steps toward reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who are also respectfully referred to as First Nations peoples. RAPs focus on strengthening relationships, fostering respect and creating meaningful opportunities, helping embed these principles into everyday operations rather than treating them as symbolic gestures.
Cairns Convention Centre – RAP Artwork by Elverina Johnson
For the Centre, the RAP provides a clear roadmap for integrating reconciliation into the way it operates. It reflects a commitment to cultural safety, learning and education, authentic storytelling and long-term partnerships with First Nations communities. Through initiatives spanning employment pathways, First Nations procurement, cultural protocols, art, food and delegate education, reconciliation becomes an active part of the Centre’s day-to-day practice and event delivery experience.
Cultural leadership and community guidance
The RAP has been shaped with guidance from Gimuy Walubara Yidinji Elder and respected cultural advisor Professor Henrietta Marrie AM, whose leadership has supported the Centre’s reconciliation journey. Her involvement ensures cultural integrity remains central to decision-making and delivery.
“This Innovate RAP is an opportunity to continue building a strong relationship based on listening, truth telling and respect for Country and culture,” Professor Marrie said. “When an organisation like the Cairns Convention Centre commits to reconciliation in practical ways — through employment, partnerships, cultural safety and the stories shared with visitors — it helps create a more informed and respectful meeting place.”
This commitment is visible throughout the Centre, including through its curated First Nations artwork and the official RAP artwork commissioned as part of its expansion. Created by local First Nations artist Elverina Johnson and titled Reef Connections, the artwork reflects deep cultural connections between land and sea.
A destination-wide commitment
Importantly, the Centre’s reconciliation journey sits within a broader destination-wide commitment. Across the region, Tourism Tropical North Queensland maintains a destination RAP and a First Nations Tourism Action Plan, guided by its Indigenous Steering Committee. Together, these initiatives help ensure cultural experiences are supported, visible and respectfully integrated.
