Leading with Culture: how we’ve generated $1M in pro-bono and community value with just 20 employees
Every now and again recognition comes along that trumps the rest.
In July, the NGNU team were the very proud winners of the Property Council of Australia’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award for 2025. And while we’re not strangers to being first in class in our project delivery, this recognition validates something that runs deep – the idea that cultural leadership and social responsibility drive both commercial success and community impact
But what does ‘leading with culture’ actually look like in practice? And how has it led us to generate over $1M for the communities we’ve worked with?
The business case for cultural leadership
There’s this outdated notion that exists in our industry, that diversity is a trade-off or compliance exercise. But NGNU’s founding principle is essentially the opposite. We see First Nations culture, and commitment to Country and community as fundamental to operations – not an add-on.
We do this through initiatives like our Dual Impact Delivery Model which is a way of managing projects that does just that. Not only do we deliver Tier 1-quality outcomes, but we also create real opportunities for Aboriginal people, women, and young professionals. We’ve built a model where social value isn’t a separate stream, it’s part of how we plan, procure, and deliver every project.
But of course, the right models and values without actual metrics to back them up are just pretty words. Here’s how we measure our impact.
Our social responsibility metrics
Workforce Participation:
- 35%+ Indigenous workforce participation (for context: the national average is ~3%)
- 50/50 gender representation goal across all roles
- Genuine career pathways for cadets, not just employment targets
Innovative Practices:
- Circle-on-Country decision model and Dual Impact Delivery Model
- Infrastructure cadetships with eight-month mentoring rotations
- Flexible, culturally safe work policies supporting genuine wellbeing
Community Impact
- $1M+ channeled into pro bono and community initiatives
- 1,000+ hours of structured mentoring delivered in 2024
- ‘Recognise Country’ template now adopted in NSW government agencies
Community Stories
Muli Muli Local Aboriginal Land Council: donated first-aid kits to every household in the Muli Muli community after residents identified a need for better emergency supplies. Delivering kits to all 38 homes has strengthened everyday safety and health resilience for Githabul-Bundjalung families.
Brolga Dance Academy: NGNU supported the 2023, 2024 and 2025 end of year performance, for the 100% Australian owned run dance school on Gadigal land in Redfern
Blacktown Red Belly Warriors: Gold-level sponsorship for the Blacktown Red Belly Warriors men’s side, funding their 2025 NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout campaign and ensuring our logo appears on the back of the playing jersey. The contribution eased costs for registration, travel and gear, allowing players and volunteers to focus on preparation rather than fundraising.
Why this award matters for the industry
It means a huge amount to us that the property sector has recognised that diversity is essential, not optional. The shift from it being compliance obligation to competitive advantage is huge and we strongly believe that other organizations can apply similar principles. Similarly, the economic case is strong – because diverse teams lead to better innovation and outcomes.
Our challenge to the rest of the industry is simple: What if every property firm operated this way?