Keenan Smith
Keswick
Summary
Keenan Smith is a Wirangu, Mirning and Kokatha person from the far west coast of South Australia. Keenan identifies as non-binary and uses they/they pronouns. Keenan is the Cultural Heritage and Environment Consultant at SA Power Networks. They have five years experience in environmental consulting and experience in in environmental impact assessment, permits and approvals, environmental management systems and auditing. Keenan has worked on a variety of projects in the transport, infrastructure, renewables and Defence sectors. They have experience in the preparation of Environmental Impact Assessments, Heritage Assessments, organising heritage monitors and hertiage surveys with Traditional Owners, engagement and maintaining relationships with First Nations communities and stakeholders, and Commonwealth and State environmental referrals. Keenan has had exposure to gap analysis, environmental monitoring and reporting, preparing Environmental Management Plans and sub-plans and working with contractors and subcontractors. They also have capabilities in stakeholder engagement and data interpretation.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Cultural Heritage and Environment Consultant
SA Power Networks
05.2023 - Current
- Review and updating of SA Power's Cultural Heritage policies and procedures.
- Engagement and maintaining relationships with First Nations communities and stakeholders.
- Development of internal Cultural Heritage Assessment tool to streamline assessment requests.
- Raising awareness and education of First Nations perspectives, issues and consideratins within the business.
- Working across multiple departments with SA Power Networks to manage risks associated with Cultural Heritage.
- Internal and external promotion of position to the business and relevant stakeholders.
Uluru Statement Youth Ambassador
UNSW Indigenous Law Centre
01.2021 - 10.2023
- I was South Australian youth representative for the Uluru Statement from the Heart dialogues, that was managed out of the UNSW Indigenous Law Centre.
- Speaking and presenting to organisations, businesses, schools and First Nations communities to educate and raise awareness about the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the 2023 Referendum.
- Worked collectively with other First Nations ambassadors across the nation and South Australia.
Consultant
AECOM
01.2021 - 05.2023
- Following on from my cadetship with, in the IAP team, I was offered part time work and continued to work on a number projects across different sectors and different state and territories.
- Build rapport with First Nations Groups to deliver projects that capture and protect heritages values that are culturally significant.
- Proficient in both state and commonwealth environment legislation and permitting processes.
- Member of AECOM's Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group.
UNDERGRDUATE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST
01.2018 - 01.2021
- Working within the Impact Assessment and Permitting (IAP) team within the Environmental Services Group
- I have worked on a number of projects stemming across different sectors such as government (state and commonwealth), defence, renewables, power, mining and infrastructure
- I have experience in environmental and heritage report writing, environmental and heritage legislation, environmental and heritage auditing, developing environmental and heritage management plans, working on multidisciplinary projects and worked on AECOM’s national Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
CHAIRPERSON
WIRANGU ABORIGINAL CORPORATION (WAC)
06.2020 - Current
- Elected to the WAC board for the Wirangu Native Claims 2 and 3, and Wirangu’s Sea Native Title claim
- I was elected as the inaugural chairperson of the board and approved of by my community and elders at our first general meeting. I was re-elected for a second term in November 2022.
- In December 2022 and February 2023, Wirangu were recognised as having Native Title and Sea Native Title across our lands.
- Manange all Native Title matters and issues on behalf of Wirangu People.
- Gained proficient understanding in the state and commonwealth Heritage and Native Title legislation.
INDIGENOUS MENTOR
CATHOLIC EDUCATION OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
01.2022 - 04.2023
- Working across a number of Catholic schools across Adelaide, where I work with Indigenous students from different backgrounds (e.g Intellectual disabilities) and assist with getting them engaged with their schooling.
- Building rapport with students that is culturally inclusive.
- Primarily worked with First Nations students at Thomas Moore College who were not regularly engaging with school. After coming to the school every Friday, these students started to attend regularly and our sessions became their weekly highlights for school.
INDIGENOUS MENTOR
WESTMINSTER SCHOOL
01.2017 - Current
- I mentor and tutor First Nations students who attend Westminster as boarders through the Smith Family scholarship program.
- Boarders are predominately from rural and remote areas, which makes the transition to the city quite hard.
- Through this role I work with students to achieve their goals and complete their schooling whilst maintaining cultural autonomy.
- I have seen many of my students go on to university and becoming my peers, and also entering the workforce.
- I have worked with students where english is often the second or third language, and assisted in breaking down assignments to help them achieve success in schooling.
- Outside of mentoring and tutoring, I chaperone students to community and other events.
Rainbow Tick Advisory Board Member
ABORIGINAL HEALTH COUNCIL OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
01.2020 - 01.2022
- AHCSA were undergoing the steps to become Rainbow Tick accredited and I had been appointed on the Advisory Committee overseeing the progress of this.
- This resulted in AHCSA becoming the first peak Indigenous health body in Australia to be Rainbow Tick accredited.
- I was involved in LGBTQIA+ presentations delivered to all AHCSA staff, to create awareness and competency when engaging with LGBTQIA+ clients and stakeholders. Presentations were created to reflect First Nations LGBTQIA+ people and communities.
NATIONS STUDENT OFFICER
NATIONAL UNION OF STUDENTS, NUS
12.2020 - 11.2021
- The National Union of Students is the peak representative body for all students undertaking tertiary education in Australia
- Through my role as president of UATSIS, I established a working relationship with NUS to ensure First Nations students are appropriately represented
- I work in conjunction with other peak student representative bodies and other First Nations student leaders across the country.
FIRST NATIONS STUDENTS OFFICER
FLINDERS UNIVERSITY STUDENT ASSOCIATION
11.2020 - 01.2021
- Representing First Nations students on FUSA Student Council and working with FUSA and other board members, to ensure FUSA functions the best for students and representing First Nations students.
PRESIDENT
UNION OF ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER STUDENTS, UATSIS
01.2020 - 12.2020
- President of UATSIS which is the peak body for all Indigenous undergraduates students in Australia
- Advocating and representing the interests for all students and working in conjunction with other relevant peak student bodies and tertiary education bodies.
ADMINISTRATION TRAINEE
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN POLICE
01.2016 - 01.2017
- I completed an administration traineeship at SAPOL within the Physical Assets Branch and obtained a Cert III in Business Governance
- My role included maintaining our correspondence through email and the mailing, logging jobs through SAPOL’s online systems and providing job numbers internally to staff, maintaining utility services for all SAPOL sites in metro, regional and rural/remote areas.
LUTHERAN SUPPORT OFFICER
Navigators College
01.2014 - 01.2015
- Supported students from reception to year 7 as an LSO
- This involved me working in class with students that required assistance with their learning and school work
- There were also elements of administration work that I completed before and after school such as organizing activities for class and handling of organization documents.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science
FLINDERS UNIVERSITY
Adelaide, SA07.2024
CERT III Governance
South Australian Government
Adelaide, SA2015
CERT II INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP
Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre (AILC)
Canberra, ACT2011
Skills
- Cultural Heritage
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Aboriginal Law
- Cultural Awareness
- Excellent Communication
- Analysing Business Processes
- Youth Mentor
- Mentor Students
- Data Entry
- Research Abilities
- Environmental Protection
- Permitting Procedures
- Environmental Consulting
- Flexible and Adaptable
Certification
- Baseline Defence Clearance
- C Class Drivers Licence
Awards
- CareerTrackers Community Spirit Award - February 2021
- LGBTQIA+ Person of the Year, South Australian NAIDOC Awards - July 2021
Publications
- Opinion Piece, NITV - "The dark legacy of the day is everywhere so lets abolish it."
Link: https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/opinion-the-dark-legacy-of-the-day-is-everywhere-so-lets-abolish-it/zfpsn9ncm
- Opinion Piece, The Guardian Australia - "‘Toxic rhetoric’: marriage equality plebiscite offers ugly lessons for Indigenous voice to parliament referendum."
Link: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/11/toxic-rhetoric-marriage-equality-plebiscite-offers-ugly-lessons-for-indigenous-voice-to-parliament-referendum
References
Cultural Reference
- Melanie (Mel) Grills, Associate Principal - First Nations Programs and Projects AUS, ARUP
Email: Melanie.grills@arup.com
Mobile: 0439 897 919
Employer Reference
- Eirin Lawton, Environment Manager (currently on maternity leave), SA Power Networks
Email: eirin.lawton@sapowernetworks.com.au
Mobile: 0427 197 465
- Julianna Balogh, Environment Manager (acting), SA Power Networks
Email: julianna.balogh@sapowernetworks.com.au
Mobil: 0419 877 627
Timeline
Cultural Heritage and Environment Consultant
SA Power Networks
05.2023 - Current
INDIGENOUS MENTOR
CATHOLIC EDUCATION OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
01.2022 - 04.2023
Uluru Statement Youth Ambassador
UNSW Indigenous Law Centre
01.2021 - 10.2023
Consultant
AECOM
01.2021 - 05.2023
NATIONS STUDENT OFFICER
NATIONAL UNION OF STUDENTS, NUS
12.2020 - 11.2021
FIRST NATIONS STUDENTS OFFICER
FLINDERS UNIVERSITY STUDENT ASSOCIATION
11.2020 - 01.2021
CHAIRPERSON
WIRANGU ABORIGINAL CORPORATION (WAC)
06.2020 - Current
Rainbow Tick Advisory Board Member
ABORIGINAL HEALTH COUNCIL OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
01.2020 - 01.2022
PRESIDENT
UNION OF ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER STUDENTS, UATSIS
01.2020 - 12.2020
UNDERGRDUATE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST
01.2018 - 01.2021
INDIGENOUS MENTOR
WESTMINSTER SCHOOL
01.2017 - Current
ADMINISTRATION TRAINEE
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN POLICE
01.2016 - 01.2017
LUTHERAN SUPPORT OFFICER
Navigators College
01.2014 - 01.2015
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science
FLINDERS UNIVERSITY
CERT III Governance
South Australian Government
CERT II INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP
Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre (AILC)
- Baseline Defence Clearance
- C Class Drivers Licence
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