Gemma Pol
CEO, Common Ground First Nations
📍Old Bar, Australia
Pledge 1% is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year. What can companies do (or do more of) to have a positive social impact in the next 10 years?
Companies have a powerful role to play in creating a more just and equitable world. Over the next decade, they must go beyond surface-level commitments and embed long-term, reciprocal relationships with Indigenous communities and other historically marginalised groups. This means prioritising deep listening, investing in Indigenous-led solutions and shifting power through genuine partnerships rather than transactional giving.
By embedding Indigenous values of reciprocity, relationality and intergenerational thinking into their business models, companies can create sustainable change that benefits both communities and the planet.
What’s the legacy you hope to leave for future generations?
I hope to leave a legacy where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices, stories and knowledge systems are valued as essential to shaping our collective future. A future where truth-telling is not just a moment but a movement, where education and storytelling dismantle racism and ignorance, and where Indigenous communities thrive on their own terms. I want to contribute to a world where future generations inherit systems that centre justice, care and connection to Country.
If you could choose one word to define your leadership style, what would it be and why?
Intuitive — shaped by relationships, reciprocity and an understanding that true change happens when we honour the knowledge and wisdom that already exists within our communities.
Looking ahead, what are you most excited about—whether in your professional journey or personal life?
I’m excited about the growing momentum for First Nations-led futures. Through our work, we see more people and organisations recognising the power of storytelling in shifting systems. Personally, I’m looking forward to continuing to build spaces for capacity-building, truth-telling and storytelling on our terms.
I want to contribute to a world where future generations inherit systems that centre justice, care and connection to Country.
