Geelong, Victoria (AUS) & New York, NY (US), May 4, 2023 – Scale Facilitation® recently welcomed two new strategic partners: the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (WTOAC) (AUS-based) and the Lenape Center (US-based), following the signing of separate memorandums of understanding (MOU) with each group of Indigenous peoples.
The MOU with WTOAC comes after a longstanding relationship between Scale Facilitation® and the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners of the land on which Scale Facilitation® was conceived and now hosts its Global Innovation Office in Djilang (Geelong). The Wadawurrung are also the Traditional Owners of the land on which Recharge Industries™, a Scale Facilitation® portfolio company, plans to build a 30GWh green lithium-ion battery advanced manufacturing facility.
The MOU with the Lenape Center comes after Damon Williams, Scale Facilitation® Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, established a relationship with the Manahatta (Manhattan) - based organization as Scale Facilitation® prepared (circa Oct 2022) to move into its US headquarters on the 82nd floor of the World Trade Center. The Lenape Center continues Lenapehoking as the original inhabitants of the land where the World Trade Center sits.
The WTOAC is the representative body for Wadawurrung People and works to protect Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and support the Wadawurrung Peoples’ aspirations. The Wadawurrung People have nurtured and cared for Wadawurrung Country for tens of thousands of years and are recognized by Scale Facilitation® as the first innovators of the land, i.e., Djilang.
The Lenape People are the traditional Inhabitants of the island Manhattan, and broad areas of the US Northeast. Their history in this region dates far before the first colonizers arrived centuries ago. In the New York area, efforts are being made by the Lenape Center to continue this culture's history and prevent its erasure. Scale Facilitation® plans to encourage greater awareness among staff and other stakeholders while supporting the efforts of the Lenape Center.
With these strategic partnerships, Scale Facilitation® recognizes the wisdom, cultural heritage, and innovation our First Nations people offer to the world, and especially regarding the lands where Scale Facilitation® has its offices. Through these partnerships, Scale Facilitation® hopes to learn how to best respect the gift of the Scale Facilitation® operating properties (land) as well as the original people who nurtured and cared for the land and the heritage where their offices reside.
The MOUs between Scale Facilitation® and Wadawurrung, as well as Lenape Center, will serve to identify the roles and responsibilities of one another as they relate to cultural respect, acknowledgment of country, and historical land ownership, government, social community, and international collaborative engagement, and economic growth.
“Recognising the first innovators of the land on which we operate is not only imperative for us, but it is also a privilege. We hold the utmost respect for the Wadawurrung and Lenape people and look forward to providing them with opportunities just as they provide us with their blessing to work on their traditional land,” says Scale Facilitation® founder and CEO, David A. Collard.
From its inception, “Scale Facilitation® Djilang Office has consulted with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners to ensure appropriate cultural awareness – this shows respect for the Traditional Owners of the land, regardless of where they may be working,” says Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation CEO, Sam Oldaker.
Scale Facilitation® was proud to have hosted Wadawurrung woman and representative from the WTOAC, Corrina Eccles, in New York City for the opening of its Global Headquarters on the 82nd floor of One World Trade Centre. Corrina played a key part in the formal proceedings, participating in a cultural exchange with the Lenape Center. This joint opening with two traditional landowners, based in different continents, is the first such joint opening of Its kind.
Scale Facilitation® is proud to have this long-standing relationship with the Wadawurrung Nation solidified in this way and is pleased to have signed an MOU with the Lenape Center. Scale Facilitation® is excited to continue working together with the goal of bettering humanity and bringing attention to the significance of Indigenous Peoples’ history.
About Scale Facilitation®
With its Global Headquarters in Manhattan, its UK headquarters in London, and its Global Innovation Center in Geelong, Australia, Scale Facilitation® is committed to AUKUS and working to bring together research, advanced manufacturing, capital, supply chains and talent.
Scale Facilitation® is an investment firm with a novel approach to de-risking projects by empowering innovators to maintain focus on their craft and facilitating the many critical services and capabilities required to deliver large-scale advanced manufacturing and innovation projects. Scale Facilitation® removes the many barriers to commercialization for innovators by giving access to the right strategic partners and collaborators who will adopt and scale their inventions.
For more information on Scale Facilitation®, please visit www.scalefacilitation.com or connect with Scale Facilitation® on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.