Vision for reconciliation

  • Acknowledgement of Country

    Commonwealth Bank acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands across Australia as the continuing custodians of Country and Culture since time immemorial.

    We pay our respect to First Nations peoples and their Elders, past and present. We acknowledge and celebrate the inherent resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.

    We thank the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees, external advisers, communities and partner organisations that have guided us through achieving meaningful reconciliation outcomes.

  • Our reconciliation vision is to build a brighter future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues, customers and communities

    At CommBank, our purpose is to build a brighter future for all. This means playing a leadership role in Australia’s recovery and transition, and providing support to our customers and communities. We align our reconciliation vision to our purpose as our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) supports us to meet our purpose for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples every day.

    To achieve our reconciliation vision, we aim to have demonstrable impact on these four key issues:

    • Removing barriers to accessing appropriate financial products & services
    • Building community trust in our institution and embedding Indigenous rights considerations in our business
    • Removing barriers to employment within the bank and economic participation for First Nations businesses
    • Understanding the unique nature of financial abuse in the First Nations context and working with the community to develop ways to identify and address it

Our RAP Artwork

Co-created by Kuku Yalanji and Woopaburra artist Leona McGrath, Indigenous organisation Yerrabingin, CommBank’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous employees, and members of the community, the creative design visually expresses our refreshed brand and values.

The artwork is designed to symbolise the Bank’s respect for and celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures as part of our RAP. The design conveys three central themes – community, connections and wellbeing, and pairs some of the CommBank colours with traditional Aboriginal designs to create an artwork and narrative that will conjure connectedness and pride with our customers, communities and our people.

Leona McGrath is a proud Aboriginal woman originally from Queensland from the Woopaburra People of Great Keppel Island and Kuku Yalanji People of Far North Queensland. Leona is a Mother, Grandmother, contemporary Aboriginal artist and a Registered Midwife. Growing up on Gadigal Country, Leona has been blessed with a strong sense of connection to Country by being welcomed into the Community.

Leona has been painting for over 30 years and continues to learn and develop as an artist. Her journey of creating art has enabled her to have a stronger connection to her culture as well as providing opportunities to share and educate the wider community about Aboriginal people and culture. Creating art has inspired Leona to travel on a personal journey of healing and growth.

Our Reconciliation governance and leadership

Our Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC) was formed in 2014. The IAC guides the development and implementation of our reconciliation program.

Our IAC consists of six Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members:

  • Sean Gordon | Wangkumarra/Barkindji (Chairman)
  • Mitchell Heritage | Kuku-Yalanji/Goorimpul (Employee representative)
  • Dr Bronwyn Bancroft | Bundjalung 
  • Mick Gooda | Gangulu
  • Gail Mabo | Meriam 
  • Mayrah Sonter | Wiradjuri

In addition, CommBank senior leaders also sit on the IAC, representing divisions that have responsibilities under the RAP:

  • David Castle, Regional General Manager Customer Service Network (Retail Banking Services)
  • Robert Cory, Head of External Communications and Sustainability, Bankwest (Bankwest)
  • Natasha Greenwood, General Manager WA/SA/NT Regional and Agribusiness Banking (Business Bank)
  • Sian Lewis, Group Executive Human Resources (Human Resources)
  • Sally Reid, Executive General Manager, Global Client Solutions (Institutional Banking and Markets)
  • Euan Robertson, General Manager Government Industry and Sustainability (Marketing and Corporate Affairs)
  • Jennifer Saiz, Executive General Manager Group Corporate Services (Financial Services)
  • Angela MacMillan, Group Customer Advocate (Office Deputy CEO)

Indigenous Leadership Team

In line with our commitment to self-determination and taking a rights-based approach to our reconciliation program, it’s critical that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices and perspectives inform our approaches and decisions. To support us in achieving this, our Indigenous Leadership Team (ILT) supports interactions across CommBank in Indigenous-focused business and projects. The ILT consists of a diverse group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees who are in leadership roles and/or are supporting reconciliation priorities across the Group, as well as elected members of the Indigenous Employee Network (IEN). Current members of the ILT are:

  • Mitchell Heritage | Kuku-Yalanji/ Goorimpul
    Senior Product Owner – Chapter Lead, Indigenous employee representative on IAC
  • Lucy Brereton | Worimi
    Senior Manager, Indigenous Engagement & Development
  • Bianca Broadhurst
    Senior Manager, Inclusion and Diversity
  • Clark Donovan | Gumbaynggirr / Gunditjmara 
    Associate Director, Indigenous Carbon
  • Ray French | Dunghutti / Gamilaroi
    Senior Advisor, Indigenous Affairs 
  • Simone Kenmore | Yankunytjatjara
    Executive Manager, Indigenous Business Banking 
  • Kyle Leong | Koko-Bera
    Senior Manager, RBS Indigenous Engagement
  • Kat McGuire | Yuin
    Manager, Indigenous Careers Engagement 
  • Melissa Riley | Wiradjuri
    Senior Manager, Indigenous Engagement Technology and Operations 
  • Brooke Scott | Gunghanji / Kuku-Yalanji
    Manager, Indigenous Affairs

FY23-FY25 Reconciliation Action Plan

As Australia’s largest bank, we have a strong commitment to reconciliation with First Nations peoples. We recognise there are complex barriers preventing First Nations peoples from full and equal participation in a range of life opportunities and through our RAP we seek to play our part in supporting all dimensions of reconciliation.  To achieve societal change and contribute to reconciliation, our FY23-25 RAP focuses on five inter-related pillars.

Pillar 1 Foundation: Indigenous Rights and Engagement

We will seek to embed Indigenous rights considerations, engage with First Nations stakeholders, build our cultural capability and support place-based solutions.

Find out more: 

Pillar 2 Foundation: Economic Empowerment and Prosperity

Through our RAP, we will continue to drive employment opportunities and career advancement across the bank and continue to support a strong and prosperous First Nations business sector.

Find out more:

Pillar 3 Transformation: Domestic Violence and Financial Abuse

Financial abuse is a serious form of domestic and family violence that occurs when an abuser uses money and resources as a means to gain power, and to control their partner or family member. We’ll increase understanding and support for culturally informed responses to domestic violence and financial abuse impacting First Nations peoples.

Find out more:

Pillar 4 Transformation: Indigenous Customer Support Program

We aim to be a trusted source of advice and support for all customers, including First Nations customers. We are committed to supporting First Nations customers’ financial inclusion and helping remove any barriers to banking they may come up against. Through our Indigenous Customer Support Program (ICSP), we seek to deliver on this commitment for our own customers, and share insights with our industry partners and the broader RAP community to help improve service delivery and customer outcomes where we can.

Find out more:

Pillar 5 Transformation: Indigenous Carbon Economies

We’re committed to supporting institutions, businesses and individuals measure, reduce and offset their carbon footprints and meet their net zero ambitions. This includes playing a leading role in accelerating the growth of the carbon market in Australia. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights and interests are formally recognised in over 40% of Australia’s land mass1 and carbon farming provides real and valuable opportunities for economic development for First Nations peoples and communities.

Find out more:

1 Land and Housing | National Indigenous Australians Agency (niaa.gov.au)

 

Download RAP

Contact the team

Indigenous Affairs

Reconciliationactionplan@cba.com.au

 

  • Brooke Scott | Gunghanji and Kuku-Yalanji
    Manager, Indigenous Affairs
  • Ray French | Dunghutti and Gamilaroi
    Senior Advisor, Indigenous Affairs 

Indigenous careers

Indigenousprograms@cba.com.au

 

  • Kat McGuire | Yuin
    Indigenous Careers Engagement Manager

Technology & Operations (IT&O) Indigenous Academy

Indigenousprograms@cba.com.au

 

  • Sue Geoghegan
    Senior Program Manager Indigenous Program, Technology and Operations
  • Melissa Riley | Wiradjuri
    Senior Manager Indigenous Engagement, Technology and Operations

Supplier Diversity Program    

responsiblesourcing@cba.com.au

 

  • Peter Critchley
    Manager, Supplier Diversity

Indigenous Business Banking

Indigenousbusinessbanking@cba.com.au

 

  • Simone Kenmore | Yankunytjatjara
    Executive Manager, Indigenous Business Banking 

Indigenous Customer Support Program

Indigenousbankingservices@cba.com.au

 

  • Kyle Leong | Koko-Bera
    Senior Manager, RBS Indigenous Engagement Manager
  • Sarah Dunworth
    Senior Manager, Office of the Customer Advocate

Next Chapter

NextChapter@cba.com.au

 

  • Claire Dawson
    Executive Manager, Financial Empowerment

Indigenous Carbon Economies

Indigenousbusinessbanking@cba.com.au

 

  • Clark Donovan | Gumbaynggirr and Gunditjmara
    Associate Director, Indigenous Carbon

Bankwest Indigenous Engagement

bankwestinthecommunity@bankwest.com.au

 

  • Heidi Madden
    Manager, Sustainability

RAPs and progress report

The RAP program is run by Reconciliation Australia, the national expert body on reconciliation in Australia. The RAP is a framework for organisations to realise their vision for reconciliation. Through the program, organisations develop a business plan that documents what they commit to do to contribute to reconciliation in Australia.

Current Reconciliation Action Plan

FY23-25 RAP

Progress Report

FY23 RAP progress report

Archived plans

FY20-22