Financial Inclusion and First Nations Peoples: Law, Policy and Structural Barriers

With Dr Isa Alade

On 22 May 2026, the Centre for Law as Protection hosted a workshop, organised by Dr Isa Alade from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand.

This workshop brought together policymakers, academics, industry representatives, and consumer advocates to examine financial inclusion for First Nations peoples in Australia. It explored how regulatory frameworks and institutional practices shape access to financial services and long-term financial well-being. The workshop aims to facilitate a focused, policy-oriented discussion on pathways for reform and more inclusive financial systems.

The workshop opened with a welcome from Dr Isa Alade.

Dr Isa Alade is a member of the Centre for Law as Protection, Deakin University and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. His research focuses on corporate law, financial services/fintech regulation and how rapidly evolving digital systems should be governed to promote innovation while protecting consumers, markets and vulnerable communities.

Dr Zehra G Kavame Eroglu presented the introduction and Acknowledgment of Country.

The keynote was presented by Dr Melek Cigdem-Bayram. 

Dr Melek Cigdem-Bayram is a Ronald Henderson Senior Research Fellow at the Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research at the University of Melbourne, with a joint appointment at the Brotherhood of St Laurence. Her research focuses on wealth inequality, poverty, and social mobility, and examines how economic resources shape life chances across generations. She recently guest-edited a special issue on poverty measurement in the Australian Economic Review commemorating the 50th anniversary of Ronald Henderson’s First Poverty Inquiry. She is currently leading the development of a social mobility atlas for Australia, which maps the relationship between the neighbourhoods in which children are raised and their outcomes in adulthood.

The workshop included two sessions, both were moderated by Dr Isa Alade. 

Panel 1: Access and Inclusion in Mainstream Financial Services

Speakers from Panel 1 included Mark Holden, Stephen Rutter and Dr Zehra G Kavame Eroglu.

Panel 2: Superannuation and Structural Barriers

Speakers from Panel 2 included Brad Ruting and Mark Holden.

Speaker Bios:

Dr. Zehra G Kavame Eroglu is conducting research on and teaching Corporate Law, Corporate Governance, and Financial Regulation at Deakin Law School. She is the Research Theme Coleader of Protecting from Economic Harm and Abuse of Corporate Power at the Centre for Law as Protection, Deakin University and the Co-Chair of the Younger Comparativists Committee (YCC), American Society of Comparative Law (ASCL).

Mark Holden is a Senior Solicitor and Policy Advocate at Mob Strong Debt Help. He is also a Director at Ngalaya Indigenous Corporation and has previously worked with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and Legal Aid NSW. He is a Dhunghutti man from Western Sydney and focuses on legal advocacy and policy to improve financial outcomes for First Nations people.

Stephen Rutter is the Director, First Nations Finance and Chief Operating Officer, Nallawilli Technology. He is a proud descendant of the Trawlwoolway Tribal Group from Tebrakunna country in Trowunna, Tasmania. He was also the founding Head of Experience at the Sydney School of Entrepreneurship, a $25 million initiative by the NSW government to foster next-generation entrepreneurship and connect 12 institutions, 700,000 students, and over 200 campuses across NSW.

Brad Ruting is an economist and public policy expert with experience across government, consulting and consumer advocacy. He authored the Impact Economics and Policy report ‘Building futures not barriers: Superannuation that works’ for Super Consumers Australia and Mob Strong Debt Help.

Congratulations Isa for such a insightful event!