Our journey started (and continues!) as a conversation between friends.
Acknowledge This! was founded in March 2020 by Rhys Paddick and Emma Gibbens. The training combines Rhys’ experience as an Aboriginal educator and Emma’s experience in facilitating to create an energising, inspiring and high-impact training.
Robust, genuine conversations are our primary and preferred method for teaching and facilitating our workshops. Our experience has repeatedly demonstrated that high participation creates more meaningful change within teams, because the content becomes contextually relevant. We balance our conversational style with practical advice, resources and tools that are easy and quick to implement.
Change is a journey and we walk alongside our partners, learning together. Participants will move forward feeling empowered with new knowledge and connections to each other, encouraging ongoing conversations, awareness and change.
Get To Know Us Better
Rhys Paddick, Co-Director
(Yamatji from hot, dry places)
Rhys is an expert in cultural desensitivity, how to explore and connect with Aboriginal peoples and cultures with courage, excitement and joy - as opposed to facilitating cultural change from the all to common place of shame, guilt and fear.
Rhys specialises in moving people and businesses out of ticking boxes into a place of authenticity. A storyteller and artist, Rhys takes from his 15+ years of working with and for Aboriginal people and organisations, and has designed and delivered multiple workshops, trainings and keynotes all in an effort to connect fellow Australians to our common cultures.
Emma Gibbens, Co-Director
(American from cold, dark places)
Emma activates leadership in change, one conversation at a time. She inspires people to take action and create inclusive change through speaking, training, conversations and strategic campaigns.
Emma’s energetic, playful and dynamic approach enables everyone to participate and belong, creating change that sticks. She believes transformative change occurs through iteration, by walking together on common ground in a shared direction. Emma has managed political and advocacy campaigns across the US and around the world for over 15 years, specialising in scaling grassroots movements.