In this op-ed, Philippa Moig, CEO of UnLtd, reflects on a 1,900-kilometre family journey across northern Australia and the lessons it offered beyond the scenery. Travelling through Aboriginal Country, she explores the importance of listening, learning, leadership, and connection, and why stepping outside the bubble can reshape the way we see both ourselves and others.
I’ve been out bush, getting feral and rebooting my system.
We just wrapped up an epic 1,900 kilometre family journey across the top of Australia, travelling from Larrakia Country (Darwin) to Yawuru Country (Broome / Rubibi). Along the way, we crossed through the traditional lands of over a dozen First Nations language groups including Wulna, Kungarakany, Jawoyn, Yangman, Nungali, Bilinarra, Mirriwoong, Jaru, Bunuba, Walmajarri, and Nyikina.
I love the bush, the boardroom, and everything in between. I’m as happy out here as I am sitting in a board room talking about rewriting futures for children and young people.
No Airs and Graces Out Here
People don’t care what you do for a living or what your title is, just whether you’re a decent human who shows respect and kindness. If you bring that, it’s always afforded back to you.
It wasn’t all pristine sunsets, though. Being remote means rolling with a few curlys; engine failure, an overflowing camp toilet, almost running out of petrol on a 40+degree day, driving 3 hours in the wrong direction, and hoping you have enough water. No signal, just working together and solving problems as a family.
Sixty-Five Thousand Years of Story
We are but a speck in time, 238 years of a 65,000 year old story.
As Bill Neidjie (Bunidj clan) put it so powerfully:
“Earth… Like your father or brother or mother, Because you born from Earth, you got to come back to Earth.”
We had the privilege of seeing rock art thousands of years old, swimming in natural springs, exploring caves, and learning about songlines and creation stories like Arramurrungundji, who walked the land creating clans and languages before her spirit rested in her djang (dreaming place). Watching local kids effortlessly switch between two or three languages, and take deep pride in culture is truly something special.
Under Customary Law, Aboriginal people and land are one, and the land holds language. In Judbarra the sign on Country reads: “The hills can hear and the trees can make things happen… country can be generous or mean.” That idea of mutual responsibility, caring for Country so Country cares for you is everything.
It made me reflect it’s one thing to write a RAP in a city office; it is quite another to actively spend time with communities, sit down, have a yarn, listen, and learn, and I bloody love it.
At the same time, many of these beautiful places are stark reminders of the impacts of colonisation. I acknowledge that I am a white Australian talking about slavery in this country and reference the saying that “It is not our story to tell, but it is our story not to forget”. We sat in places of heavy significance, marked by the history of brutality and massacres of local people. To love this continent, you have to hold both its incredible richness and beauty and the brutal factual truths of its history.
Stepping Outside the Bubble
For much of the trip we were the only non locals in communities.
We live in an industry, and a world where whiteness is placed at the centre. Stepping completely outside of that made me reflect on what it might feel like for others to be the only one in the room. Everywhere we went, we were welcomed and accepted with open arms. My hope is that as a broader society, we learn to reciprocate that same level of warmth and generosity back to others.
Chasing What Matters
To my team, thank you for keeping the ship running while I was off the grid so I could be fully present. As leaders, our job isn’t to hold all the answers, but to create the conditions for others to lead and solve.
Chase dreams, chase kindness, chase community and connection. Chase giving back, paying it forward, and whatever else sets your soul on fire.
Find your happy place, and make time and space for what’s good for the soul, whether that’s star gazing, watching a sunrise over red dirt, or just yarning around a campfire.
It has been a privilege to travel across what always was, and always will be Aboriginal land.
Written by Philippa Moig, CEO of UnLtd
