Emma Garlett

Emma Garlett is a Nyungar-Nyiyaparli-Yamatji Traditional Owner from Geraldton. Emma has experience working in the mining industry, academia, media and as a lawyer.

Emma is a regular First Nations legal and business social commentator, and writes weekly columns in print and online for The West Australian. She is the host of Paint it Blak on YouTube, a partnership project between Seven West Media and Google.

Emma is an Industry Fellow at the Sustainable Minerals Institute at The University of Queensland. She also has a casual appointment at Curtin Law School. She conducts legal and policy research to guide the future of sustainable mining, application of ESG principles, and green investment in natural resource management. She has a special interest in Traditional Owner inclusion in mining as it relates to the application of ESG principles. She has presented her legal research to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and various international (UCLA, University of Arizona) and domestic conferences (ANU, NELA, EDO).

Emma is an Adjunct Professor, Global and Engagement and Advisory Board Member of the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth and Justice at Federation University.

Emma was appointed to and sits on both the Law Society of Western Australia’s Commercial Law Committee and Indigenous Legal Issues Committee. She is also a Tribunal Member of the West Australian Football Commission.