VAN SPEAKS
VAN's Charles Pakana (Founder) and Professor Andrew Gunstone (Reconciliation Lead) are recognised as two of the most high impact speakers in the Reconcilition space. As a team they have spoken at events and community gatherings across the breadth of Victoria, delivering meaningful messages encompassing: Treaty, self-determination, truth-telling and reconiliation.
Frank, honest conversations
Moving beyond performative gestures to build meaningful cultural awareness, navigate treaty, and foster true self-determination.
Presented by independent Aboriginal journalist Charles Pakana and internationally recognised reconciliation expert Professor Andrew Gunstone, VAN Speaks delivers high-impact keynote sessions designed to inform, challenge, and inspire community and business leaders across Australia.
Reconciliation in the Modern Victorian & Australian Landscape
Navigating current political and social realities with honesty, clarity, and evidence-based perspectives.
Beyond the RAP: Substantive Action
Moving Reconciliation Action Plans from corporate policy into living, meaningful practice that drives equity and respect.
Understanding Treaty & Self-Determination
What self-determination actually looks like on Country and in community, and why First Nations leadership creates better outcomes for society as a whole.
Countering Misinformation with Truth-Telling
Breaking down myths and media narratives to foster genuine cultural awareness, active curiosity, and constructive allyship.
The Big Difference
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Cutting Through the Noise: In a post-2023 landscape filled with misinformation, national division, and confusion, organisations need accurate, grounded insight into where reconciliation, Treaty, and self-determination actually stand — particularly in Victoria's unique political and social environment.
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Substantive vs. Performative: We don't do tick-a-box exercises. Professor Andrew Gunstone brings decades of research into what separates genuine structural change from performative action, helping organisations turn Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) into impactful practice.
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Frontline Knowledge: Drawing on Charles Pakana’s extensive coverage of the Victorian Treaty process and community affairs, keynotes offer real-world context on how self-determination works in practice — and how the broader community benefits when First Nations voices lead.
The Keynote Experience
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Direct, Engaging Presentation: Co-presented as a dynamic dialogue between Charles and Andrew, combining lived media experience, historical truth-telling, and strategic insight.
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An Open, Safe Q&A Environment: A core component of every presentation is an extended, open Q&A. We encourage audiences to ask the tough, honest, or uncomfortable questions without fear of judgment. Real progress happens when people are free to think, ask, and learn.
- Real-World Impact & Broader Value: Beyond building awareness, our sessions provide practical frameworks for how genuine reconciliation strengthens workplace culture, fosters community trust, and contributes to better social and economic outcomes for everyone.