Wikimedia Australia ICIP and IDSov
Wikimedia Australia has commenced a formal partnership with Terri Janke and Company (TJC), a leading Australian Indigenous-owned law firm and consultancy, specialising in Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) and Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDSov).
This partnership will provide Wikimedia Australia, its members, and partners with a clear framework for responsibly engaging with and supporting First Nations Peoples and communities. The Protocol will ensure that Wikimedia Australia’s work respects Indigenous knowledge systems and supports the rights of Indigenous Peoples to be centred in and control the use of their data and cultural heritage.
As of early 2026 an Indigenous Expert Working Group has been formed with the following members:
- Leonard Hill, CEO of AIATSIS
- Dr Jessica Russ-Smith, Australian Catholic University
- Dr Kirsten Thorpe, University of Technology Sydney
- Dr Tamika Worrell, Macquarie University
- Yanti Ropeyarn , Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Data Archives (ATSIDA), University of Technology Sydney, and Executive Committee of Open Access Australasia
- Open platforms, open minds, respectful practices: ICIP & IDSov Guide for Wikimedia Australia — Friday 10 April 2026
Dr Terri Janke will present an overview of the ICIP and Indigenous Data Sovereignty project she is leading for Wikimedia Australia, followed by a panel discussion.
Presentations
A short video presentation was produced by Terri Janke and Company outlining the Wikimedia Australia ICIP and IDSov Protocol project. The project will help ensure Wikimedia Australia’s work reflects best practice in engaging with Indigenous knowledge, communities and content.
Wikimedia Netherlands also requested a short presentation about the Wikimedia Australia ICIP and IDSov Protocol project as part of their annual WikiConNL 2025. We sent the short video presentation by Terri Janke that was played at the conference, along with WMAU staff attending online to answer questions from participants.
