Dinadj
Design and Systems Innovation Lab
Dinadj is a First Nations majority owned design and systems innovation consultancy
Walking together to develop better human living systems in partnership with Nature and Community.
We work with communities, businesses, and government to co-design and implement strategy, product and service solutions grounded in Indigenous knowledge and Country Centred Economy principles.
We acknowledge the continued connection of the Traditional Owners of the land we work on as the First Peoples of this Country. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the Elders past and present.
The Indigenous doughnut in Australia
Our first initiative is the development and implementation of the Country Centred Circular Economy (CC-CE) model and strategies - also known as the Australian Indigenous Doughnut. This model was first presented by Paul Paton (Proud Gunai Monero and Gudjitmana Man) and Damien Melotte (Non-Indigenous Ally) in November 2023.
The model has been successfully piloted and refined with GLaWAC (Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation) in 2024. It celebrates both Indigenous Knowledge systems and Global best practice in the Circular and Regenerative Economy.
Two programs of work, The Yarning Circle Series (For Mob) and The Walking Together Series (For Mob and Allies ) were launched in June 2025.
About
Dinadj means 'Country' in Ngarigo, a South Eastern Australian Indigenous language.
Dinadj is a Systems Innovation Lab—a safe and respectful place for Indigenous people and non-Indigenous allies to walk together, co-designing regenerative human living systems that relate to, respect, and restore Nature.
We empower First Nations leadership and enable co-design in the development of systems, products, services, and strategies rooted in Indigenous Knowledge Systems and the New Economy—including circular, regenerative, and relational models.
Through our Community of Practice, we invite collaboration, knowledge sharing, and joint action to turn sustainability and reconciliation into lived, collective outcomes that care for Country, Culture, and Community.
Services
At Dinadj we have over 40 years collective experience.
Working with First Nations organisations and communities across a broad spectrum of strategic initiatives. Working with Enterprise, Governments and NGO's in Strategy devlopment, Program design, Business Design and innovation, Service and Product development. We bring this expertise and wisdom together to provide a unique offering that delivers value for Country, Community, Culture and Commerce.
Strategy and RAPs
We add a place based edge to your Strategy development and help you deliver real outcomes for your RAP, your business and for the environment.
CC-CE Workshops
We'll taylor a CC-CE presentation or workshop to share our story - and to enable new ways for your organisation to do better business.
Product and Service Development
We support the design, business development, establish collaborative partnerships and support the implementation of products and services.
Designing regenerative futures with Country at the centre.
Event
Overview
Week 1 Understand
In this premier event organisers will invite their members and local community to explore the question:
How might we use Circular Economies principles and practice to help rebuild economies and create jobs in the wake of the COVID-19 Global Pandemic?
We suggest an event structure
60 Minutes of cities using worksheets like ‘understanding circular flows’ etc from EMF Circular Design guide.
60 minutes of post-it noting current understanding, questions and assumptions.
30 minutes of Cluster Mapping to organise all the ideas and assumptions generated.
Global Share
At the end of each session Each City team will then have the opportunity to upload their grouped themes to the Global Share Miro board. The global share Miro board will provide an opportunity to engage diversity of thinking, research and collaboration.
Teams carry out research and prepare for Session 2!
WEEK 2 DEFINE
After a short introduction the organisers will share with the participants some inspiring stories of circular economy creating new opportunities in our post-covid world.
Following that, attendees will start a process of sharing research carried out since the first session, identify needs, mapping their assumptions and developing defined research questions.
Global Share
The teams will share globally their findings and defined research questions on the Global Share Miro board.
At this point individual city and country teams will carry out iterative research and analysis as a homework before the following session - involving those who could be players in their theme.
WEEK 3 MAKE
Events
Executive Leadership in
Country Centred Systems Innovation
Course dates for November to be announced shortly - Register your interest here.
You’re invited to our pilot of “Executive Leadership in Country-Centred Systems Innovation” (CCSI); a 3-hour intensive led by Paul Paton with Damien Melotte and Adam Jay. You’ll join a group of leaders from across government, corporate and not for profit organisations, to explore together how the Country-Centred Circular Economy (CCCE) and its 12-S strategies can be employed to identify and develop practical circular opportunities and strategies for your organisation.
In a highly relational and participatory session, you’ll apply the framework to a live First Nations business brief in a guided co-design sprint; learn about ways to incorporate Country as a strategic partner in design & operations, and as a critical stakeholder in decision-making; and explore pathways to apply the CC-CE model to your leadership, organisations and partnerships.
Value snapshots
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Use the framework to create value and build coherence across purpose, strategy, operating model, products and services.
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Explore practical ways to incorporate Country as a strategic partner in design and operations, and as a critical stakeholder in decision-making and governance.
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Leave with practical artefacts: Including the CC-SI innovation pack and 12-S Strategy Cards, and a personalised Action card.
Past events
Australian Circular Economy Forum August 12th 2025
Dinadj presented at ACEF 2025.
ACEF25 will bring together experts and leaders from government, academia, business, NGOs and investors. You and your team will gain the latest circular economy knowledge and insights to improve capacity and ensure your organisation thrives in a resource and carbon- constrained future.
Circular Australia ACEF 2025 page and speaker list
View the Dinadj ACEF 25 presentation
Indigenous Leadership in the Circular and Regenerative economy
Held on 19th June 2025
Event Overview
Co-developed by Paul Paton, proud Gunnai, Monaro and Gunditjmara man, and Damien Melotte, Founder of Good Human and PhD Candidate at Deakin University, this framework offers a powerful tool for economic development grounded in First Nations knowledge systems.
Join a panel of First Nations leaders and industry experts, as they share insights and emerging opportunities in the Circular and Regenerative Economy. Learn how the Indigenous Doughnut framework was successfully piloted with GLaWAC through the SV Circular Economy Business Innovation Grant—resulting in four circular products and services in the tourism and food-botanical sectors, developed from ideation to production prototypes in just five months.
This session will also showcase how the Country Centred Economic framework, strategies and tools are being shared with Traditional Owner Corporations, First Nations organisations and Indigenous business owners to support:
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Strategy and Place based economic development
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Country centred product and service innovation
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Collaborative partnerships with wider industry
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Leaping the gap - Leadership opportunities for Mob
The new Yarning Circle Series will be announced on the day.
Host: Sustainability Victoria
Supporting Partners:
Regen Melbourne | Purpose Precinct | Deakin University
Walking together
event series
Co-Designing Regenerative Tourism and Food Systems in Victoria
Join us for Walking Together gatherings – co-design events uniting First Nations, sustainability leaders & allies for a better future
Date: Wednesday, 24 June 2025
Time: 12PM – 3:30 PM
Location:
Sustainability Victoria
321 Exhibition Street Level 12 Melbourne,
VIC 3000
About this event
You are warmly invited to the first in a series of Walking Together gatherings — a new series of co-design events bringing together Traditional Owner organisations, First Nations businesses - and Sustainability, Circular and regenerative economy businesses and experts, and key allies in government, policy, design, and impact.
This collaboration is grounded in the Country-Centred Circular Economy framework (also known as the Indigenous Doughnut). The session will offer a hands-on introduction to the CC-CE Framework and its 12 S strategies.
Meet the Dinadj founders
Paul Paton and Damien Melotte met 15 years ago presenting at a Pecha Kucha event in Melbourne. They have shared a thriving friendship ever since and worked on many projects and initiatives together, demonstrating the value of Indigenous and Allied collaboration in imagining and developing better human living systems.
Partners
An Australian indigenous
doughnut
About the Indigenous Doughnut / Country-Centred Circular Economy (CC-CE) Framework
The Country-Centred Circular Economy (CC-CE) Framework was first launched at the Australia and Asia Pacific Circularity Conference in 2023. Also known as the Indigenous Doughnut, it repositions governance, business, and community within nature. It moves beyond mainstream circular economy models by asking a fundamental question: “What is best for Country?”
The CC-CE applies a First Nations knowledge systems lens to guide innovation, economic development, and decision-making rooted in care, reciprocity, and long-term responsibility. It shifts us from transactional thinking to Relational responsibility — where Care for Country and community go hand-in-hand.
Grounded in twelve "S Strategies" — including stewardship, responsible sourcing, supply chains, and story — the framework offers a practical design guide for creating regenerative products, services, strategies and partnerships across all sectors.
The Indigenous Doughnut is a CC-CE model that can be;
For Traditional Owners
The generic model can be adapted, translated and utilised by local Traditional Owners, to suit their Country, Culture, Language, Community and Economic priorities. It can be utilised by First Nations businesses and organisations to provide an Indigenous Knowledge systems lens to product and service development - and create a bridge for partnerships.
For wider Australia.
To be utilised by all Australian Businesses, Government Agencies, NGO's, Education Institutions and Partners to better understand a Country Centred Circular Economy and co-create opportunities to ‘Walk together’.
We are excited about the launch of the Indigenous Doughnut - Country Centred Economy framework, strategies and tools at the June events under a Creative Commons Non Commercial Licence. We look forward to building a collaborative community of practice in this space.