About Us
At White Gum Mediation and Law, we provide expert legal guidance in the specialised fields of cultural heritage, native title law, PBC governance, and Indigenous business development. Our practice is built on a foundation of deep professional expertise, a genuine connection to the land and its people, and an unwavering commitment to achieving clear, respectful, and workable outcomes — outcomes that empower communities to lead their own futures.
Our Guiding Principle: Yindyamarra
Our work is guided by the Wiradjuri principle of Yindyamarra – to go slowly with respect, to be polite, gentle, and to honour.
For us, Yindyamarra is not just a word, it is our practice. It means we approach every matter with the patience, dignity, and deep respect it deserves, honouring the stories, the culture, and the people involved. We believe that true and lasting outcomes are built on this foundation.
Why "White Gum"?
The White Gum is an iconic presence in the Australian landscape. Resilient, deeply rooted, and standing with quiet strength, it is a symbol of clarity and endurance in a complex environment.
These trees have been a source of personal inspiration since childhood. The name White Gum Mediation and Law reflects the core principles that define our approach:
Resilience & Respect (Yindyamarra) We provide steadfast, respectful support through long and complex legal processes.
Deep Roots Our work is grounded in the law, in culture, and in the enduring connection between people and Country.
Clarity We cut through complexity to provide clear, strategic advice and facilitate transparent dialogue.
Our Commitment to Our Clients
Whether we are representing you, guiding you through a negotiation, or facilitating a sensitive mediation, our approach is consistent. We listen deeply, we strategise thoughtfully, and we advocate with purpose — calling out what needs to be called out, and holding all parties accountable to respectful, workable outcomes.
As a Wiradjuri woman, I bring not only legal expertise but lived understanding to every matter. I am proud to operate from my base in Bowen, serving clients across Queensland and interstate with accessible, expert facilitation, mediation, and legal services.
Our Services
Mediation
Mediation of disputes between native title parties, including claimant groups and PBCs
Facilitation of resolution in cultural heritage disagreements between Traditional Owners and proponents
Mediation of internal PBC and corporation disputes, including governance and membership issues
Assistance with resolving disagreements between co-owners, directors, or shareholders in Indigenous corporations
Culturally informed mediation processes guided by the principles of Yindyamarra
Federal Court appointed mediation services for native title matters
Cultural Heritage Services
Cultural Heritage Management Plans advice and representation
Negotiation and drafting of Cultural Heritage Agreements
Resolution of cultural heritage disputes and litigation
Advice on cultural heritage compliance
Legal advice on the interaction between cultural heritage laws and planning legislation
Preparation of cultural heritage policies and procedures for corporations and local government
Native Title Services
Native title tenure assessments for compensation claims, land development and project planning
Governance advice and corporate compliance for Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBCs)
PBC support with meeting statutory functions
Direct legal representation for native title groups
Representation in proceedings before the Federal Court of Australia for Native Title matters
Negotiation of commercial terms within Indigenous Land Use Agreements
Advice on benefit sharing, royalty structures, and long-term payment models
Drafting of ancillary commercial agreements arising from native title settlements
Ensuring commercial arrangements align with PBC governance and community objectives
Commerical Contract Services
Review and negotiation of commercial contracts, including supply agreements, services agreements, and subcontractor arrangements
Drafting and review of terms of trade, purchase orders, and standard trading documents
Advice on contract risks, obligations, and performance requirements
Review of tender documents and assistance with tender responses
Preparation of memoranda of understanding and heads of agreement
Contract dispute prevention and resolution strategies
Advice on joint venture arrangements and commercial partnerships
Economic Development for Indigenous Corporations
Structuring commercial ventures to maximise returns for Traditional Owner groups
Advice on subsidiary companies and investment vehicles
Negotiation of equity stakes and profit-sharing arrangements in development projects
Review and negotiation of funding agreements and investment proposals
Assistance with developing commercial policies and procurement frameworks
Advice on contracting with government and corporate Australia
Supporting Indigenous businesses to participate in supply chains
Strategic Advisory Services
Strategic legal advice on native title and cultural heritage matters for project related activities.
Facilitation Services for PBCs and Indigenous Corporations
Planning and facilitation of PBC Annual General Meetings and general meetings
Facilitation of board meetings and strategic planning sessions
Assistance with developing meeting agendas that comply with CATSI Act and Corporations Act requirements
Guided discussions to build consensus on key decisions, including benefit distribution and project approvals
Facilitation of community consultation sessions on native title claims, compensation, and future act proposals
Support for developing governance protocols and decision-making frameworks
Independent facilitation of family meetings to resolve intergenerational or factional issues
Principal
Kristen Hodge, Principal
With over 20 years of experience dedicated exclusively to cultural heritage and native title law, Kristen is more than a legal practitioner — she is a trusted advocate, a fierce champion for mob, and a strategic guide in one of Australia's most complex areas of law.
As a Wiradjuri woman from Country, based in Queensland, Kristen founded White Gum Mediation and Law in 2026 to provide specialist, independent support to Traditional Owners, Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBCs), and Aboriginal communities seeking to secure their rights, build economic independence, and protect their Country. Her career has been built on walking alongside communities, not ahead of them.
Kristen's work encompasses the full spectrum of this specialist area, including:
Mediation: One of only five Indigenous mediators on the Federal Court of Australia's native title mediator panel, Kristen facilitates resolutions in complex, culturally sensitive disputes including competing native title claims, workplace matters, and commercial disputes and is guided by a philosophy of respect, self-determination, and practical outcomes.
Cultural Heritage Law: Providing clear, practical advice on the protection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage and resolving cultural heritage disputes. Kristen has been on every side of the table in cultural heritage matters and contributed to drafting Queensland's cultural heritage legislation. She knows this law inside and out.
Native Title Claims & Agreements: Representing Aboriginal parties, governments, and land developers, including negotiating Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs), cultural heritage management plans, and commercial contracts. Kristen has successfully guided a failed native title claim through to a consent determination, a result achieved through culturally appropriate evidence-gathering that demonstrated rights and interests.
Native Title Tenure Assessments & Compensation: Conducting thorough native title tenure assessments and providing strategic advice to proponents and land users. Kristen's tenure analysis expertise is second to none, and she has worked directly with leading native title compensation barristers on a Form 4 compensation strategy in Queensland.
PBC Governance & Empowerment: Advising Prescribed Bodies Corporate on governance, corporate structure, and compliance under the Native Title Act with a focus on empowering directors to make confident, informed decisions and building capability that reduces unnecessary dependency on external advisors.
Business Establishment & Commercial Contracts: Supporting Aboriginal communities and organisations to build genuine economic independence through business establishment, commercial contract negotiation for major projects and small business, tax minimisation strategies, and transparent operating structures. Kristen has assisted in establishing a native seed nursery, an Indigenous labour hire company, and has advised on commercial contracts for major infrastructure projects.
Kristen Hodge
Principal
Contact Us
Phone
0450637282ABN
80633053297
Operating Hours
Monday: 9am to 4pm
Tuesday: 9am to 4pm
Wednesday: 9am to 4pm
Thursday: 9am to 4pm
Friday: 9am to 12pm