Our ‘Accelerate with IBA’ Showcase on April 7 was a great success. It’s been an incredible six-month journey as we partnered with Indigenous Business Australia once again to equip a new cohort of business owners to grow, learn new skills, and explore their social impact.
All our participants are now looking for funding and partnership, market support and introductions, or industry connections. Read on to learn more about each of these impressive entrepreneurs, and let us know how we can help some partnerships blossom.
Tamara
Wonky Lines Counselling
Tamara is a Kamillaroi woman from northern NSW, and has worked on Kaurna Country for over half her life. Tamara’s work and skill is focussed on working within the ‘systems’ that are not working for her and her community. This led to the creation of Wonky Lines Counselling (WLC).
WLC believes Aboriginal people have the capacity to create generational healing and that systemic paternalism and punitive responses are not solutions. WLC supports organisations, staff and community members through self determination and empowerment, and works to deconstruct false narratives that Aboriginal people need to be fixed, or that organisations and ‘systems’ know what is best for Aboriginal people living with the impacts of Intergenerational Trauma.
WLC is a service designed by Aboriginal people, for Aboriginal people. Services include: educational resources, workshops, cultural supervision, narrative therapy
groups, one-to-one narrative therapy and independent advocacy services.
Tara & Melinda
Yaala Sparkling
Tara and Melinda are a mother and daughter team with a combined background in marketing, business and product development. With a shared passion for nature, place and connection, growing and foraging food, and creating commerce with impact…Yaala Sparkling was born.
Yaala Sparkling is a sophisticated non-alcoholic drinks brand celebrating First Nations culture — an Indigenous-owned artisan beverage company with a native twist.
Through Yaala Sparkling, Tara as a proud Wiradjuri woman, and Melinda, long to share the age-old, yet timeless stories and knowledge of the First Nations people of Australia. The brand bridges the past with the present by translating and applying ancient knowledge to a modern form.
Tara and Melinda advocate and support embracing First Nation’s culture within the greater community by doing their small part with authenticity and inclusivity.
Lacey
Buck Wild Country
Lacey Long is a proud Kamilaroi woman on Barada Barna Country, Middlemount Central QLD. She’s a wife and mother, and the owner and founder of Buck Wild Country and Friends of The Wild Collective.
Buck Wild Country was founded in 2018 as a tribute to good friend, Bucky, who lost his life to suicide. Starting with one design for men, the range quickly grew to over 20 designs for men, women and children. Today, Buck Wild Country is a proudly Australian Lifestyle and Fashion brand, built with love for the whole family.
When Lacey is not at home being a Mumma, you can find her designing for future collections in the magical space she has created for her work and community: Friends Of The Wild, where Buck Wild Country lives alongside other beautiful, small Australian brands.
Tracy
Wattleseed Nutrition
Tracy is a Gamilaroi woman, Dietitian, Nutritionist, Beauty Therapist, accredited Wayapa® Wuurrk practitioner and founder of Wattleseed Nutrition, Health and Wellbeing, a 100% Aboriginal owned business based on Gubbi Gubbi/Kabi Kabi Country.
Wattleseed Nutrition blends community and public health, nutrition counselling, modern science and therapies, and permaculture design principles with Indigenous knowledges and philosophies to deliver a unique, inclusive and empowered learning experience.
Tracy views health and wellbeing through a holistic and cultural lens, and truly believes in the power of understanding and sustaining our connections to traditional foods, lands, and practices. Tracy is also currently undertaking training as a Dadirri Lead Facilitator in Culturally Informed Trauma Integrated Care and Healing.
Jacob
Zenadth Kes Legal
Jacob is the CEO of Zenadth Kes Legal Pty Ltd, a hybrid commercial and community service law practice. He has an almost 15-year Defence background in diverse fields and comes with both domestic and overseas operational experience.
Jacob consults across the private, corporate and government sectors on a range of Indigenous and non-indigenous issues. He sits on the ABC Advisory Board, Cairns Marine Advisory Committee, The Tropical Rock Lobster Working Group and recently led the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Indigenous Defence Project from January to October, 2020. Jacob is currently leading significant reforms across the Torres Strait, is a respected advisor on Torres Strait issues, and is highly active in the Cairns legal, government and corporate circles.
Leisa
NEON Marketing
NEON Marketing is a full-service boutique strategic marketing agency founded and directed by Leisa Wahlin, a proud Kalkadoon descendant
who now lives and works on Cammeraygal Country in Sydney.
With over 15 years’ experience in the industry, Leisa draws on specialist knowledge in building and construction, industrial, B2B, and tourism segments.
The NEON team of strategic marketing and digital professionals have proven success across a range of industries and organisational categories with businesses and entrepreneurs of all sizes.
NEON Marketing is Aboriginal and woman-owned and led, and Supply Nation Certified. They are a Professional Member of the Australian Marketing Institute (AMI) and lead by AMI Certified Practising Marketers (CPM).
Tammy
DulcieDot
Tammy Saville is a proud Goorie woman descending from the Bundjalung nation of Northern NSW, living on Bidjigal Country, Sydney.
DulcieDot partners with Aboriginal Artists to design textiles and create ethical childrenswear. High priority is placed on the protection, development, and respect of the partnering First Nations artist’s stories and artwork, building a platform that empowers the artists to proudly share and celebrate their culture and stories.
Tammy is passionate about facilitating economic inclusion with connection to culture, Country and language. DulcieDot directly supports Artist licensing payments, and through building confidence and capability creates economic opportunities within the art, fashion and photography industries for First Nations, refugee and new migrant communities.
We had a chat with Tammy last month, read our feature article here
Fiona
Chocolate On Purpose
Fiona Harrison is a proud Wiradjuri Artisan Chocolatier, combining premium, gourmet chocolate with Australian native botanicals to create a ‘Bush Food Chocolate range’.
Chocolate On Purpose is Australia’s first Indigenous chocolate company, creating delicious chocolate experiences infused with ancient Indigenous wisdom and mission.
Fiona is a disruptor in the Artisan chocolate market and the Chocolate on Purpose business model delivers real impact. By building an Indigenous led supply chain, for every extra production run delivered they can increase their buy from an Indigenous farmer by 10 kilos, contributing to their increased
participation in the Australian native food and botanical supply chain.
Chocolate on Purpose is proud to source ethical chocolate, which contributes to the eradication of forced child labour and raises cacao farmers above the poverty line. They also choose not to use palm oil because of its harmful impacts on the environment.