Meet the First Nations entrepreneurs changing the game and be a part
of their next chapter.

Crystal Ailan, established in 2021, is a Torres Strait Islander owned business that currently provides a pick-up and refund service for Containers for Change (QLD’s Container Refund Scheme) in Torres Strait.  Since opening a container refund point (CRP) on Badu Island in 2022, Crystal Ailan has collected and refunded up to 1 million eligible beverage containers from the local community including containers from other neighbouring islands.

Crystal Ailan is in the final stages of a contract negotiation with Containers for Change, to extend its service to three neighbouring communities of St Pauls and Kubin on Moa Island and Mabuiag Island, with the potential to also service the remaining 11 communities in the Torres Strait Island Regional Council (TSIRC) area.

Crystal Ailan is committed to provide equal access to Containers for Change and potentially other recyclable materials.  The opportunity to recycle eligible containers and reduce the amount of these recyclables going into the local landfills is a key solution to waste reduction, littering and extend the life of landfills.

Ithangee Fisheries is a 100% Indigenous-owned Tropical Rock Lobster business based in Seisia and led by Ian Wymarra, an experienced diver with deep local knowledge, strong buyer relationships, and a commitment to sustainable and community-driven operations. The business has already established a successful track record, supplying premium live lobster to TS Seafood on Thursday Island.

With over nine years of diving experience, including four as a harvest diver, and a background in the navy and underwater construction, Ian is exceptionally well-placed to expand this operation. His strong work ethic, existing market connections, and deep knowledge of local waters position the business for sustainable growth and increased Indigenous participation in the seafood industry.

Maluka Escape Pty Ltd is an Indigenous-owned and operated tourism company that capitalises on eco-cultural tourism around the inner island and the western cluster group of islands in the Torres Strait. Their Salt and Sand getaways are a seascaper’s dream, to escape the hustle and bustle of the land and experience life on the ocean, our way.

Maluka in the local Kala Lagaw Ya language means ‘into the ocean’. Maluka Escape’s foundational focus is seafaring.  To celebrate our heritage and history as seafarers who have relied heavily on the maritime industry and trade with other islands and coastal villages, we bring to you the best experience of Torres Strait’s life on the ocean, boasting our fishing adventures, luxury accommodation, island-hopping cultural tours, and a spot of billy tea and damper on the beach while yarning with the locals; and if you’re lucky, indulge in our mouth-watering freshly caught seafood cuisine.

Mangrove Solutions is a 100% First Nations-owned and operated environmental services company, combining cultural knowledge with scientific expertise to care for Country. They deliver hands-on conservation and restoration projects while creating meaningful employment and training for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

They are based in the Cairns region and work across land and sea Country, from the mangroves to the reef.

The Normanby Aboriginal Corporation (NAC) manage Normanby Station, Balnggarrawarra Country, and have dual missions of; sustainable natural resources management to maintain the cultural and environmental values of Country, and to use the Balnggarrawarra estate to develop nature positive and economically sustainable business on Country.

Normanby Station in Cape York is over 30,000 hectares, with many sandstone escarpments containing extensive rock art paintings and cultural sites. Normanby Station is operated with healthy and sustainable land management practices at the core of their efforts.

The corporations’ work includes conserving rock art and cultural sites, managing fire and vegetation (using both traditional knowledge and best practice), protecting the original Normanby homestead, and monitoring native species like rare Coix grass. They also control feral animals and priority weeds, monitor water quality and wetlands, carry out large-scale erosion control to reduce sediment in the Normanby River and Great Barrier Reef, and engage youth through work experience programs.

Pinga – meaning ‘to flower, blossom’.

Pinga Skincare is an innovative Australian skincare brand with a mission to celebrate the natural beauty and cultural richness of Cape York Peninsula — while creating real, lasting social and environmental impact.

Founded by Kaantju, Umpila, and Kuuku Ya’u woman Shonae Hobson, who was raised in Coen, Cape York. At its core, the brand is about more than skincare — it’s about protecting and promoting the unique ecosystems of Cape York, and ensuring that Indigenous knowledge systems are respected, valued, and shared ethically.

Pinga works in close partnership with Indigenous suppliers to identify and sustainably source bioactive ingredients, while also raising awareness of Cape York’s extraordinary biodiversity. Through this model, we aim to support the conservation of fragile ecosystems, promote regenerative land practices, and strengthen the role of Traditional Owners as custodians of Country.

We are committed to building employment pathways and economic opportunities for Indigenous communities through training, enterprise, and participation in the native botanicals and skincare industries. By investing in cultural knowledge transfer and supporting community-led development, Pinga is helping to grow a future where First Nations people are leaders in both conservation and innovation.

Our vision is to position Pinga as a values-led skincare brand that is results-driven, environmentally responsible, and socially grounded — a brand where every product tells a story of care for skin, Country, and culture.

Rainforest to Bush Cultural Experiences (RTBCE) was established in 2021 by members of the Rosas/Walker family, who recognised the importance of creating a lasting entity that fosters employment and economic opportunities within their local Indigenous community. This initiative stems from a long-held vision to reconnect with culture and to protect, preserve, and share traditional knowledge with others.

Based on the Atherton Tablelands, RTBCE is proud to be an Aboriginal-owned and operated family business offering immersive cultural tours across their traditional homelands of Yidinji and Mbabaram Countries. Their tours are designed not only to provide meaningful cultural engagement but also to create training and employment pathways for the local Indigenous community, ensuring that their cultural heritage is upheld and passed on to future generations.

Remote OpShop Project is a national network of community-owned and operated opshops across remote First Nations communities.

The opshop serves three key purposes:

1. Provides access to affordable clothing and household good
2. Offers enterprise training and small business skill development.
3. Generates income to support locally-led cultural initiatives.

Grounded in circular economy principles, the project diverts excess goods from landfill and transforms them into social, economic, and cultural opportunities in some of Australia’s most remote and underserved areas.

With a current network of 40 opshops, we’re backed by a donor community of over 45,000 people and operate a Reuse Hub in Darwin, which also receives stock from national brands.

In the next five years, we aim to scale our impact through regional hubs in Cairns, Broome, and Alice Springs—supporting 120 remote communities and giving over 75,000 people improved access to essential items, training, and opportunity.

Salty Monkeys is a 100% Indigenous-owned brand that showcases the ocean, Torres Strait Culture, and its people. Their purpose is to build revenue through sustainable products to deliver social impact across the Torres Strait.

They are ocean enthusiasts, offering high-quality apparel and promoting sustainability through education, community, and creative collaborations. Some of their current projects include; Marine Debris Task Force and Future Leaders Workshops. The Marine Debris Task Force is endeavouring to collect data from community beach cleanups, work with professionals and key stakeholders to spark innovative solutions, and create opportunities for locals to use the marine debris as a potential resource.

TRAWQ stands for the five communities that reside at the back of Thursday Island: Tamwoy, Rosehill, Aplin, Waiben, and Quarantine. TRAWQ’s vision is to empower the TSI people by providing sustainable economic development that allows the community to manage its own affairs; provide greater degree of autonomy and to maintain its rich culture.

At TRAWQ Indigenous Corporation, their aim is to also provide youth in the area with activity and education services that extend beyond the normal school day.