Bio

Supporting Indigenous interests in business, investment and trade. Working to build impactful Indigenous initiatives that create greater Indigenous economic prosperity and wealth. Darren is a proud descendent of the Kokoberren peoples of Queensland, Australia. In 2022, the Australian Institute for International Affairs appointed Darren a Fellow in recognition of his innovation in international affairs and he began with National Australia Bank's Indigenous Advisory Group. The Australian Government appointed Darren to the Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation Arrangement (IPETECA) interim body; then Minister Ken Wyatt MP appointed Darren Co-Chair of the Ministerial National Indigenous Reference Group. Since 2018 Darren has led the industry-based Indigenous Network for Investment, Trade and Export (IGNITE). IGNITE seeks to make Australia's trade arrangements more inclusive of Indigenous interests involving inputs to multiple Australian trade negotiations. Career highlights include: • Chairman of Board, supported Adnyamathanha Peoples turn their resort into a profitable, multi-million dollar tourism asset that is the largest employer of Jura on their own country, boosted total revenues by 22%, lifted EBITA by 62% and delivering net profits gains of 416%. Readied the Resort for Australia's World Heritage Listing application of the surrounding country. • negotiating for Indigenous Australian inputs to free-trade agreements, supporting Indigenous Inclusions through the Indigenous Network for Investment Trade & Exports. • transformed the Stronger Smarter Institute into Australia's biggest Indigenous initiative in education: +1,500 educators trained, +64,000 Indigenous students, $10m in revenues, and achieved financial viability within 12 months of being appointed CEO. • lifted revenues from $3m to $22m pa for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (Qld). Culminating in a historic 5 year $100m service delivery contract with the Commonwealth government. • Reinhard Mohn Fellowship with media company Bertelsmann AG working across their global operations in strategy, new business and CSR on assignments in Germany, Barcelona, Shanghai, London and New York. • Established Australia's first Indigenous controlled NGO to support Indigenous community development and pioneered Australia's first social venture capital fund - the Lumbu Indigenous Community Foundation. Delivered Australia's first Indigenous specific investment pitch event - pitchBLACK (2004).