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William Trewlynn is a proud Anaiwan, Dunghutti, and Gomeroi man.
He's also the co-founder of YarnnUp, an Aboriginal Change Agency, specialising in cultural consulting, training and storytelling.
"We refer to YarnnUp as, ancestral intelligence. We've created a framework which applies First Nations knowledge systems into our business practices. And it's having huge impacts from our partners all the way down to our communities."
Alongside his business-partner, William leads a 14-strong team of strategic consultants and creatives.
He is part of the first cohort to have graduated from the Master of Indigenous Business Leadership, delivered by Monash University and the William Cooper Institute in 2023.
"It was an opportunity to engage in education that was designed for mob by mob. It provides pathways for communities, which I think at times is complex and hard. Secondly, it was about visibility. I think when you think about First Nations engagement, you think about First Nations leadership, it's done with a Western kind of ideology. And this for me was a way to reframe how do we define leadership in this country."
The Master of Indigenous Business Leadership program is now in its fifth year.
It's co-designed and led by Indigenous business leaders, Elders and academics.
Tristan Kennedy is a proud Noongar man and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous, at Monash University.
"Foregrounding Indigenous knowledges, Indigenous perspectives and Indigenous wisdom in tackling curriculum content, designing curriculum content, and establishing outcomes really makes it relevant and meaningful."
According to Supply Nation which provides Australia's leading database of verified Indigenous businesses, the contribution of Indigenous business to the Australian economy is around 16 billion dollars.
Kate Russell is a proud Awabakal woman and the founder of Supply Nation.
"There's so much that goes beyond dollars when talking about Indigenous businesses, a diverse business sector strengthens social cohesion and honours the cultural heritage of this country. When Indigenous businesses are included, we see more culturally safe workplaces, more partnerships built on respect and more decisions that reflect community priorities."
This year's graduating class includes 17 students from more than 20 communities across the country.
Kaley Nicholson is a 2025 graduate with family lines throughout Victoria and into New South Wales.
She has also recently been elected to the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria.
She says she is excited about embracing First Nations knowledge - and cultivating the next generation of business leaders.
"There is nothing more self-determined or self-determining than having your own business. You make every decision, the success and failure of that business really rests on your shoulders. And so that's an incredibly daunting thing to think about, but also it's so freeing."
