Koorie woman, adventurer and strategist, Jirra Lulla Harvey provides an optimistic vision for the future of Aboriginal entrepreneurship. She explores the intersection of technology and First Nations knowledge and believes in the potential for Indigenous design principles to drive innovation strategy.

Jirra is the Manager of Indigenous Entrepreneurship and Innovation at RMIT University where she has created the Ngamai Program. This is an experimental platform for purpose-led Aboriginal founders, working across technology, food, fashion and design to enact Aboriginal cultural values of caring for land, people and community. Her business, Kalinya Communications, was one of Australia’s first Aboriginal owned communications consultancies.

Jirra believes Aboriginal ways of working translate into powerful business acumen for a changing economy. She has travelled the world learning from First Nations led solutions in education, tourism, and wellness. With connections across business, government and investment, Jirra brings an Indigenous lens to global issues such as climate change and ethical supply chain. She is a diversity advisor to a Venture Capital Firm and sits on the Small Business Ministerial Council and Aboriginal Economic Development Board.

Jirra’s family have played an instrumental role in the establishment of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and she was encouraged to take on a leadership role at a young age. At 18 she was awarded a Centenary Medal for creative contributions to Australian Society.

Jirra was the Inaugural Indigenous Arts Leadership Fellow at the National Gallery of Australia, worked at the Venice Biennale for Tracey Moffatt’s ground-breaking exhibition and sits on the Board for the Melbourne International Film Festival.