When Kevin Wilson stepped onto the panel stage at last month's First Nations House Summit, it wasn't just about business—it was about connection, storytelling and shared purpose.

The Wongai man joined fellow Indigenous creatives to discuss how First Nations artists are leading the way in preserving cultural heritage while reimagining contemporary storytelling.

As the Creative Director of Nani, a company focused on embedding First Nations art and stories into the fabric of society, Mr Wilson's approach isn't confined to boardrooms or creative studios. It's deeply rooted in creating meaningful spaces for storytellers.

"What I do with my business is create a space for storytellers to tell their story, and then we facilitate that," he said.

Mr Wilson's passion lies in mentoring and guiding artists, helping them transition their art into commercial creative spaces—a task he admits comes with its challenges.

"We work with artists to bring their artwork into the commercial creativity space, so there's lots of challenges with that—moving art into design," he said.

"We mentor and facilitate to make sure we capture the story and tell it in the proper way, in whatever format it is."

However it's not just about the final product. The journey, the documentation and the recognition of everyone involved are just as important.

"I think it's really important to record the story of how something was created, especially when we're working in such a digital space where it can become more about aesthetics than the actual story itself," he said.

"So we spend a lot of time making sure the right people are spoken to, and that when the project is launched, everyone is credited and acknowledged for their time and knowledge."

Respect and acknowledgment are non-negotiable for Mr Wilson, who has encountered many instances where these essential values are overlooked.

"[With] Mob, it's like—what's your name, who's your mob? We want to know who was involved and what the story was behind it," he said.

"That's crucial to any project, especially in the digital space."

When asked for advice for others navigating the creative industry, Mr Wilson emphasised the importance of networking.

"I reckon the biggest advice is to meet other people in the industry," he said.

"I've learnt so much by just talking to friends, sharing experiences, and working on projects together. You learn so much that way.

"And us Mob—we learn from each other. We can read all we want, watch all the things we think we need to understand, but until we put it into practice and go through those experiences together—whether they're good or bad—that's where the real learning happens."

Building a community and fostering connections are key for Mr Wilson, who encourages creatives to share their work openly.

"Let people know what you're doing. People will support you and push you forward," he said.

In every project he touches, Mr Wilson ensures that respect, storytelling, and connection remain at the heart of the work.