Proud Wiradjuri woman of the Galari (Lachlan River), Fiona Harrison, has been awarded the Charles Sturt Distinguished Alumni of the Year - First Nations Excellence.
The award recognises outstanding achievement or contribution by a First Nations alumni in their chosen industry, profession, or field.
For Ms Harrison, this is as chief executive of the certified social enterprise Chocolate On Purpose, Australia's first Indigenous chocolate company, which she founded in 2012.
The vision of Yindyamarra, which she describes as "respect, honour and go slowly to do it properly", underpins Ms Harrison's vision, with her delicious products fusing fine Belgian chocolate with premium Australian native botanicals.
She said she embeds social impact into every business decision—from the supply chain to ethical production.
"My chocolate embodies the change I want to see, and knowing my efforts support equity in supply chains and contribute to sustainable communities makes every challenge worthwhile," Ms Harrison said.
This includes incorporating Wiradjuri storytelling into her work, from the owl shape - representing Elders' wisdom - to the 'Walking On Country' chocolate bar.
"It's about nurturing a legacy of Yindyamarra, healing and empowerment," she said.
"A call to ask ourselves: what sort of ancestor do I want to be for the seven generations looking up at us, waiting for their turn to emerge?"
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From the central tablelands of NSW, Ms Harrison's business and life has been born out of deep personal trauma, which began when she was removed from her father's Wiradjuri family as a child.
She faced the challenges of hidden Aboriginality, as well as being denied the Culture of her heritage, in a childhood enveloped by intergenerational and personal trauma.
Wanting to decolonise her way of thinking and learn more about her ancestral past drew her to the Charles Sturt Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage program, Ms Harrison has embraced sharing language and Wiradjuri nation-building, which in turn has continued her determination to meaningfully improve lives.
In her effort to find healing through ancestral guidance, she became an aromatic medicine practitioner, discovering the therapeutic power of native botanicals which have helped Indigenous cultures survive and thrive for thousands of years.
"I was intensely curious as to how these plants could be so powerful as to bring healing, so I studied Aromatic Medicine so I could share my learning for the benefit of others," Ms Harrison said.
"This sparked the idea to study as a chocolatier and combine these healing plants to create chocolate that tells stories of Culture and healing through the universal language of chocolate."
She said every successful Indigenous business is dismantling stereotypes in an economic environment First Nations people have traditionally been excluded from.
"I am committed to building a First Nations-led supply chain to increase Indigenous representation in Australia's bushfood and botanical industries, where currently less than two per cent of leadership is Indigenous – and even fewer are women," Ms Harrison said.
