When Tristram Gray brushed past Gungarri man and NRL legend Jonathan Thurston as he walked to the stage at the Indigenous Leadership Summit in Sydney last November, the Kmart Group executive had a hard act to follow.

But the Kmart Group's chief people and capabilities officer quickly caught the ear of business leaders in the room, detailing the company's five-year employment program that has led to it being a dominant First Nations force in retail, achieving 4.8 per cent Indigenous employment and thriving community and cultural programs across Australia.

Securing and retaining Indigenous workers, and promoting First Nations culture, have been strategic successes for the group, its giant strides starting with the customer-focused Deadly Store Network; more than 120 Target and Kmart outlets in highly-populated Aboriginal areas.

The DSN program supports store team members build relationships with community partners, and encouraged long-term employment opportunities through cultural education, awareness and tailored initiatives.

More than 2,200 members of Kmart Group's workforce are First Nations, including specialised leaders across several states that steer its successful employment program, which has the retailer among Australia's biggest Indigenous employers.

Kevin Bloomfield has been the longest serving of those, working a range of roles across departments in his 20-plus years at Target and Kmart.

"Due to the size of our business, we have a unique opportunity to celebrate Indigenous culture, sharing and amplifying positive storytelling throughout our store network," the proud Marrambidya and Galari People of the Wiradyuri Nation man told National Indigenous Times.

These days Mr Bloomfield is Kmart Group's First Nations program manager, an invaluable cog driving the company's successful cultural and economic programs through meaningful engagement and consultation with various Indigenous communities, organisations and agencies across Country.

He said caring for and inspiring a generation of Indigenous leaders was a driving passion and a privilege.

"To work with community, and for community, all the time is an honour," he said.

"As is spending time learning from Elders, ensuring our ancestors' perspectives are valued in decision making."

The recent Indigenous leadership gathering gave businesses a peek into Kmart Group's strategy, with key takeaways including executive sponsorships, aligned values, leadership support and championing Indigenous voices.

Mr Gray said the company's success was built on continuous learning, and earning trust with communities and staff when addressing issues promptly when they arise.

He told National Indigenous Times the DSN broadened cultural awareness and community connections, provided safe spaces for team members and customers, and increased Indigenous employment via training programs and local partnerships.

"In those locations, we're aware of the Indigenous demographic and that's how we benchmark, are we parity in those areas?" Mr Gray said.

"Our store teams are representative of the communities we operate and serve in."