For Gordon Cole, building financial security for the Noongar community isn't just about business success, it's about blending culture with entrepreneurship to create lasting wealth and a legacy for future generations.
As a Whadjuk Noongar man deeply connected to the broader Noongar nation, Mr Cole's mission is to empower Indigenous communities, helping them bridge the gap between tradition and modern business practices.
Mr Cole wears many hats in his professional life: he's a panelist at First Nations House, the chair of the Noongar chamber of Commerce industry, and a business investor with a strong desire to give back to his community.
With nearly 600 members, the Noongar Chamber of Commerce is a pivotal organisation in fostering business growth, particularly for emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs.
Through his work, Mr Cole is addressing the systemic barriers that Indigenous businesses often face, particularly access to capital. While many in the community are eager to start or grow their own businesses, the lack of accessible financial resources can often be a stumbling block.
His work seeks to break down these barriers and build connections between Indigenous entrepreneurs and financial institutions.
"A lot of the challenges expressed with Noongar and other Aboriginal businesses are around access to capital," said Mr Cole.
"We try to assist them and break down barriers, but also talk to those that provide capital on how they could male their policies a lot more accessible for our business sector."
The power of collaboration is at the heart of his work, and events like the First Nations House Summit that took place in Perth this month, plays a crucial role in fostering relationships across industries.
These summits provide a platform for everyone—from startups to venture capitalists—to meet, share ideas and explore opportunities. For Mr Cole, they are a vital tool in advancing economic development for Indigenous business.
"Events such as what's happening here are fantastic for people from the full gamut of start-ups right through to venture capitalists," he said.
"It's a great vehicle for our sector to engage with, learn, meet new people from around the world and create further opportunities."
The panel discussion at the summit touched on a theme that Mr Cole holes close to his heart: legacy building. He emphasised that the opportunities available to today's Indigenous entrepreneurs far exceed those of past generations. This shift represents not only the chance for financial prosperity but also the potential to reshape the future of Indigenous communities through business.
"The opportunities we have today are a lot more than our parents and grandparents had," Mr Cole said.
"What we're able to do now is grab those opportunities and take our people and our community to other places where we become financially secure, create wealth–underpinned by our culture. That's the most important part of who we are."
By blending culture with entrepreneurship, Mr Cole envisions a future where economic success is not only measured by financial gain but by the strength of community, tradition, and cultural preservation. This fusion, he believes, is the key to creating lasting prosperity for Noongar people.
"We're bringing culture into business and business back into culture," he said.
"Through creating prosperity and economic security, we're building the foundation for our people to thrive and ensuring that we leave a meaningful legacy for generations to come."
Mr Cole's work serves as a reminder that financial success and cultural integrity are not mutually exclusive but can be woven together to create a thriving future. For him, every business opportunity is an opportunity to uplift the community and make sure Noongar culture remains at the heart of it all.