Key points:
• HAVAS Blak is a first-of-its-kind communications offering
• Transformative opportunities for a gap in the market
• Initiative reflects National Reconciliation Week 2026 theme "All In"
A new communications group focused on advancing First Nations voices and advocacy is set to strengthen Indigenous interests across the business landscape.
HAVAS Red on Friday announced a formal partnership with leading First Nations advocate and BlackCard founder Mundanara Bayles to launch HAVAS Blak, a first-of-its-kind communications offering.
HAVAS Blak is set to provide strategic communications, cultural capability, media training and leadership visibility, all grounded in First Nations perspectives.
Despite growing demand, the First Nations communications sector remained under-scaled, fragmented and unable to meet national demand, creating a critical gap in culturally informed storytelling and engagement.
HAVAS Blak would directly address this need, combining Ms Bayles' nationally recognised cultural leadership and BlackCard's transformative approach, with HAVAS Red's scale, influence and strategic public relations expertise.
The partnership aims to build a First Nations-led PR force which embeds authentic perspectives into mainstream communications, placing Indigenous voices at the centre of national issues.
Ms Bayles, a proud Aboriginal woman connected to Wonnarua, Bunjalung, Birri-Gubba, and Gungalu peoples, said the partnership aimed to shift power and ensure First Nations perspectives were embedded, respected and heard at the highest levels.
"HAVAS Blak creates a platform for culturally grounded storytelling that reflects truth, drives understanding and delivers real outcomes for our communities," said Ms Bayles, now co-founder of HAVAS Blak.
The partnership was announced during National Reconciliation Week 2026, and reflected this year's theme of "All In".
"'All in' means walking together to reinforce Aboriginal self-determination through economic resilience, and that's exactly what this partnership with HAVAS is designed to achieve," Ms Bayles said.
Ms Bayles has more than 20 years' experience across education, employment, media, and health, and was the Indigenous Businesswoman of the Year at the 2023 Supply Nation Awards.
HAVAS Blak built on strong foundations
HAVAS Red managing partner (corporate), Myrna Van Pelt, said its existing pro bono partnership with BlackCard had shown what was possible when collaboration was grounded in trust and a shared purpose.
"HAVAS Blak is the next step, moving from support to true co-creation, embedding cultural intelligence and First Nations perspectives into the core of how we advise clients," Ms Van Pelt said.
Senior HAVAS Red executive, James Wright, said the communications industry had a responsibility to help shape a more inclusive national narrative.
"That starts by creating greater space for First Nations voices to lead," he said.
"Partnering with Mundanara ensures this is built on authenticity and focused on impact.
"Launching during National Reconciliation Week is a clear reminder that meaningful progress requires collective and sustained accountability."
Friday's launch formalised an existing relationship, with HAVAS Red having provided pro bono strategic PR support to BlackCard for the past two years, helping lay the groundwork for a scalable, long-term partnership.
Ms Bayles and Mr Wright also shared a commitment to advancing First Nations mental wellbeing through their joint involvement on the board of mental fitness charity Gotcha4Life, further strengthening the partnership's purpose-led foundations.
The BlackCard approach
BlackCard evolved from a cultural competency course developed by Dr Lilla Watson and Dr Mary Graham, Aboriginal Elders, educators and long-time course developers and lecturers at the University of Queensland.
The pair has developed and taught core university subjects such as Aboriginal Perspectives and Aboriginal Approaches to Knowledge both at undergraduate and post-graduate level since the 1970s.
Demand for their knowledge and expertise as educators had grown beyond the university sector to the broader business and community sectors, leading them to develop BlackCard.
