Proud Yawuru, Jabirr Jabirr, and Bardi man Rhonen Maher recently achieved a remarkable milestone, graduating as a Chartered Accountant (CA) in Perth.

This achievement places him among a group of just 25 Indigenous people in Australia holding this internationally recognised qualification.

Mr Maher's journey to becoming a Chartered Accountant reflects both his dedication and commitment to his community. He earned his Graduate Diploma in Chartered Accounting (GradDipCA), a qualification known for its rigorous standards.

As part of his professional development, Mr Maher completed his mentored practical experience with Indigenous-owned KRED Enterprises in Broome, working as part of their finance team. To broaden his expertise, he also undertook a six-month secondment with BDO in Adelaide, gaining exposure to diverse aspects of the accounting profession.

Now, as KRED Enterprises' Group Financial Controller, Mr Maher will play a critical role in the organisation's mission to support Indigenous economic development.

"Becoming a Chartered Accountant has been a challenging but rewarding journey," Mr Maher said.

"I'm proud to be part of this profession and hope to inspire others in my community to pursue their goals."

KRED chief executive Damien Parriman commended Mr Maher's accomplishments.

"We are all very proud of Rhonen. His commitment since deciding to undertake the qualification has been admirable," he said.

"We are seeing increasing numbers of Aboriginal doctors and lawyers, but the need to have our own finance professionals is often overlooked. I hope his achievement will inspire others to pursue careers in finance as we continue to bridge the gap in financial literacy among our people."

Mr Parriman said Mr Maher's story highlights the importance of representation and opportunity in advancing reconciliation and empowering Indigenous communities through professional excellence.