Honouring Our Leaders: Mr. Kim Collard

Mr. Kim Collard, a proud Balladong/Wadjuk Elder of the Noongar Nation, and the 2024 Male Elder of the Year NAIDOC Award recipient, is the embodiment of dedication to community, culture, and leadership. His life’s work has touched the hearts and lives of many, both within Indigenous communities and across wider Western Australian society. Through his journey, Kim has remained deeply committed to uplifting his people and creating opportunities for future generations.

Kim’s career has been as varied as it is inspiring. From his early days as a boilermaker and Western Australia police officer, to a decade in academia at Curtin University, Kim has worn many hats. But his passion for empowering his community has always been at the forefront of everything he does.

This passion led Kim to create two of Australia’s largest Indigenous-owned businesses: Kulbardi and Kooya Australia Fleet Services. For more than a decade, these businesses have thrived, not only commercially, but as powerful examples of Indigenous success and self-determination. Kim’s leadership has created employment opportunities for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, weaving together a legacy of collaboration and growth.

But Kim’s story doesn’t stop at business. His heart for community has been the driving force behind everything he’s accomplished. In 2014, he founded The Bibbulmun Fund, an Indigenous-led philanthropic initiative that’s raised over $1.4 million to support 19 charitable organisations across Australia. From education and leadership to youth programs and elder camps, Kim’s fund focuses on initiatives that create positive change by Aboriginal people, for Aboriginal people. It’s about self-determination, lifting each other up, and paving the way for future generations.

Kim’s vision is simple but powerful—creating pathways for Aboriginal people to thrive. Through his businesses and his philanthropy, he has consistently worked to empower others, offering the tools and opportunities for First Nations people to rise and succeed on their own terms.

Winning the 2024 Male Elder of the Year NAIDOC Award is a testament to the profound impact Kim has had. His dedication to community, his deep cultural knowledge, and his unwavering commitment to creating opportunities for his people have been recognised on a national level. But more than that, his leadership has changed lives—helping young people find meaningful work, supporting elders, and ensuring that the strength of culture and connection continues to guide his community.

Kim’s work is about more than just business success or awards—it’s about creating lasting change. He’s a leader who shows that when we invest in our people, we invest in a brighter future for everyone. By honouring leaders like Kim Collard, we celebrate the spirit of Indigenous resilience, community, and self-determination, and we acknowledge the transformative power of leadership rooted in culture and connection.