Our Board

Co-Chair, Kinaway Chamber of Commerce

Taungurung

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Lawrence is a proud Taungurung descendant born on Wamba Wamba country Swan Hill. Lawrence is a qualified Teacher and has undertaken a number of roles across Victorian State government from education, employment, justice, community capacity building, corrections Victoria, land management, Rail Projects Victoria and Victoria Legal Aid.

Lawrence has undertaken CEO roles for Aboriginal Community Controlled organizations and NSW Lands Councils bringing community together for Self Determination and Reconciliation working to Close the Gap. Lawrence has also undertaken the role of Responsible Person for a Registered Aboriginal Party under the Victorian Cultural Heritage Act overseeing many cultural heritage management plans and the protection of cultural values on country.

Lawrence is a business owner in his own right and has a joint venture business in transport and logistics. Lawrence has firsthand experiences and knowledge of the success and failures of Victorian Indigenous Procurement strategies and is actively involved in forums seeking to address the skills shortages across the state with a focus on opportunities for Aboriginal business, Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organizations. Additional focus areas include Victorian Agriculture, Extractive Minerals and Renewable Energy sectors, particularly equity sharing.

Board Member, Kinaway Chamber of Commerce

Ngarrindjeri

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Nicole Appleton is not only breaking barriers as an Aboriginal business owner, but she is also leading the way with the only wholly Aboriginal female-owned plant hire business in Victoria, working across major transport infrastructure projects such as the Level Crossing Removal Project.

As the Director at NLA Trucking and a proud Ngarrindjeri woman, Nicole brings a wealth of leadership experience and a deep commitment to cultural diversity.

With a proven track record of driving strategic initiatives and fostering collaboration, she prioritises excellence and innovation to optimise operations and exceed client expectations.

Nicole is particularly passionate about championing women in construction, advocating for their empowerment and representation in traditionally male-dominated industries.

Board Member, Kinaway Chamber of Commerce

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Jacob Gabriel is an Aboriginal executive with extensive experience driving commercial outcomes across the transport, infrastructure, and energy supply sectors.

As Founder of First Transport, Jacob has built one of Australia’s leading Aboriginal-owned logistics companies from the ground up, delivering critical project transport services across major infrastructure supply chains across Australia.

Jacob has also significant experience working in improving economic outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in various roles within NSW Treasury, Victorian State Government and First Australians Capital.

Board Member, Kinaway Chamber of Commerce

Yorta Yorta

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Phil Jackson, a proud Yorta Yorta man, founded Indigenous Civil Services (ICS) with a vision to build genuine First Nations engagement and create long-term employment opportunities for Indigenous people in civil construction. With over 30 years in the industry—from completing his trade as a Carpenter and Joiner through Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-Op in 1989 to leading major project delivery—Phil combines deep technical expertise with passionate commitment to workforce development and cultural leadership.

Phil's career demonstrates how construction expertise and Indigenous mentoring can work hand-in-hand. His on-site experience includes structural supervision on the Victorian Desalination Project managing teams of up to 30 employees and subcontractors, and leading hand roles on major Regional Rail works. This practical foundation enabled him to move into Indigenous engagement roles where he could create real pathways for Indigenous workers—establishing mentoring programs with Thiess, exceeding engagement targets on the Ballarat Line Upgrade with Lendlease (achieving 3.7% against a 2.5% target), and advocating for Indigenous workers across major projects.

In 2017, Phil established Indigenous Civil Group and Indigenous Civil Services, growing the combined workforce from two employees in 2019 to over 140 in 2024. His approach is built on reading people and leveraging their strengths—identifying individual skills and adapting them to exceed project requirements. Through the ICS and iDIG partnership, Phil brings technical capability and genuine cultural commitment that create lasting opportunities for Indigenous workers and regional communities.

Board Member, Kinaway Chamber of Commerce

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