Our Story
Proudly Indigenous-Owned
Goanna Solutions was created by Corey Brown, a Gamilaraay and Dunghutti man from Northern NSW. Corey established Goanna with the inspiration to ensure that all Australians including First Nations people, communities, and enterprises are able to participate in and benefit from the digital economy.
The Original Innovators
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are Australia’s original innovators. We are committed to effective collaboration with our partners in Government, Academia, Industry and Corporate to identify and actively support current and future opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
While Indigenous Australians have been inventive for over 60,000 years, unless more is done to assist in closing the digital divide, there is a real risk that their communities may not be able to fully participate in the new Digital Era.
Australian Indigenous education has seen no change at the senior school level of mathematics, science and reading literacy as well as a continued lag in ATAR achievement over the last 10 years. With such a widening divide, many Indigenous students will be left behind and excluded from emerging opportunities in future STEM fields.
STEM careers will provide educational, economic and social sustainability and self-determination for Indigenous people – closing the gap in economic participation and, not only lifting the expectations of what can be achieved by Indigenous peoples, but, enabling us to play a role in creating our own shared future.
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Given the opportunity to participate, we believe passionately that our peoples can thrive in the digital world and take their place in the economy of the future.
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Our Pledge
Goanna Solutions intends to ‘close the digital gap’ by providing an enduring framework to deliver Indigenous people with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art/design and mathematics) education, training, employment, and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Goanna Solutions intends to realise a vision to:
- Help Close the Gap in economic participation by Australia’s Indigenous peoples;
- Raise expectations of what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can achieve;
- Enable our partners and the wider community to play a role in creating a shared future with First Nations peoples.
The Goanna team has developed a range of culturally appropriate pathways by which community can become active participants in the digital economy.
Education
Goanna Education is about pushing the boundaries of tech education to find innovative and no bullsh!t solutions to the issues of the digital divide.
Support
We support Indigenous individuals, communities and businesses to become active partcipants within the digital economy.
Cultural Safety
We engage industry partners to create safe and diverse workplaces. Diverse workplaces benefit all stakeholders involved in a business.
Our team
The team creating change.
Corey Brown
Founder
Our Founder, is a Gamilaraay man from Coonabarabran. Corey brings expertise in partnership management and drives the vision of Goanna Solutions to promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander economic, social and cultural capacity building.
Lisa Sarago
Chief Executive Officer
Lisa is a proud Yidinji, Yalanji woman from Far North Queensland, and is a passionate Aboriginal leader with a diverse range of experience within the public and private sectors.
Andy Vidler
Director
Experienced in retail, investment banking, government and business services sectors. Andy has developed a passion for transformative digital business solutions – the power of transformation through technology has encouraged him to turn his focus to utilising those tools for Indigenous economic development.
Anthony Hollis
Director
A lawyer by training, is an experienced executive having held senior executive roles in Australia and overseas with A variety of businesses, as well as various board roles, including as a Board member of the Northern Sydney Local Health District. Anthony was a founding Director of Supply Nation and works closely with Indigenous-owned Integrity Health & Safety.
Matthew Browne
Director
A highly accomplished and experienced digital business leader. He’s held the role of Co-Founder & CEO of Donesafe, Co-Founder and Advisor to Whispli, Chief Investment Officer at Black Nova Group, Venture Partner & Investor at Antler, and Award-Winning Strategist in some of Australia’s most well-known companies.
Zac Smith
Recruitment
Experienced Director with a demonstrated history of 25 years working in the staffing and recruiting industry. Skilled in Recruitment Consulting, Coaching, Sales, Executive Search, and Customer Relationship Management (CRM).