From collaboration on reconciliation initiatives to launching Australia’s first profit-for-purpose building services procurement capability partnership to empower Aboriginal businesses and communities: The genesis of Murrungar
When Murrungar’s Aaron Clark – then the Director of the Korin Gamadji Institute at Richmond Football Club – first began having conversations with A.G. Coombs Managing Director Russell Telford about the company’s reconciliation action plan, Aaron could never have envisaged where it would lead them both.
Fast forward 10 years and the dream has become a reality with the establishment of Murrungar.
With its name originating from the Kirrae Whurrung language of southwest Victoria, Murrungar means ‘to build, grow and nurture’ – a fitting foundation for an initiative that aims to do exactly that for Indigenous participation in the built environment sector.
True economic empowerment
Murrungar represents a revolutionary approach that challenges the traditional paradigm of Indigenous engagement in corporate Australia. The initiative taps into what the banking sector identified as a potential $50 billion Indigenous economy by 2030, positioning Murrungar to capture opportunities in an industry where Aboriginal knowledge systems – particularly in environmental sustainability and land management – offer unique competitive advantages.
In joining Aaron to form this partnership, Russell Telford pointed out that a commercial approach was fundamental to Murrungar’s authenticity and ultimately its success.
“It completely shifts the dial from charity to commercial value. For A.G. Coombs it’s about being true to who we are while recognising broader positive impacts for industry and strengthening Indigenous-owned businesses,” he commented.
The ‘profit-for-purpose’ business model is a key element of our values. A percentage of our revenue is funnelled directly into community outcomes such as STEM scholarships, career pathways and sporting leadership initiatives. This approach looks to nurture talent through reinvestment in Indigenous employment, leadership and sport-led community programs.
An Indigenous business ecosystem
As the construction sector faces mounting pressure to meet government social procurement requirements and corporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments. Murrungar is both facilitator and direct provider in meeting these obligations with integrity and impact, offering clients a sophisticated approach to Indigenous engagement that goes beyond token gestures.
“We’re creating careers rather than contracts, implementing targeted skills pathways and providing mentoring and leadership opportunities designed to uplift entire families. This approach recognises the collective nature of Aboriginal culture and the ripple effects of economic empowerment throughout communities,” Aaron remarked.
“The majority Indigenous-owned structure of Murrungar enables other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses to connect and collaborate within the broader A.G. Coombs network,” mentioned Russell. “That way we’re building best-in-class services that embed Indigenous capability from apprenticeships and project management to supply chain coordination and facility management,” he added.
Acting with purpose and leading with respect
Murrungar aims to be an exemplar for how corporate Australia can move beyond reconciliation toward genuine economic partnership with First Nations peoples.
In combining A.G. Coombs’ 80 years of industry expertise with 60,000 years of Indigenous knowledge systems, Murrungar is building something unprecedented – a truly collaborative approach to Indigenous capacity, growing pathways and nurturing culture.
“Our approach is to build, grow and nurture a world-class Indigenous-led supply chain ecosystem that delivers high performance with fresh, culturally-guided thinking,” Aaron concluded.
For more information or to partner with Murrungar on your building services procurement, contact Aaron Clark via the Contact Us page.