Barayamal

Team

About · Team

A crew in formation

A First Nations-owned and run charity — First Nations leaders, volunteers and authentic allies who believe First Nations entrepreneurship can change the world for the better.

  • First Nations-owned & run
  • Established 2017
  • ACNC registered charity
  • DGR endorsed

How we fly

The formation

Like the black swan we’re named for, the crew flies in formation — three tiers, no mystery, each one answerable to the one before it. Barayamal means “Black Swan” in Gamilaraay: the swan Europeans said couldn’t exist, and First Nations peoples had always known.

Governance

Board of directors

Our Responsible People — on the public record, always current.

Governance & reporting ACNC register
Management

Founder-led

Dean Foley — a Kamilaroi man from Gunnedah — has led Barayamal since he founded it in 2017. One leader at the point of the V.

Meet the founder
Volunteers

The volunteer crew

First Nations people and authentic allies giving six kinds of craft — technology to law, philanthropy to research — freely.

See the six crafts

Management

Founder-led since 2017

From the Royal Australian Air Force to a charity named for the black swan — founded 2017, founder-led ever since.

Dean Foley, founder of Barayamal, seated on a carved wooden bench

Dean Foley

Founder

A Kamilaroi man from Gunnedah, NSW. Dean served in the Royal Australian Air Force before founding Barayamal — and has spent the years since building accelerator programs, community events and platforms like the First Nations Job Board, all putting First Nations entrepreneurs first.

Nation
Kamilaroi
From
Gunnedah, NSW
Founded Barayamal
2017
Before this
Royal Australian Air Force
Education
La Trobe University — Master of International Development, Advanced Research

“He was supportive, communicative, and open to new ideas, while being clear on deadlines and understanding of other commitments.”

Lio Pangilinan — volunteer graphic designer, on working with Dean
Read the Founder’s Story LinkedIn

Volunteers

Six crafts keep it flying

The crew gives its craft across six areas of the work — freely, and credited only with consent. Could you help in one of these? Volunteer with us

A large group of Barayamal volunteers and supporters at a Give Backathon event, arms raised
Give Backathon, 2019 — a public Barayamal community event.

“Proud and very excited to be working alongside the new class of Indigenous entrepreneurs. Cannot recommend Barayamal more highly.”

Accelerator mentor — Barayamal program

We publish volunteer names and photos only with each person’s consent. Pictured here and want the image removed? Let us know

Governed by a board — on the public record

Barayamal is governed by a board of directors — our Responsible People — listed on the ACNC Charity Register. We link to the register as the single source of truth rather than duplicate it here, so names and roles are always current.

Who’s responsible? Governance & reporting
Check the register

Ready to join the formation?

Three doors in — pick the one that fits what you bring.

VolunteerGive your craft

First Nations and allies welcome — tell us what you bring. The form takes about five minutes.

 PartnerMake it formal

Organisations start with the Community Agreement — public goals, public record.

 GiveBack the mission

Every gift helps the crew fly further.

Looking for work instead? Search the First Nations Job Board for roles in Melbourne, Perth and across Australia.

Volunteer with us

Bring your craft

The expression-of-interest form takes about five minutes — where you’d like to help, what you bring, and the time you can realistically offer. There’s no minimum, and First Nations people and authentic allies are equally welcome.

Open the volunteer form

Your response goes straight to the Barayamal team.