About the Speaker

Colin Saltmere (“Beo”) is a senior Indjalandji-Dhidhanu traditional owner of the Camooweal region in North-West Queensland, and the Managing Director of the Myuma Group of companies. Colin has overseen the expansion of the Myuma Group from a small corporation in the 1990s to a diverse business and service delivery operation employing more than 160 full-time staff of which 85% are Indigenous. Colin served as ATSIC Regional Council Chairperson and Councillor for the Mt Isa-Gulf Region from 1994 to 1999.

The Myuma Group delivers: award-winning civil and mining prevocational training program for mining companies with over 2100 Indigenous graduates to date of which 97% transitioned to employment; the Community Development Program in four regions in Queensland and Northern Territory; Job Active services in Mount Isa, ranger programs across western Queensland working with 15 traditional owner groups; as well as operating a successful contracting business, prequalified for civil and road construction with ISO accreditation.

One of the Myuma Group entities, Bulugudu Ltd, has built a pilot spinifex biotechnology manufacturing lab at Camooweal and patented commercial applications of spinifex fibre. A spinoff company, Trioda Wilingi is the first Indigenous biotechnology company in Australia majority owned by Indjalandji-Dhidhanu people.

Colin has led the establishment of the National Indigenous Science Translation Centre which will create substantial jobs and business opportunities for traditional owners throughout Australia. His expertise and knowledge in Indigenous training, economic development and land management is widely acknowledged, and he has served on a wide variety of regional, state and commonwealth leadership groups and committees.

He is currently the Chairperson of the Australian Government’s Indigenous Reference Group on Northern Australia and a board member of the newly created Queensland Indigenous Business Network. In 2021, Colin was made a Member in the General Division (AM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for significant service to the Indigenous communities of North-West Queensland.