Dion Devow: inspiring First People business
Why have just one successful business when you can have six?
While it may not have been the future Dion Devow predicted for himself when starting out in business, it’s certainly become his inspiring reality.
“When I started almost a decade ago, there weren't very many Aboriginal people in business that I could go and talk to, run things by or even just meet,” says Dion.
“That was really hard as I had no idea; I didn't know anything about business. It was really lonely trying to find my way.”
In the ten years since, despite these challenges, Dion has managed to carve out an impressive business path – the kind that inspires budding entrepreneurs, including fellow First People, to follow his lead.
In this new blog series, we meet First People entrepreneurs – like Dion – and shine a spotlight on their connected businesses.
Business in Australia
These days, it almost goes without saying that fast broadband plays an important role in business.
Whether a sole trader or micro business, right through to national and global companies, connectivity is a vital – and expected – tool.
With the nbn™ access network nearing its 2020 rollout completion date, very soon, all eligible premises in Australia will have access to fast broadband.*
And, already, the results are telling.
Growth in entrepreneurs – those taking control of their working lives and starting new businesses – is skyrocketing.
According to research from Connecting Australia (commissioned by NBN Co), more than 77,000 additional new businesses are expected by 2021, attributable to the nbn™ access network.
Whether Dion contributes to this new business number remains to be seen – although, with his track record, it wouldn’t be surprising if he did…
Designing a success story
For Dion, it all started with Darkies Design, a business that promotes and shares Aboriginal culture through art, language and design on different types of apparel.
It's a business he still owns outright today, and where he wears his heart on his sleeve – literally.
“I created it [Darkies Design] in 2010 and, at that time, there wasn't really many indigenous clothing labels around. Maybe two or three in the whole country. I was looking for some nice designs and images to wear, but those companies didn't really have anything I liked. So, I came up with my own clothes.”
Working with a graphic artist, Dion came up with around 20 designs.
“I sold them to friends and family, and built a basic website so I could sell them online. That gave me a bit of a national platform and presence. Darkies Design really resonated a lot with people around the country and even other countries.”
With the fledgling brand proving popular, Dion had surprised himself.
“It was a shock because I was kind of just doing it for myself and my friends and families. Obviously, it was filling a need, a gap. There was a gap in the market, and it sort of progressed from there.”
First People business
Originally from Darwin, Dion has lived in Canberra for the last 25 years, where he runs Darkies Design and his five other business interests: Yerra, Jingili Group, Supply Aus, Indigimation and Téa and Belle (his 13-year-old daughter’s business).
“I'm both Aboriginal and Torres Strait [Islander],” says Dion.
“On the Aboriginal side, my people are called Manbarra. And, on the Torres Strait side, I'm from an island called Darnley.”
Dion believes that connectivity through fast broadband, such as via services over the nbn™ access network, is particularly important to First People communities around Australia.
“One of the good things about [the] nbn™ [access network] is that it may be the way Aboriginal people living in remote communities can start a business without having to leave their communities. If they're going to create their own businesses, then maybe they can be online businesses.
“Having the ability to be able to connect with the world, without having to leave your community is huge. They can have a national and an international profile, connection and footprint through [the] nbn™ [access network]. Being connected just makes life so much easier.”
When asked if he could go back to running a business without fast broadband, it’s not something Dion would entertain.
“It just slows down things straightaway. It impacts your ability to compete with other businesses. It encroaches on your time because you must travel as opposed to just being able to send an email. It's really quite debilitating not having [the] nbn™ [access network].^
“We're so technology driven and motivated now, and [the] nbn™ [access network] is such a part of everyday life, I wonder what we did before it!”
Paying it forward
While Dion shows no signs of slowing down with his current businesses (and, perhaps, exploring new ventures), it’s clear where his passion lies: inspiring and helping other First People to find similar success and belief in themselves.
“I was an Aboriginal health worker for 15 years,” says Dion.
“I’ve always, in some way, worked at a community level with grassroots and community development. So, my passion has always been about helping people, and bringing black and white people together.”
Now, supported by the connectivity offered by fast broadband, Dion is actively bringing together communities to provide the help and companionship he couldn’t find when he started in business.
“I created this community of entrepreneurs called the Canberra Business Yarning Circle. We put on workshops and explore what they're struggling with: just talk about things. Then we can bring experts in to help them develop their skills. Whether it's accounting, or digital marketing, or answering questions like, ‘What is a joint venture?’
“There’s just a whole range of different things indigenous entrepreneurs might be experiencing. So, I try to match them up with professionals within the business sector."
And what keeps Dion going?
“Seeing other people succeed. I do a lot of speaking at schools with kids about their careers, for example. Telling them that they can achieve whatever they want. That's what inspires me. The fact that people look at me and go, ‘If he can do it, then I can do it as well.’”
Yet, if you ask Dion what his biggest achievement has been so far, he doesn’t point to his ACT Australian of the Year award, to Darkies Designs, or his other businesses. Instead, he looks to his daughters.
“The biggest thing for me is seeing my daughters, my children, being exposed to business and developing into ‘kidpreneurs’.
“My daughter Téa, who's 13, has been identified as one of the top female entrepreneurs in the country and has a business called Téa and Belle. It's an online Australian shopping store with products that have an indigenous twist.”
And then there’s his youngest daughter, who – at just 11-years-old – has a coffee cart.
“Because they've seen me in business, they’re in businesses as well,” says Dion.
About Dion’s businesses
Established: 2010
Employees: 2
What is it? ‘The original indigenous clothing and promotional company’, Darkies Design uses Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, language, themes and humour across its apparel product range, which includes street, sporting and corporate wear. It also produces printed products including brochures, books and stationery.
Established: 2016
Employees: 5
What is it? A Ngunnawal word meaning to fly or soar, Yerra offers business consulting, IT services and recruitment, and commits a portion of its profits to Indigenous causes.
Established: 2016
Employees: 5 full-time employees and 20 casual employees on contract
What is it? Jingili Group offers a wide range of commercial and industrial services including industrial and construction cleaning, waste management services and labour hire.
Established: 2019
Employees: 4
What is it? Indigimation specialises in automation, artificial intelligence and change management, and creates employment pathways for Indigenous Australians.
Established: 2019
Employees: 3
What is it? Indigenous supply specialists, Supply Aus is a 100 per cent Indigenous-owned supplier of office, safety and workwear products.
About Dion’s daughter’s business
Established: 2017
Employees: 5
What is it? An Indigenous giftware brand for all Australians, Téa and Belle designs its products so it can ‘share culture, stories and language across the main Indigenous Nations’.
NBN Co and First People
Dedicated to connecting our communities and helping lift the digital capability of Australia, our vision for reconciliation is to see our work enhance and encourage meaningful engagement, understanding and connection between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and broader Australian society.
In October 2018, our third Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) was launched with an increasing emphasis placed on community engagement, building and encouraging collaboration, increasing employment and increasing procurement opportunities.
Learn more about our First People Initiative and Reconciliation Action Plan.