A proud Balladong-Whadjuk man of the Noongar Nation and a respected Western Australian business and community leader, Kim Collard has spent decades creating opportunities for First Nations communities through enterprise and philanthropy.

As founder of Kulbardi and Kooya Fleet, he has helped shape the modern Aboriginal business sector while ensuring that business success delivers meaningful community benefit through philanthropy.

The Bibbulmun Fund is the only Indigenous-owned, managed, and controlled philanthropic organisation in Australia.

Kim shares:

"I want to be seen to be giving back. I want to be leaving a legacy for my community."

A portion of profits from Kulbardi and Kooya Fleet is directed into the Bibbulmun Fund, an Indigenous-owned and controlled philanthropic structure supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander initiatives across Australia. The model embeds giving directly into the business, creating a long-term source of investment guided by Aboriginal leadership and community priorities.

For Kim, business and philanthropy go hand in hand, with enterprise serving as a vehicle for lasting change and community-led impact.

Kulbardi’s approach places it at the forefront of First Nations-led philanthropy in Australia. Kim draws a clear distinction between philanthropy funded through Indigenous business success and models that rely on fundraising or external contributions.

"Of all the contributions made by Australian philanthropy, only 0.6% go back to the Aboriginal community, and we’re investing 15% of our money going back into the Bibbulmun Fund."

Sport has always been an important part of Kim’s story – as a community connector, a teacher and a pathway for future leaders. Kulbardi’s investment in sport reflects a belief that sport can strengthen individuals and communities in ways few other activities can.

"Sport's a fantastic vehicle. It's all about teaching our children leadership, camaraderie, mateship... how to win, how to lose, health and fitness."

Sport is also used as a pathway into education and long-term opportunity. In remote communities, culturally embedded sport-based learning programs have improved engagement with education and strengthened community connection.

For Kim, sport is not simply an activity; it is one of the most powerful ways to create opportunity and strengthen communities. Through programs like Basketball Australia’s She Hoops, sport becomes a pathway to confidence, leadership and long-term change for Aboriginal girls across Australia.

At its heart, this belief continues to guide Kulbardi’s investment in sport and in future generations.

"Sport helps build confidence, leadership and opportunity,” he says. “That’s how we support the next generation."

Read The Bibbulmun Fund's story and discover the trends shaping sport philanthropy in Australia in the Australian Sports Foundation's FY25 Giving for Sport Report.