Our Mission and Vision
Bilawara Environmental and Water Solutions is the brainchild of Dr. Donna Odegaard AM and Breakthrough Water Technologies, created to establish an Indigenous company to deliver cutting-edge water and environmental solutions to Indigenous communities across Australia.
Dr Odegaard is a respected elder of the Larrakia Nation and businesswoman with over 30 years of work in Indigenous affairs domestically and globally. Larrakia people are land and sea people and the traditional owners of the Darwin region. Bilawara is the Larrakia word for the red-tailed black cockatoo abundant in the region and the totem of Dr. Odegaard.
The science underpinning Breakthrough Water Technologies is attributable to our Chief Scientist, Professor Barry W. Ninham AO. Professor Ninham is the worlds leading researcher in colloid and surface science, an interdisciplinary science where the physical, chemical and biological sciences meet.
Professor Ninham and his team have arrived at new understandings of the science of water, the culmination of a lifetime of undirected scientific research. This new science means we understand water better than anyone else and allowed us to develop world first technologies to sterilise water of bacteria, viruses, drugs and remove heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury, lead and nuclear waste.
These technologies represent decades of research in water science. In recognition of these achievements, the Australian Academy of Science awarded Professor Ninham was the prestigious 2017 Mathew Flinders Medal – one of Australia’s most prestigious honours for excellence in the physical sciences.
Bilawara Environmental and Water Solutions is the confluence of ancient Indigenous knowledge and cutting-edge science.
Our team is led by Dr. Donna Odegaard AM, an Aboriginal leader, passionate about empowering her communities. Donna’s vision and drive form the backbone of our organisation.
To make a positive difference for our people for generations to come and hopefully open the way forward for a younger generation of leaders to follow in the footsteps of our First Nations, legacy leaders before us.
We identify specific water-related problems in communities, develop tailored solutions, and then scale these solutions for similar communities. Our projects range from water sterilisation to heavy metal removal, and beyond.
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Dr Donna Odegaard AM, a respected Larrakia Elder from Darwin, NT, is a business woman with over 30 years Indigenous affairs, business and government advisor, global relations, Indigenous trade and economic development partnerships. Specialising in Indigenous engagement, heritage, water, land tenure and Indigenous environmental land and sea Country management.
Dr Odegaard is the founder and Managing Director of AMRA established in 2022 and which is the first of it’s kind in Australia in Indigenous led environmental remediation and recovery of Indigenous land and sea Country. This is unique for incorporating Indigenous leadership, knowledge, practices, business, procurement and circular economy around social and economic returns to Indigenous landowners. Key to success of this model is partnerships with stakeholders and industry leaders in science, technology, research and innovation.
As the founder and Chairperson of First Nations Broadcasting Australia (FNB) since 2000, this has grown to be Australia’s largest privately owned digital media network, with First Nations TV as the flagship to First Nations Tourism TV and First Nations Business Channel. There are also five radio stations and a production company all uniquely focused on news, Indigenous programs, storytelling, films, documentaries, health and education campaigns, environmental Caring for Country and cultural heritage programs, language revival. FNB broadcasts in over 30 Indigenous languages, reaching 2,400 Indigenous communities across Australia.
Dr Odegaard is highly accomplished with a Master’s degree (Aboriginal Land Rights) and PhD (Treaty), Order of Australia for Cultural Heritage Protection, Sir John Story Lifetime Leadership Award for Management and Leadership, Alumni Award for Indigenous Leadership, and in 2021, Honorary Doctor of Letters for lifelong work and commitment to First Nations peoples of Australia. In 2005 Dr Odegaard was appointed Naming Lady and Commissioning Lady HMAS Larrakia Royal Australian Navy.
The driving force behind Dr Odegaard is the ethos ‘to make a positive difference for our people for generations to come and hopefully open the way forward for a younger generation of leaders to follow in the footsteps of our First Nations, legacy leaders before us’.
Our team is led by Dr. Donna Odegaard AM and Michael Long OAM; both of whom are respected Aboriginal leaders, passionate about empowering their communities. Donna and Michael’s vision and drive form the backbone of our organization.
Professor Ninham is the world’s leading researcher on colloid and surface science, an interdisciplinary science combining physical, chemical and biological sciences.
He is renowned for his work in the self-assembly of biological molecules and the theory of molecular forces.
Professor Ninham and his colleagues designed world-leading technologies for desalination and for cleaning recycled water of bacteria, viruses, drugs, arsenic and nuclear waste. This technology is particularly relevant to third-world countries where access to clean water is challenging.
Matt has a wealth of experience in business having run companies across finance, accounting, technology and innovation.
He is passionate about unlocking the potential of indigenous productivity by enabling their creativity and resources.
He is a director of Complete Wealth and Breakthrough Technologies.
Matt is a cricket and mountain biking tragic.
Scott has extensive experience in the agribusiness and infrastructure sectors. Having previously been a director of Formosa Energy Australia (an Australian and international energy and infrastructure company) his experience ranges across commercial operations, government relations, strategic planning and governance.
With interests in international current affairs, geopolitical analysis and indigenous advancement he is passionate about solving global water, energy and sustainability issues with these cutting-edge technologies.
Scott is a partner and company secretary of Breakthrough Technologies.
