About the Fellowship
Exploring the invisible infrastructure that drives First Nations food security through procurement, pricing, Indigenous value systems and community-led economic participation
The Fellowship, titled “The Invisible Infrastructure: A First Nations Blueprint for Food Security, Indigenous Value and Community Led Economic Participation”, shifts the focus from short-term relief programs to structural system redesign. Crucially, it demonstrates how community-led social enterprise fosters agency, transforming communities from aid recipients into economic owners. Key outputs include a First Nations Asset Model to guide policy alongside pathways for sustainable economic investment. By examining hidden drivers like procurement, pricing architecture and supply chains, the project builds a scalable, replicable model for food sovereignty, so Mob can live long, healthy lives filled with hope for the future.
About Levi-Joel
Levi leads the Indigenous Futures Foundation, a for-purpose organisation focused on ending food insecurity in First Nations communities within our lifetime. He works at the intersection of culture, social enterprise, and systems design, believing that food insecurity is not a community failure but a result of historical structures. With lived experience and a deep understanding of market mechanics, Levi challenges the conventional narrative, arguing that we can’t simply “program” our way out of poverty; we must redesign the invisible infrastructure that sustains it.
Levi collaborates with partners who measure success in generations, not grant cycles, and who prioritize resilience over relief. His work is rooted in a purpose greater than himself, working alongside communities as they reclaim ownership of their futures.
Raised in Far North Queensland, Levi embodies a heritage that spans both sides of the Tasman Sea. He honours his mother’s Australian roots and his father’s ties to the Kuku Yalanji Nation (Bulgun Warra) and Ngāti Ruanui (Taranaki, NZ). Levi now lives on the Gold Coast with his wife, three children, and daughter-in-law, spending his downtime with his dogs, perfecting his home espresso, and attempting to play basketball.