Nathanael Minniecon

Nathanael is an original owner within the Goreng Goreng nation. Of South Sea Islander heritage, he and his family have lifelong connections to the Torres Strait, Cairns and Fraser coast regions, it's people and culture.

Nathanael has had an extensive history in business employment and training services, labour-hire services, native title determination, cultural heritage, and cultural awareness through his co-ownership of Minniecon and Burke since 1995.

Nathanael has previously worked in many business environments, including the painting and building industry, farming and more recently as a co-founder and director in the award-winning Minniecon and Burke, who had extensive programs across Queensland in the employment and training industries.

CQUniversity education gave Nathanael the skills to set up and manage his own business. Through it, he has moved his generation of First Nations descendants forward just that little bit more. It's helped him give practical definition to an old saying, ‘If you're black, you don't stand back'.

His CQUni experience was one of the best experiences of his life. To start with, half of his footy team turned up to sign on at orientation. They reckoned, ‘Minniecon, if you can do it, we can too'.

Nathanael felt the campus in Rockhampton was great, and students would sit out on the grass, under trees or in the refectory having a feed and a yarn. He felt that CQUni's support systems were second to none.