Last month the annual Illawarra Indigenous Business Expo was held on Dharawal Country with 62 First Nations showcasing their products and services and sharing stories of leadership, vision and the power of First Nations entrepreneurship. Over 400 guests attended the event to support the region’s growing Indigenous business community and celebrate the diversity and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business owners. This year, BY Group was a major sponsor backing the Indigenous-led expo.
Prior to the expo, George Kandylas, Operations Manager for BY Group, had the opportunity to speak with Gemma Lloyd from Sacred Country Consulting for The Illawarra Flame article: BY Group on a mission to cultivate Indigenous talent in construction. George shares in the article that the strong foundational Indigenous values and governance from respected Elders alongside the commitment to growing Indigenous talent is what sets BY Group apart from other construction companies.
Gemma Lloyd and George Kandylas at the Illawarra Indigenous Business Expo, October 2025.
Gemma Lloyd, a proud Dunghutti and Gumbaynggirr woman, was also the event organiser of the Illawarra Indigenous Business Expo and caught up with the team on the day. In another edition of The Illawarra Flame – 'By community, for community': Why the Indigenous Business Expo was the best yet – she shared that by giving the expo’s ownership to First Nations people was the reason for its success. BY Group are proud to be involved in events like these that empower Indigenous entrepreneurs and highlight the importance of community.
“It's a fantastic event, we're very proud to be part of it. We're a genuine Indigenous construction company. We don't just tick boxes. We certainly provide real outcomes and real social outcomes. So we're very proud of that, and will continue to do so. For us, it's all about training the next generation to continue working in this very challenging industry."
– George Kandylas, Operations Manager, BY Group
Kayla Muir and Nathanial Hampton-Olive at Illawarra Indigenous Business Expo, 2025. Photo Credit: Melanie Russel
From supporting our construction cadets to evolve into senior management roles to working with local Indigenous contractors to create long-lasting infrastructure that makes a positive impact on the community, BY Group is building a pathway to lasting social change within the construction industry.
