By arts editor HELEN MUSA

First Nations businesswoman Julie Okely is a ball of fire.

When I catch up with her by phone in Weipa, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, where she has just landed, she’s still buzzing from organising the third annual All First Nations Awards at the Hyatt Hotel Canberra last Friday.

Hosted by former Play School presenter and actor Luke Carroll, the awards celebrated First Nations achievement across a wide range of fields and, judging by Okely’s enthusiasm, the event was a resounding success.

The evening’s top honour, the AFN Our Elder of the Year Award 2026, went to Margo Ngawa Neale, the author, historian and curator who is now an adjunct professor at ANU and a driving force in Australia’s cultural life.

The AFN Community Justice and Support Award 2026 went to Yeddung Mura, meaning “Good Pathways” in the Ngunnawal language, a community-led Aboriginal corporation that helps people leaving prison and other justice systems reconnect with their communities.

Canberra artists were also among the winners. The AFN Visual Artist of the Year Award 2026 went to Kate Buerckner, founder of KaBu Art & Photography, while the AFN Artist of the Year Award 2026 was presented to Kalara Gilbert, a Wiradjuri painter, woodworker and pencil artist based in Canberra.

When she’s not organising awards or creating art herself, Okely runs the Indigenous body products company Dilkara Australia. She’s pleased to report that the company’s shampoo and body wash products, which use native Australian botanicals, have recently been picked up for use in 40 Adina hotels around Australia.

A proud Kamilaroi woman originally from Coonabarabran, Okely has lived in Canberra for the past 25 years while raising two children and building a remarkable portfolio of businesses and community ventures.

After beginning her career in hairdressing and beauty, she moved into business leadership, training, mentoring and advocacy. She went on to establish Dilkara Australia, All First Nations, Our Sistahood and MurriPay, while also writing several books.

Along the way she has collected numerous honours, including Supply Nation Indigenous Business Woman of the Year in 2017. She is also a TEDx speaker, educator, manufacturer and former Telstra Business Women’s Awards ACT finalist.

The idea for the All First Nations Awards grew from her belief that grassroots First Nations achievers were not receiving the recognition they deserved.

“I wanted to do something for the mob across Australia that don’t get seen,” she says.

She points out that since the demise of the Deadly Awards in 2014, after federal funding was withdrawn and founder Gavin Jones died, there has been nothing quite comparable on a national scale.

Inspired by the AusMumpreneur Awards, which celebrate mothers in business, Okely decided to create an awards program of her own.

It hasn’t been easy. She says the awards have been built without government funding.

“I can host an award, I can get sponsorship, but I can’t get even two dollars from Andrew Barr,” she notes.

Fortunately, supporters including Hotshots, auctioneer Jason “Jukebox” Hall, Ethan Indigenous, Pulse 8 Strategies and a range of interstate sponsors stepped in to help.

There were setbacks. At one point, 250 trophies ordered from overseas were mistakenly shipped to Tampa, Florida, instead of Canberra.

Not to worry. Volunteers and sponsors rallied, helping with printing, decorations and countless practical details to ensure the event went ahead.

The full list of recipients is as follows:

• AFN Children’s Cultural Education Award 2026 – Djalgala
• AFN Sustainable Innovation Award 2026 – Rachel Hopkins
• AFN Financial Services Business Award 2026 – First Australians Capital
• AFN Professional Services Business Award 2026 – Ashleigh McGuire
• AFN Service and Connection Business Award 2026 – Walkabout Barber
• AFN Business Leader Award 2026 – David Liddiard
• AFN Young Leader/Trainee/Apprentice Award 2026 – Caleb Harte
• AFN Artist of the Year Award 2026 – Kalara Gilbert
• AFN Visual Artist of the Year Award 2026 – Kate Buerckner
• AFN Fashion Creative Award 2026 – Pakana Dreaming
• AFN Handmade Business Award 2026 – Melissa Cowan
• AFN Outstanding Achievement in Culture and Community Award 2026 – Meaghan Baxter, Our Lore Indigenous Corporation
• AFN Outstanding Achievement in Grassroots Healing Award 2026 – Brendon Kendall
• AFN Volunteer of the Year Award 2026 – Amy Minchin
• AFN Deadly Dressed Award 2026 (Luxury) – Gala Luxury
• AFN Deadly Dressed Award 2026 (Cultural) – Cultural
• AFN Deadly Dressed Award 2026 (Fashion) – Fashion
• AFN Media Story of the Year Award 2026 – Koori Radio
• AFN Community Justice and Support Award 2026 – Yeddung Mura
• AFN Our Elder of the Year Award 2026 – Aunty Margot Neale
• AFN Achievement in the Performing Arts Award 2026 – Brodie Murray.

News all day, every day at CityNewsQBN.com.au.