Alana Kennedy

Alana Kennedy is a trailblazing Indigenous entrepreneur and economic advocate, dedicated to integrating First Nations systems with modern scientific research and sustainable innovation. As an Eastern Arrernte, Kalkadoon, and Waanyi descendant from Mount Isa, Queensland, Alana is committed to advancing Indigenous-led research, ethical biotechnology, and sustainable product development in the skincare and sun care industries.

As Founder & CEO of Ochre Sun, Alana has pioneered a Soil-to-Skin™ value exchange model, ensuring that Indigenous land stewardship, traditional botanical knowledge, and scientific innovation coexist to create high-performance, sustainable skincare solutions. Working closely with Traditional Owners and research institutions, she is reshaping the clean beauty industry through bioactive ingredients, regenerative agriculture, and Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property (ICIP).

Through strategic partnerships, Alana bridges Indigenous ecological expertise with scientific validation, driving research into native plant bioactives, climate-resilient agriculture, and ethical bioprospecting. Her work is redefining circular economies in skincare, ensuring that Indigenous communities retain ownership and benefit from scientific advancements.

Beyond business, Alana is a leading voice in Indigenous research commercialisation, ethical IP frameworks, and culturally grounded sustainability initiatives. As an Australian Delegate for the International Intertribal Trade & Investment Organisation (IITIO), she plays a key role in global Indigenous trade policy, economic sovereignty, and knowledge-sharing frameworks that connect First Nations enterprises to international markets.

Alana’s work is setting a new benchmark for how scientific institutions, government bodies, and industry leaders can collaborate with Indigenous knowledge holders in a way that is ethical, equitable, and future-focused. Through her advocacy, she is ensuring that Indigenous science is recognised not as an artifact of the past, but as a driving force for the future of sustainable innovation.