Rayleen Brown Australian Native Plants Society Biennial Conference 2026

Rayleen Brown

Rayleen Brown is a nationally recognised Indigenous leader, mentor, advocate and entrepreneur in the bushfoods, tourism and community development sectors. She is the co-founder of Kungkas Can Cook, an Aboriginal-owned tourism and bushfoods business operating in Central Australia since 2000. For more than two decades, Rayleen has worked alongside Aboriginal women, communities and emerging leaders to create opportunities that strengthen cultural knowledge, economic participation and connection to Country. Through her work as a mentor and industry leader, she supports the next generation of Indigenous entrepreneurs, harvesters and community members to build skills, confidence and pathways into business and leadership. Rayleen is a passionate advocate for ethical sourcing, Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property rights, cultural knowledge preservation and economic empowerment for Aboriginal communities. She collaborates with senior Indigenous women harvesters to deliver bushfood products, education and cultural experiences that celebrate Country, culture and traditional knowledge systems. A respected voice nationally, Rayleen works across industry, government and community sectors to advance an Indigenous-led bushfoods industry built on cultural authority, fair participation and long-term sustainability. Rayleen currently serves as: • Chair, First Nations Bushfoods and Botanicals Alliance Australia • Chair, Northern Territory Aboriginal Tourism Council • Chair, Saltbush Social Enterprises • Director, Mparntwe Alice Springs Community Foundation • NT Member, Australian Women in Agriculture She has been featured on Channel 10's MasterChef, BBC's Great Railway Journeys, SBS's The Cook Up with Adam Liaw, and in numerous national and international publications. Rayleen's work focuses on strengthening Indigenous leadership, supporting community enterprise development, mentoring future leaders, and building an Indigenous-led bushfoods industry with strong cultural leadership, supply chain equity and global potential.