At the heart of many Aboriginal-led enterprises are stories of culture, resilience and vision. For Gamilaraay woman and founder of Bigibila Consultancy Firm, Liana Pitt, business is not just a professional pursuit. It is a continuation of cultural responsibility, intergenerational strength and a commitment to creating meaningful outcomes for community.

• Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Liana Pitt and I am a proud Gamilaraay woman from Moree, NSW. I am the founder and Managing Director of Bigibila Consultancy Firm. My professional journey has been shaped by experience across government, community services, and policy development, alongside my academic background in business.

I completed my Bachelor of Business Administration at the University of Technology Sydney, which strengthened my ability to approach complex social and community challenges through strategy, governance, and program design.

My work is deeply influenced by my family and cultural foundations. My grandmother’s totem is Bigibila (Echidna), which later became the inspiration for the name of my consultancy. That connection represents resilience, protection, and wisdom — values that continue to guide both my leadership and the work of the business. Naming the consultancy Bigibila became a way for me to honour and lift up my grandmother, while also leveraging the education and opportunities I have been able to pursue. She grew up during a time when Aboriginal people faced significant barriers and far fewer opportunities, and carrying her totem forward in my work is a way of recognising her strength and the path she helped make possible.

• Can you tell us about your business?

Bigibila Consultancy Firm is an Aboriginal-led strategic advisory and grant writing consultancy.

The business works alongside government agencies, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), and Indigenous enterprises to design, fund, and deliver initiatives that create meaningful outcomes for community.

Bigibila specialises in:

• Grant writing and funding strategy
• Strategic advisory and program design
• Cultural governance frameworks
• Policy and community engagement
• Supporting Aboriginal-led initiatives

At the centre of the business is the Bigibila Advisory Method™, a structured approach that guides projects through five stages:

Bigibila Advisory Method™

Insight → Strategy → Governance → Delivery → Legacy

This model helps organisations move from strong ideas to well-designed, funded and sustainable programs that deliver long-term benefits for communities.

• What industry do you operate in and for how long?

Bigibila operates within the strategic advisory and professional services sector, with a strong focus on government advisory, grant strategy, and community program design.

My work in this space draws on several years of experience across government and community services, and Bigibila was established to bring together those skills into a dedicated Aboriginal-led consultancy that supports organisations working with First Nations communities.

• Where is your market? 

Bigibila works across local, regional, state, and national markets.

The business supports organisations throughout Australia, particularly those working with Aboriginal communities, government programs, and Indigenous enterprises seeking strategic support or funding pathways.

While the business is based in Australia, the work often connects with national initiatives that aim to strengthen Aboriginal leadership, governance, and community-led development.

• Is there any other information or encouragement you would like to share with other Indigenous women?

To other Indigenous women considering business or leadership pathways, I would say trust your knowledge and your voice.

Our cultural knowledge, lived experience, and community understanding are powerful assets. When we combine those strengths with education, strategy, and professional capability, we can build businesses that not only create opportunities for ourselves but also contribute to stronger outcomes for our communities.

There is space for our leadership, and the more Indigenous women who step forward into business, the stronger our collective impact becomes.

• What makes you a Strong Woman?

For me, being a strong woman means carrying both responsibility and purpose.

It means honouring the strength of the women who came before me — especially my grandmother and my mother — while also creating pathways for the next generation, including my daughters.

Strength is not only resilience. It is the courage to pursue knowledge, to build something meaningful, and to stand firmly in your values while uplifting others along the way.

My strength comes from culture, family, and community, and the responsibility to use my skills in ways that contribute to positive change.

In Gamilaraay we say –

“Ngaya ngarrama.”
I stand strong.

That belief continues to guide the work I do and the example I hope to set for future generations.