Who we are
We’re an Aboriginal-led not-for-profit with a purpose to regenerate, restore and conserve Australian sandalwood by supporting Traditional Owners and Custodians in West Australia.
DUTJAHN = Sandalwood
Martu Wangka Australian Aboriginal term for the Australian Sandalwood tree – Santalum Spicatum.
K Farmer
Named in Honour of the Martu man whose mission it was to improve his people’s wellbeing by being on sandalwood country.
Watch to learn about kfdf
Dutjahn grows futures
Born in 2020 on “Dutjahn” Country, the Western Desert regions of Western Australia, K Farmer Dutjahn Foundation (KFDF) is a driver for change in the Aboriginal sustainable sandalwood sector.
KFDF has partnered with Australian and international brands and organisations in support of social and environmental outcomes for Aboriginal peoples. Through supply chain partnerships we’re connecting consumers to communities – creating shared value for generations to come.
KFDF has nine successful programs that have made an impact within sandalwood communities.
Where We Work
Approximate area of Aboriginal owned Australian Sandalwood in WA including the Martu town of Wiluna, the priority of our Strong Communities strategy.
PRINCIPLES THAT GUIDE US
We show nayunyagai (RESPECT) for differing points of view and will always work to ensure that Indigenous knowledge is elevated as much as other knowledge systems.
It takes wiltu gnaraku (COURAGE, standing strong) to question the status quo and stand up against ‘business as usual’ ways of operating.
We are minyidu (DEDICATED, working with meaning, with a full heart and sincerity) to those we work with and serve.
We believe in goolu ngara (PATIENCE, waiting and standing), the ‘long-game’. We build meaningful relationships with communities and partners and ensure our work has integrity.
We are goonjunu gutyangnu nyarkuni (OPTIMISTIC, looking forward into the future) about the future and believe we can create a more just and healthy world.
MAKE AN IMPACT
100% of your donation contributes directly to our programs within the sandalwood communities.
MEET THE BOARD
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ChairmanSandalwood harvesting in the desert is tough uncompromising work. Clinton manages and operates Kutkububba Aboriginal Corporation’s Indigenous Martu harvesting enterprise. Caring for Country and following in his father’s footsteps is a cultural and commercial obligation to the Martu people. He is also a Director of Dutjahn Sandalwood Oils.
He has never worked for anyone in his whole life, because he is a self-employed sandalwood harvester. His father (first contact – deceased) taught him to care for country with socio-economic and environmental principles.
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Director
Derby raised, from Worora and Walmajarri families, Katina is an executive with over 25 years international experience in financial and general management roles. She is the Chair of Dutjahn Sandalwood Oils.
She is currently the Chair of ASX listed Ardea Resources Ltd and Yandal Resources Ltd, Managing Director of Indigenous Professional Services and a Non-Executive director of headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation.
Katina has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from UWA, is a Certified Practising Accountant and has an MBA from London Business School. She is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
As an Angel Investor and entrepreneur, Katina has developed and invested in several businesses, as well as mentored Indigenous business people to grow their influence in Australia’s economy.
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Director
Jo Abraham is a Ngarluma woman living in Boorloo (Perth).
When she’s not writing, Jo is working in the engineering sector utilising her professional qualifications. This includes championing and creating spaces in the corporate sector for more Aboriginal people to occupy.
She is driven towards wholistic community healing and an authentically reconciled Australia.
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DirectorYuseph is a descendant of the Wuthathi peoples, with customary family connections to the Gunggandji peoples, as well as ancestral connections to the near Western Islands of the Torres Strait.
Yuseph has extensive experience and leadership working across the NSW Land Rights network and has been NSWALC’s acting CEO since June 2021. Prior, Yuseph was NSWALC’s Executive Director of Network and Program Delivery, which included the establishment of the Yarpa Indigenous Business and Employment Hub during its crucial setup phase. He has also served as NSWALC’s Southern Zone Director overseeing support for a network of 34 Local Aboriginal Land Councils.
In addition to his time at NSWALC, Yuseph brings to the role 25 years of experience working with First Nations People to secure and protect Rights, Land, Culture and Heritage as well as Natural Resource Management and Community Development with the North Queensland Land Council, the Indigenous Land Corporation, Lumbu Indigenous Community Foundation and the Western Cape Communities Trust.
Yuseph is committed to building on the ongoing work of expanding opportunities for Aboriginal people through land activation.
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DirectorVanessa Elliott is a Jaru women from the Kimberley and desert region and is honoured to continue the legacy of K Farmer, who she knew and worked with for many years.
A cross-sectoral sustainability expert with 25 years land use and social impact planning, Vanessa specialises in regional and economic development that includes significant social and infrastructure development outcomes. This includes industry and project planning investment decisions across primary industry, the resources sector, human service systems and government reform.
Vanessa was Australia’s First Forest Commissioner of Indigenous heritage and has strong cultural connections to the desert and commercial understanding of harvesting, export and conservation. She was a board member in WA for more than five years and has also been a Senior Government Official in the WA Government.
She has evolved professionally through town planning, community development, policy, approvals and as a ESG specialist.
Vanessa operates her own consultancy and is also on the boards of the East Metropolitan Health Services, Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF), and Desert Knowledge Australia (DKA).
Ripples of change
Empowering Communities, Sustaining Futures
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KFDF partners with individual(s), industry, government to make positive impact on Aboriginal communities to care for their Sandalwood Country, culture and Communities.
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Healthy Country and Strong Communities projects have significant impact on Aboriginal communities by addressing social, economic, environmental, and cultural concerns, and empowering self-determined governance.
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KFDF and community partnerships focus on sustainable outcomes by supporting long-term planning and self-determined solutions, rather than short-term fixes, to ensure lasting benefits for Aboriginal communities.
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KFDF supports co-design and implementation by ensuring Aboriginal communities are actively engaged as equal partners in shaping, delivering, and leading initiatives that reflect their priorities, cultural knowledge, and aspirations.
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KFDF ensures evaluation and measurement are culturally appropriate and community-led, focusing on outcomes that matter to Aboriginal people and embedding Indigenous ways of knowing, doing, and being in all assessment processes and providing an annual report.
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KFDF fosters strong, respectful partnerships by encouraging collaboration between Aboriginal communities, government, and stakeholders, built on mutual trust, shared decision-making, and a commitment to long-term outcomes.
We are proud to partner with:
