Daniel Joinbee

CEO, Gunggandji Aerospace

Daniel Joinbee is a proud Gunggandji man and Managing Director of Gunggandji Aerospace, Australia's only 100% Aboriginal and veteran-owned aerospace consultancy.

As a former Air Traffic Controller, Daniel brings over 15 years of experience spanning the Australian Military, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the defence and aerospace industries. His academic credentials include an Executive MBA from Melbourne Business School, a Bachelor of Science from UNSW@ADFA, and several professional diplomas.

Daniel's board and advisory roles reflect the breadth of his influence across industry and government. He serves as Australian Co-Chair of the Indigenous Business Sector Group (IBSG) within the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum, Chair of the Future of Space CRC, Director of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans Association, and Advisory Committee Member for both UNSW Alumni and the Albury Airport Advisory Committee.

His achievements have been recognised with the Australia Day Medallion and the 2023 Indigenous Space Leader of the Year award. Daniel's unique combination of military discipline, entrepreneurial leadership, and deep cultural authority positions him as one of Australia's most compelling voices on First Nations participation in defence procurement and sovereign capability.

As Australia deepens its defence and industry ties across the Indo-Pacific, Daniel recognises the strategic importance of embedding First Nations businesses within defence supply chains, not as a gesture of inclusion, but as a genuine driver of sovereign capability and economic resilience. At the Nikkei Asia Forum, Daniel brings both lived experience and strategic expertise to the critical conversation around engaging First Nations businesses in Australia's defence future.