In an industry increasingly open to diverse perspectives, Nani Creative is quietly redefining leadership through authenticity, lived experience, and cultural integrity.
Founded as an Aboriginal-led creative agency, it has always prioritised First Nations narratives and acted as a bridge “between two worlds.” But as Co-Founders Kevin Wilson and Leigh Wood told ACA in a recent conversation, their vision has since expanded into something broader: a meeting point.
“We are a place where ideas, collaborators, brands and communities intersect to create something new,” says Wood.
From its base in Perth, Nani now represents a coalition of strategists, designers, artists and creators whose lived experience spans not only Aboriginal heritage, but LGBTQIA+ identities, gender diversity, and neurodivergence—communities long underrepresented, but increasingly vital to creativity and culture.
It’s a foundation and ethos that shapes every project they take on.
“Third space” thinking
Nani’s model flips the traditional agency hierarchy on its head. Instead of fitting creatives into rigid structures, they adapt the work around the individual.
“Our campaigns, not the agency, are always Aboriginal-led,” Wilson explains. “We often bring in creative consultants who run their own businesses, and invite them to lead the work. Our role is to support their process, not impose ours.
“We prefer to collaborate with creators and don’t expect them to work under us. Not everyone thrives in a conventional agency environment.”
As Wood puts it: “We facilitate collaboration not only with clients, but with the artists, agencies and consultants who are just as vital as those paying the bill.”
Authenticity, not aesthetics
What makes Nani’s work stand out isn’t just the visual identities they deliver, it’s the intention behind them.
“We don’t create just based on aesthetics,” Wood says. “Everything has a purpose. Everything starts with ‘why.’”
Design without meaning, they believe, misses the point. Whether they’re working with government, commercial clients or community groups, storytelling, especially cultural storytelling, is central.
“Traditional Aboriginal stories were created to pass on knowledge—how to care for Country, how to sustain populations, how to live well. We bring that same principle into our commercial projects and spaces,” Wilson explains.
A new benchmark
This year, Nani Creative earned accreditation with Advertising Council Australia (ACA), a significant moment for the agency and the wider industry.
Accreditation signals not only creative excellence but also a commitment to ethical standards and continued professional development. For Nani, it’s validation of what they’ve always known: that culturally grounded, community-led work is the future of effective advertising.
That future, in many ways, is already unfolding. As language, culture and lived experience are embedded into everyday environments—through branding, campaigns, and training programs—Nani is helping lead the shift from inclusion as an idea to inclusion as a practice.
So, what can the broader creative industry learn from Nani? Step aside, listen, collaborate, and make space for diverse creators to lead with their own voices. That’s where real change begins.
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Read more about ACA’s Accreditation program here. ACA members can apply and learn more about A+ Endorsements on the Member Hub. For enquiries, email: accreditation@adcouncil.org.au.