Anchoram Consulting launches for-purpose Indigenous business

Data & technology advisory Anchoram Consulting has launched a First Nations-focused venture aimed at supporting Indigenous communities and projects while fostering meaningful participation.

Likewise based in Canberra, Anchoram Indigenous has been established as a ‘for-purpose’ joint venture with Anchoram Consulting and will be led by Sylvius Leonard, a cybersecurity specialist who joined the firm in 2021 and has driven the initiative.

Initially focused on IT and cyber risk management for government and enterprise clients, a portion of its proceeds will be used to create employment and education opportunities that will build long-term capability within Indigenous organisations and communities.

“It’s important for us to be able to reinvest towards Indigenous causes and provide exceptional counsel to make a genuine impact,” Leonard said. “Structured reinvestment in people, not symbolic commitments, is how we’ll make a difference, with each engagement contributing to meaningful Indigenous economic participation and capability building.”

The firm said the model was designed so that others could follow in Leonard’s broader career journey, with pathways such as mentoring and scholarships to be established for Indigenous talent. Leonard, who previously worked at Datacom as an IT graduate, will also be tasked with shaping how Anchoram’s teams work ethically and professionally with its clients.

“Since we opened our doors, Anchoram Consulting has operated with our four key principles in mind – integrity, empathy, authenticity, and professionalism – and Anchoram Indigenous is the next step in demonstrating these priorities,” said CEO Glenn Ashe, who co-founded the firm in 2019 after serving as CIO assurance lead at Deloitte and earlier spent time in a variety of senior APS roles.

Anchoram has delivered over 80 projects since its establishment, with a focus on the critical infrastructure, defence, and public services sectors along with speciality areas such as mining, utilities and transport. Last year the consultancy launched dual offices Canada – which has a similar proportion of its population as Australia who identify as Indigenous.

“I am grateful for an opportunity to serve the Indigenous and broader Australian community by embarking on this joint venture with industry veterans,” Leonard said of the new Supply Nations-registered venture. “My goal is to build a business and practice that stands the test of time and will provide meaningful employment and career opportunities for Indigenous people.”