Jacob is a proud Gamilaraay man whose family descends from Mungindi, Neeworra, and Boomi in the north of Gamilaraay country on the NSW/QLD border. Here, the Baawan (Barwon River) holds the space where the rich alluvial black cracking clays of the south-east meet the older yellow/grey soils, red sands and ironstone pavement of the north-west. Jacob honours and acknowledges his diverse heritage, particularly his rebellious Irish paternal side.

Jacob's first job, whilst still at school, was chipping cotton with the mob from Thallon and Mungindi. He continued with doing seasonal, intermittent, labourious jobs until travelling with his partner and brother to Europe in 2014. It was here, particularly in Sardinia, where his passion for people and place-based, authentic, traditional, and healthy foodways was ignited. It was also in Sardinia where Jacob was called home by an Ancestor. 

Jacob's journey into the native grain space began when he saw the opportunity to remediate Australia's damaged and neglected landscape by restoring native grasslands. After a conversation with his Elders, this quickly shifted to looking at the opportunity to harvest native grasses for grain, just like the Old People had done since time immemorial. The work has unfolded into an ecosystem approach which includes academic research, entrepreneurial endeavours, and nation building governance work.

Some of Jacob's recent expertise and experience includes:

• Bachelor of Environmental Science/Bachelor of Marine Science & Management - GPA: 6.2 out of 7 (2020)  

• Bachelor of Science with Honours - First Class (2021) 

• Led national consultation to inform Native Grains Strategic RD&E Plan, and subsequently wrote the Plan (2022)

• Australian Institute of Company Directors course (2022)

• Churchill Fellowship to look at North American Indigenous Food Sovereignty (2022)

• INDIGI-X: Global Exchange for Indigenous Professionals (2022)

• Impact Boom Elevate + Accelerator Program (2023)

• Raised capital to establish Yaamarra & Yarral (2023)

• Australian Rural Leadership Foundation - TRAIL Program (2024)

• Murra Indigenous Business Masterclass (2024)

• PhD Candidate (2024)