Mundanara Bayles.
Havas Red has partnered with First Nations advocate and BlackCard founder Mundanara Bayles to launch Havas Blak, a communications offering announced during National Reconciliation Week 2026.
The initiative combines Bayles' cultural leadership and BlackCard's approach with Havas Red's strategic communications expertise.
It formalises a relationship that began two years ago when Havas Red provided pro bono support to BlackCard, including the launch of BlakCast, described as Australia's first podcast network owned and led by First Nations people.
Havas Blak will deliver First Nations-led strategic communications and storytelling, cultural capability training and consultancy, media training and leadership visibility, and broader consulting across the Havas Village agency network.
James Wright, group CEO of Havas ANZ and global CEO of Havas Red, said the initiative was about action rather than intention.
"The communications industry has a responsibility to help shape a more inclusive national narrative, and that starts by creating greater space for First Nations voices to lead,“ he said. “Partnering with Mundanara ensures this is built on authenticity and focused on impact.
"Launching during National Reconciliation Week under the theme 'All In' is a clear reminder that meaningful progress requires collective and sustained accountability.”
Bayles, co-founder of Havas Blak, said the partnership was about shifting power.
"HAVAS Blak creates a platform for culturally grounded storytelling that reflects truth, drives understanding and delivers real outcomes for our communities," she said.
”'All in' means walking together to reinforce Aboriginal self-determination through economic resilience, and that's exactly what this partnership with HAVAS is designed to achieve.”
Myrna Van Pelt, managing partner, corporate at Havas Red, said the partnership moved from support to true co-creation.
"Embedding cultural intelligence and First Nations perspectives into the core of how we advise clients," she said.
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