Our purpose
Gadali is tackling the underrepresentation of Indigenous peoples in the ICT sector by creating sustainable pathways into tech. Founded on the belief that with the right tools and support Indigenous communities thrive, we blend technical expertise with meaningful Indigenous involvement to deliver better solutions. With Gadali, you strengthen delivery while making a measurable impact.
The Indigenous Tech Challenge
“You can only be what you can see” is a common phrase in community. With very little exposure to technology jobs, it is not a vocation of choice for First Nations people. As displayed in the graph below, there are no technology based vocations in the top 12 jobs as noted by the ATO.
This under-representation is highlighted in the workforce percentages, with First Nations people making up 4% of the population but less than 1% of the tech community (using ANZSCO job description as prescribed by the Tech Council of Australia). GADALI is partnering with organisations to forge pathways and create opportunities through partners to build capability in First Nations people.
The catalyst of purpose
Gadali CEO, Dustin McClung, describes his pathway below:
“I grew up in a country New South Wales mining town, where you went to the school that your street was allocated. I never thought of myself as any different to anyone else. I believed we all had choices and opportunities afforded to us, and we made conscious decisions to grab those opportunities.
After my HSC I was fortunate enough to undertake a university degree and had my eyes opened to private schools and social hierarchies that were not visible or relevant in a small town. This changed my perception of the world, - not necessarily for the better.
Always pursuing education and life long learning, I recently left a long career in a multinational company, with the belief that I had been provided with opportunities that not everyone is able to participate in.
I now want to build a company that helps forge pathways, through educational collaborations and enterprise partnerships that lower the barriers to entry and widen the narrow pathways that I travelled, to ensure we can all walk together and be proud of our heritage.
We are in the lucky country, and we have all the resources that we need to be a world technology leader.”
Meet Our Team
Dustin McClung
Chief Executive Officer
Dustin is a proud Ngunnawal man and the CEO of Gadali, where he leads the mission to expand digital opportunities for First Nations communities. With more than 25 years of experience across infrastructure, cybersecurity, and technology delivery, he has held major leadership roles at Sony Music and Optus. Dustin is passionate about using technology and AI to improve access, create new pathways, and deliver meaningful community impact.
Dane Sorrensen
Chief Operations Officer
Dane has over 25 years of experience helping organisations deliver large‑scale technology and operational change. He has worked across many industries, leading teams through system upgrades, process improvements, and major transformation programs. Dane focuses on practical problem‑solving and making sure organisations can run more smoothly, safely, and efficiently.
Michael Friedrich
Chief Technology Officer
Michael has spent more than 20 years working in technology, including nine years at Microsoft leading cloud and Azure architecture initiatives. He specialises in AI, cloud engineering, and helping organisations modernise their systems with secure, scalable platforms. At Gadali, Michael combines deep technical skills with a clear, practical approach to help clients use AI and cloud tools in ways that make a real difference.
Brett Gordon
Chief Commercial Officer
Brett has over two decades of experience in business development and partnerships, including 16 years at Microsoft working with software companies across Australia. He has helped start‑ups, scale‑ups, and large enterprises build and launch new products, grow their markets, and adopt modern cloud technology. At Gadali, Brett leads commercial strategy and works with partners to turn strong ideas into real, usable AI solutions.
Arsh Chowdhury
Associate Consultant
Arsh designs and delivers AI‑driven solutions that help organisations streamline operations and reduce manual work. With a background in user experience design, Arsh focuses on making technology easy to use while improving workflows and decision‑making. He works closely with stakeholders to turn complex requirements into practical, scalable AI tools built on the Microsoft ecosystem.
Associate Consultant
Nicolas Rodi
Nicolas specialises in building AI‑enabled, human‑centred solutions that help organisations work more efficiently. He supports clients through discovery, workflow analysis, and early‑stage prototyping, translating complex problems into clear and usable solution designs. Nicolas has contributed to AI agent delivery across health, government, and education, bringing a practical and collaborative approach to every project.
Levi McKenzie
Associate Consultant
Levi is a Yuin, Dhungatti, and Wiradjuri man from South Sydney. He holds a Master of Engineering (Software), specialising in distributed systems. He has worked across startups and large enterprises in roles spanning mobile development, web development, cloud engineering, and data engineering. Levi is passionate about using technology as a force for progress and is committed to building skills, talent, and opportunities for First Nations people in software and IT.
Emma Iorfino
TheShareSpace Manager
As Manager of TheShareSpace, Emma oversees daily operations, ensuring the workspace runs efficiently and aligns with the organisation’s standards and brand. She coordinates vendors, member services, and internal systems to maintain operational excellence. With a background in design, she ensures the space remains cohesive, functional, and visually refined, while fostering a strong, engaged community and delivering a professional experience for members and guests.
Got a question?
Whether you have a question, an idea, or just want to say hello, feel free to reach out—we’re here to help.