Innovation is often the key to success in professional services. The ability to tackle complex infrastructure projects efficiently and effectively can make or break a company – and that’s where Yanun can help.
Introducing Yanun
Yanun Project Services is a First Nation and Veteran owned startup that specialises in delivering professional project services to a diverse range of industries. From resource development to construction and international projects, they bring a unique blend of skills and integrated systems to the table.
Like many startups, founders Jessica MacDonald and David Mallett worked from their spare bedroom as they brought their great idea to life. It was here they committed to tackling the persistent problems of the professional services industry, such as cost overruns, schedule delays, and stakeholder complexities. And thus Yanun was created.
Tackling complexity with streamlined solutions
“A number of the projects we work on are predominantly for social infrastructure, and they’re inherently very difficult to manage. They often run over costs and over time, and they impact a lot of stakeholders as they go” explains David.
To solve this, Yanun use their integrated systems and teams of professionals to deliver service solutions for complex infrastructure. By taking learnings from mature industries like defence and translating them into traditional fields such as construction and transportation, they’re able to help projects stay within scope, within budget, and on time.
An example of success for Yanun is Yappala Art Gallery. The project was not going well in terms of delivery, partially due to a lack of governance. After Yanun took over the project, they were able to use their mature systems to stabilise it from a cost and schedule perspective, allowing the art gallery to be successfully delivered at Yappala Station.
Empowering the First Nations community
David and Jessica are not just making waves in the industry; they're creating a ripple effect of positive change within First Nations communities.
Speaking on their impact, David says “being a First Nations person myself and our business being First Nation owned and operated, one of our objectives early on was to see a bigger representation of First Nations people in professional careers. During our business journey, we’ve been able to help young professionals get into careers that they might not have identified before. Some of them are now professionals on their way to really successful, long term careers.”
When speaking on their role in helping to upskill young First Nations professionals, Jessica said “It's morally important to us. One of our key values as a business is to change lives and to break the cycle. If we can change one person's life, it's going to have a ripple effect through their entire family.”
The future of Australian innovation
When reflecting on the future of Australian innovation, David and Jessica are excited about what’s on the horizon, pointing out that Australia has a long innovation history.
“Australia has already been innovating for thousands of years. If I think about First Nations people in South Australia living here for over 60,000 years, foraging for small bird bones to create fishing spears and making fishing lines and baskets from strong grasses – they had to innovate to survive” says David.
“Fast forward a little bit and you get one of our most famous First Nations people in South Australia, David Unaipon, who had over 10,000 patents registered, one being a shearing machine which became the mechanical shears we still use today.”
“We’re now on the precipice of social change in regards to First Nations people and the environment, and with everything coming to a head and needing rapid change, Australia is having to act now. It needs innovators to help solve both of these complex challenges.”
The importance of innovation communities
Stone & Chalk is more than just a workspace for Jessica and David; it's a thriving innovation community that has played a pivotal role in their journey. They've been residents for over two years and have witnessed substantial growth during this time.
"It's been the perfect fit for us," David shares, stating that Stone & Chalk has provided the invaluable support, diverse thinking, and space to pivot as they transition from a startup to a scaleup and tackle the unique challenges facing a startup.
“Prior to coming to Stone & Chalk, it was Dave and I in our third bedroom study at home” says Jessica. “In that environment, you don't get the diversity of thinking or support that you get in an environment like this. So for us, coming to Stone & Chalk and becoming part of the community has been invaluable for our business.”
Stone & Chalk isn’t for everyone, but it is for the brave
In the realm of professional services, Yanun Project Services exemplifies what it means to be a big thinker, to challenge assumptions, and to create a ripple of change that goes beyond the confines of business. And that’s exactly who Stone & Chalk is for.
We’re for the brave. The risk takers. The hard working and the innovative. We’re for startups like Yanun, who are changing the world with their innovative solutions.
If you’d like to join Stone & Chalk’s community of game-changers and rule-breakers, visit our website to learn more.
