Capability Statement · 2026

AI FIRST NATIONS

Building Indigenous-Led Environmental Resilience

Indigenous-led drone and AI environmental services, delivered by a Larrakia drone pilot and cultural ambassador who works the Country he surveys — certified aerial capability paired with applied AI, grounded in on-Country relationships across Far North Queensland, the Torres Strait and the Northern Territory, and on Sydney's Northern Beaches.

Sole Trader · ABN 80 732 478 065 · CASA ReOC CASA.ReOC.8979 · ARN 1252905
Insured through Elders Insurance, Innisfail (underwritten by QBE): $20M public and products liability · $10M drone (RPA) liability · $2M professional indemnity · Injury and illness cover
From Darwin, Larrakia Country · working across FNQ, Torres Strait, NT and Sydney's Northern Beaches · 0429 042 774

01 · Who We Are

Creation. Connection. Contribution.

AI First Nations is the commercial drone and AI services practice of founder John Fejo — Larrakia man, CASA-certified Chief Remote Pilot, Head Ranger, cultural ambassador and Cert IV-qualified educator. Environmental monitoring technology is almost always built and flown by outsiders to Country. AI First Nations is the counterweight: certified aerial and AI capability delivered by someone who already carries cultural authority and standing relationships across the region.

Port of Townsville · KJR

NSW SLSS Shark Monitoring Program drone deployment

SLSS Mona Vale · Shark Monitoring

Goondoi Arts Aboriginal Corporation partnership

Goondoi Arts Partnership

Certified, not casual

CASA ReOC CASA.ReOC.8979, ARN 1252905, authorised multi-rotor RPAS aerial work up to 25kg. Backed by $20M public liability, RPAS liability and professional indemnity cover (QBE).

AI-backed, not guesswork

RMIT University partnership delivering 97% accuracy species classification (EfficientNet-B0).

On Country, not fly-in

Delivered by a cultural ambassador and Head Ranger with standing relationships across the North.

Three pillars — the way we work

Every engagement is guided by Creation, Connection and Contribution: building real capability, working through genuine relationships on Country, and leaving a measurable contribution behind rather than a one-off report.

Creation Connection Contribution

Our Partners

KJR Port of Townsville (3-year contract, as subcontractor to KJR), Surf Life Saving NSW shark monitoring and the Torres Shire Council Horn Island survey, delivered with KJR.

Kushai Strategic partner.

RMIT University Research and AI development partner — mangrove species classification and autonomous sub-canopy systems.

Goondoi Arts Aboriginal Corporation Signed drone services partner — pond apple injection, mowing and environmental monitoring.

Deployable across: Far North Queensland · Cape York · Torres Strait · Gulf Country · Northern Territory · Sydney Northern Beaches (shark monitoring for Surf Life Saving NSW, with KJR)

02 · What We Deliver

Five capabilities. One operator.

Every engagement is flown and reported on directly by the Chief Remote Pilot — no subcontracted crews, no generic templates.

Drone Survey & Environmental Monitoring

Certified aerial survey for environmental, land management and infrastructure monitoring using a DJI Matrice 4T RTK (thermal + RTK precision) and a DJI Mini 5 Pro.

For: Councils, land councils, ranger groups, private landholders

AI Species Classification

Mangrove and vegetation species identification models built with RMIT University, currently running at 97% accuracy (EfficientNet-B0).

For: Environmental agencies, research partners, land managers

Cultural Heritage Documentation

Drone-based mapping and documentation of rock art and cultural heritage sites, conducted under appropriate cultural authority and protocol.

For: Traditional Owner groups, heritage bodies

Ranger & Biosecurity Support

Aerial support for ranger programs across Cape York and the Torres Strait, including biosecurity and marine debris monitoring.

For: Ranger groups, NRM bodies

Training & Education

School and community drone/AI education sessions connecting Indigenous knowledge with emerging technology, ranger and junior ranger skills programs, and pre-deployment / operational drone training for teams and partner organisations.

For: Schools, rangers & junior rangers, disadvantaged youth, community organisations, partner operations teams

Base

Far North QLD

Reach

QLD · NT · Torres Strait · NSW Northern Beaches

Aircraft

DJI Matrice 4T RTK · DJI Mini 5 Pro

Credentials

ReOC 8979 · ARN 1252905

03 · The Proof

Past performance.

3 yrs

Port of Townsville contract — subcontractor to KJR

1,170

Pond apple trees treated — Goondoi

97%

Mangrove species AI — RMIT

Subcontractor to KJR

Port of Townsville — 3-year drone contract, delivered as a subcontractor to KJR.

With KJR

Surf Life Saving NSW — drone shark monitoring on Sydney's Northern Beaches, delivered with KJR.

Surf Life Saving NSW drone deployment at Mona Vale

With KJR

Torres Shire Council — Horn Island drone survey (landfill, rock stockpile and airport sites), delivered with KJR.

Photo coming soon

Goondoi

Goondoi Arts Aboriginal Corporation and Goondoi Rangers — 1,170 pond apple trees treated, wetland surveys, Drone Class for students, and a four-day school camp in October 2026 where 29 of 29 Year 6 students passed Drone Class 101.

RMIT

RMIT University — mangrove species AI, about 97% test accuracy (EfficientNet-B0); AI First Nations holds the IP. A data dashboard is in development with RMIT student teams in Semester 2, 2026.

Built

Ranger AI Toolkit — field observation logging, safety checklists, drone flight log and AI-assisted report writing, built to support ranger and Drone Class training delivery.

Discovery call

A short conversation on your site, your compliance needs and what you're trying to monitor or capture.

Scoped quote

A written quote referencing CASA ReOC.8979 and ARN 1252905, itemised by site and deliverable.

Delivery

Survey flown, data processed, report delivered — ongoing monitoring scoped from there.

John Fejo

Founder, Chief Remote Pilot & Cultural Ambassador

AI First Nations · ABN 80 732 478 065
CASA ReOC CASA.ReOC.8979 · ARN 1252905 (expires 31 October 2029)
aifirstnations.org.au