Michael Wear

Michael Wear is a Mulgana Traditional Custodian of Shark Bay, Western Australia.

He has spent more than 30 years working on and around the ocean and supporting the creation of Indigenous jobs and livelihoods.

Seeking to restore Indigenous cultural heritage, Michael founded the Tidal Moon Sea Cucumber Project in 2017. He united three Aboriginal communities - Mulgana (Shark Bay), Bayungu (Coral Bay / Exmouth) and Thalanyji (Onslow) - to develop a viable commercial sea cucumber business that would create economic opportunity, promote environmental stewardship, and help the younger generation connect with their cultural heritage. 

In 2023, BHP awarded Tidal Moon a $3 million grant to restore damaged seagrass beds in Shark Bay and advance the development of the Australian blue carbon market.

In 2014, Michael helped broker a commitment between Western Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest and labor firm Programmed, guaranteeing 5,000 jobs for Aboriginal people over a ten-year period.  The agreement was the largest commitment for Aboriginal employment creation in Australian history, and then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull attended the signing.

Michael was the first Indigenous manager contracted into Chevron’s Gorgon project, where he created and implemented a successful Indigenous engagement and training program. His efforts led to full-time employment for hundreds of Aboriginal stevedores (dock workers) and Indigenous seafarers, and significantly increased the participation and economic access of Aboriginal people to one of the world’s largest LNG projects.

In his work with the Cancer Council, Michael delivered a culturally appropriate palliative care training program for Indigenous health practitioners in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.