Phil Thompson

Phil Thompson is a proud Bidjara/Kara Kara man with maternal connections to Vanuatu. Born in Barcaldine and raised in Central Queensland as the youngest of six children, Phil spent his early years working alongside his family on the land, mustering sheep and cattle. The encouragement of his supportive and visionary parents gave him a strong foundation and continues to shape his work today. With more than 15 years of customer-service experience across government and non-government organisations, Phil has built a career grounded in community, culture and practical leadership. An environmentalist and conservationist, he is passionate about biodiversity management and land rehabilitation. He transformed that passion into Native Secrets, an essential-oil and natural skin-care company inspired by traditional knowledge. Native Secrets supplies products to a range of retailers and corporate partners, including Qantas and Taronga Zoo. Phil and his family have featured on ABC’s Moving 2 the Country, in Qantas magazine and in The Australian Women’s Weekly. Native Secrets was named among the final 12 in Kochie’s Favourite Australian Family Business awards, received the 2023 Telstra Best of Business Award for Building Communities in New South Wales, and was recognised as a 2025 Global Beauty Excellence Award winner in China.