Innovation | First Nations | Investment
Kent is a First Nations entrepreneur and innovation leader with 25+ years’ experience across diverse industries. He advises, builds, and scales businesses with a focus on innovation management and commercialisation.
He holds globally recognised credentials from the Global Innovation Management Institute (GIMI) and is completing a Doctor of Business Administration on innovation.
He serves as Chairperson of the Australian Innovation Management Institute (AIMI)—a not-for-profit membership organisation advancing ISO-aligned innovation capability-building and certification across Australia—and Chair of the Blak Angels Investment Network, a First Nations-led angel network backing early-stage ventures that deliver impact for Community, Culture, and Country.
Chairperson, Australian Innovation Management Institute (AIMI)
Ambassador, Global Council for Innovation Organisations (GCIO)
Innovation Advisory Board Member, Western Australian Government (
Chair, People & Skills Subcommittee)
Chair, Blak Angels Investment Network
Managing Partner, Triangle Growth Partners
Managing Director, Triangle Capital Partners
Non-Executive Director, First Nations X
Profile
Kent Matla is a First Nations entrepreneur and innovation leader with over 25-years experience, including 21-years living and operating in China. Fluent in Mandarin, he combines commercial acuity with cultural fluency to help boards and executive teams turn strategy into measurable outcomes across innovation, commercialisation, cross-border expansion, M&A and capital.
Beginning his career in China, Kent served as Post Manager for Austrade in Taiyuan, Shanxi, and later as an Economic/Political Research Officer at the Australian Embassy in Beijing. He then founded his own investment and corporate advisory firm, which merged into GNS China Limited and became a wholly owned subsidiary of GNS International Limited in Singapore. From 2004 to 2014 he established, managed, and grew GNS China into a reputable boutique corporate advisory and investment banking firm.
Returning to Perth in 2014, Kent founded Triangle Capital Partners, a boutique advisory focused on strategy, innovation, commercialisation, M&A, corporate structuring and restructuring, commercial due diligence, international investment, capital matching, and mentoring. He also leads Triangle Growth Partners (previously Triangle Equity Partners), helping established, high-growth businesses scale through advisory work and capability-building programmes—including serving as the Certified Training Partner in Australia for the Global Innovation Management Institute (GIMI), and initiatives such as ScaleUpWA and ChinaGateway™.
Alongside his venture work, Kent plays active governance and ecosystem roles. He is Chairperson of the Australian Innovation Management Institute (AIMI), advancing ISO-aligned innovation capability nationally; Chair of the Blak Angels Investment Network, a First Nations-led angel network backing ventures that deliver impact for Community, Culture, and Country; an Ambassador for the Global Council of Innovative Organisations (GCIO); a member of the WA Government Innovation Advisory Board, where he chairs the People & Skills Sub-committee; and a Director of First Nations X.
Kent has long contributed to industry institutions, including thirteen years on the board of AustCham Beijing—serving as Vice Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Treasurer, committee chair, and as a judge for the Australia-China Business Awards—and he helped found the Global Mining Association of China (as inaugural Treasurer and later Vice Chairman) and the China International Alternative Investment Association.
He holds an MBA from Curtin University, a Diploma in International Company Directorship from the Australian Institute of Company Directors, globally recognised GIMI innovation credentials, and is completing a Doctor of Business Administration at Curtin University focused on innovation.