03/10/2026
Eso for your endless support for First Nations Businesses and the deadly work you do BLAQ Diamonds Women Empowerment.
🌟💎 SISTA SPOTLIGHT — DAY 3 OF 31💎🌟
Introducing Deb Belyea, Founder & Owner of Zeyawgub.
Nation/Country: Torres Strait Islander (Family roots extending to Saibai and Dauan Islands in the Top Western Torres Strait and down to the community of Bamaga, Cape York Peninsula).
Deb has been an educator for over 20 years, working in classrooms across north Queensland and the Torres Strait Islands. Also an artist, Deb stepped out of the classroom in 2024 and formed Zeyawgub after her National NAIDOC Poster win. Zeyawgub’s work is across Culture, Education and Art. As a workshop facilitator, Deb assists organisations with Cultural Capability Training; embedding First Nations Perspectives in the Curriculum Workshops for schools and teachers; and, commissioned artworks for organisations (NRL Dolphins, SBS on Demand, NITV and TSRA). Zeyawgub also has an online shop, selling educational resources created by Deb. These include Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait Islands) maps, Torres Strait Topic cards and Kalaw Kawaw Ya dialect resources. Through Zeyawgub ‘s work, Deb helps to amplify the voices of her people through her workshops and artworks.
What inspired you to start your business: As a Torres Strait Islander woman I wanted to help educators embed First Nations Perspectives in the curriculum. In 2022, I sat in an online workshop run by Bonnie Cochrane from TIPIAC and was blown away to see another Indigenous woman speak about embedding First Nations Perspectives into learning. It was like hearing someone speak my language for the first time. Bonnie saw that in me and offered me a part time role in TIPIAC. By 2023, I was still teaching 0.6 of a workload at a local high school, teaching online an Indigenous Education subject for Master of Education students, and working for TIPIAC.
I suddenly saw the world open up to me where I could share my cultural lens, discuss how culture can sit in schools and help Educators. Unfortunately, that same year I lost my beautiful Ama (Mum) in that year, a strong, cultural woman who raised my sisters and I to stand strong in culture. I felt like my Mum had shaken me to do more, especially in using my lived cultural experience, teaching expertise and my post-grad Masters Studies.
As part of grieving my Ama, I returned to my art. I have always enjoyed my art and have a degree in Visual Arts. I hadn’t created any art in a long time up until that point. On a whim, I entered an artpiece into the National NAIDOC Poster competition in 2024 and won. I used this win as a platform to launch Zeyawgub. Suddenly, I had the freedom of time and possibilities. I sat with my Elders and Cultural Knowledge Holders first, to discuss my dreams and ideas.
When everything felt right, I went ahead and created educational workshops and Cultural Capability workshops. My voice grew stronger each time I spoke. The art commissions then came in and I was suddenly doing similar work but within the visual arts. Again, I sought the advice of Elders and Cultural Knowledge Holders. I always know that my work is not just mine but belongs to my family and extended clan group.
One of your biggest business lessons or achievements:
“Always steer the course. Do what you had set out to do.”
I make sure that my work is led by my Culture which includes talking to the right people (e.g. Elders and/or Cultural Advisors) and protecting our Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIPs). One of the best words steps I had undertaken came from of one of my aunties who advised that I have the ICIPs in my work legally protected. This included having permission from my Clan Elder, Aunty Mary Betty Harris, to use the name Zeyawgub as my business name. I then engaged Terri Janke and Company for the process of trademarking my business name and logo. They also wrote up my workshop and speaker agreements for me and I have peace of mind knowing that all of my clan’s content and ICIPs are protected when working with organisations.
Your favourite quote, saying or advice for other First Nations women in business: “Give it a go and connect with other deadly, strong Blak businesswomen. I have found the support of my Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sisters invaluable. We all have that cultural lens and ourselves in each other. We work hard for our families and culture.
Also ensure that you register your business with organisations such as Supply Nation and Queensland Indigenous Business Network (QIBN). By doing so, this has given me the confidence to always let clients know that Zeyawgub is a 100% Indigenous-owned, female operated, North Queensland business, that is a QIBN Member and is Supply Nation certified.”
For more information about Deb & to engage her services:
Website: https://zeyawgub.com.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566351302958
Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-belyea-065854270
Instagram:
✨Mel✨
💎 Inspire | Empower | Destiny💎
BLAQ DIAMONDS Women Empowerment
Indigenous Business Month 2026 | Local and Connected
31 Days • 31 Sistas • 31 First Nations Business Stories
