Solidarity Group director Garth Edwards says the firm isn’t just another consultancy. Photo: The Solidarity Group.
From the vibrant tropics of North Queensland to the corridors of leadership in Canberra, Garth Edwards has been making quiet but powerful waves across a range of industries.
Known by many names – Garth, John, or J-Point to the hip-hop community – Garth is an entrepreneur, filmmaker, and proud Bagabara man with a vision that stretches far beyond business.
With a creative background in performance and production, he has appeared in numerous TV series and films, but his professional journey has not stopped there.
As a dynamic business leader, he now heads The Solidarity Group, a consultancy and recruitment firm committed to delivering top-tier talent and strategic solutions to government and private sector clients across Australia.
The Solidarity Group’s mission is grounded in ethics, people, and community and Garth’s leadership style reflects this ethos, fostering partnerships that drive outcomes, while amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities.
Now board chair and director of Solidarity Group, Garth says the Solidarity Group isn’t just another consultancy, “it’s a Supply Nation-certified Indigenous business bringing together a diverse team of professionals, including AI experts, cyber specialists, program managers, and change leaders. Many holding AGSVA security clearances, enabling the group to service critical Commonwealth and State Government projects.”
“We’re not trying to be the biggest firm out there, we want to be the most connected – to people, to culture, and to results,” Garth says.
From workforce supplementation to digital transformation, organisational reviews to capital asset management, The Solidarity Group brings a full suite of advisory and implementation capabilities. And it does so with a uniquely Indigenous lens, something Garth says adds both perspective and purpose.
Garth’s entrepreneurial spirit continues in the arts. In partnership with long-time collaborator and friend Chedwa Whyte, he co-founded the Which Way Film Festival, a grassroots event born in Cairns.
‘Which Way’ is a greeting used in Indigenous communities, symbolising both welcome and discovery. The festival is now seeking to expand into Canberra, reflecting the city’s growing importance as a creative and cultural hub.
“Canberra’s known for its strong government presence, but there’s an incredible artistic scene here too,” Garth says.
“We want to spotlight the Indigenous stories and local contributions that don’t always get mainstream attention.”
Garth is passionate about bringing Indigenous perspectives into boardrooms and briefing rooms, helping government agencies reimagine policy, operations, and engagement through a more inclusive lens.
Backed by a highly experienced leadership team The Solidarity Group is already engaged by major government agencies such as the Department of Defence, Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and the National Indigenous Australians Agency.
“The group’s consulting and recruitment services span strategy, technology, cyber security, and workforce design. Yet its real strength lies in its ability to humanise complex challenges and deliver culturally aware, practical solutions,” Garth says.
For Garth, success is measured not only in contracts won or films produced, but in lives impacted and communities uplifted.
Quoting an old proverb, Garth says: “If you want to go fast, go alone but if you want to go far, go together.”
With The Solidarity Group, Garth Edwards is doing just that, bringing people together to go further than they ever could alone.
