Frank Mitchell is a proud Noongar who built Wilco Electrical into a successful contracting business while also being a founder, committee member and art director of the annual Blazing Swan festival. He grew up in state housing in a rural community where drugs, depression and suicide were common. The turning point was the offer of an electrical apprenticeship.
Wilco now has 16 full-time employees and Mr Mitchell has pledged to create 20 Aboriginal apprenticeships by 2020. His aim is for Wilco to be recognised as a tier one national contractor. In tandem with running Wilco, he has helped to build Blazing Swan into a $1 million per annum festival. The vision is for Blazing Swan to become a premier arts and culture festival that rivals the Perth Festival for artist recognition and unique self-expression.
At the 2022 Business News 40under40 Awards, Mr Mitchell won the Medium-Sized Business Award.
Frank Mitchell was named Australia’s Local Hero for 2026, in recognition of the trade and construction businesses he co-founded with the aim of creating opportunities for Aboriginal people.
