Hunter Pennings might only be in Year 10, but the young entrepreneur is already a seasoned businessman.
The Canterbury College student from Boonah has been creating and selling custom Indigenous artworks through his brand Penno Collections for more than two years.
He has already collaborated with charity Orange Sky and is in talks with pyjama king Peter Alexander for another.
He works with clients to design pieces that reflect their stories while also producing original paintings and digital artworks.
Hunter came to his culture in an unusual way – he didn’t discover he was Indigenous until the age of 10.
The family’s Wiradjuri heritage came to light through historical records showing that his great grandfather was a member of the Stolen Generation.
A tragic legacy of the Stolen Generation is that so many felt the need to hide their Indigenous history and culture.
“For a long time, we just didn’t know,” Hunter said.
“(Once I found out) I started to really look into the culture and what that meant and how significant it was, and Indigenous art really stood out to me.
“I had always been really artistic, but it was never as personal as doing this.”
Attending the 2026 National Indigenous Business School program at Bond University was a great opportunity to meet other passionate entrepreneurs, he said.
Hunter was among 22 students from across Queensland selected to take part in the week-long program designed to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school students a taste of university life.
“Getting advice about marketing, finance and how to grow my business from people who’ve already done it was really helpful.”
But surprisingly, a career in art isn’t the end game for Hunter – he wants to become a commercial corporate lawyer.
“I’d keep my business as a side hustle though – I like working with people to create something that’s meaningful to them.”
Hunter credits the supportive Scenic Rim community with helping him pursue his ambitions.
As his business continues to grow, he hopes his journey encourages other young people to back themselves and turn their passions into something bigger.
“It’s about telling stories through art and creating something people can connect with.”
