Kyam grew up in Country South Australia, initially in Littlehampton in the Adelaide Hills and then in Mt Gambier in the South East of the State. Kyam graduated from Adelaide University with degrees in Law and Economics, spending part of his Law Degree studying in the United States at the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg Virginia. Kyam was employed as a lawyer with the South Australian Crown Solicitor’s Office advising Government and practicing in areas including Civil Litigation, Administrative Law, Prosecutions and Wills and Estates.

When Labor won State Government in 2002 Kyam took on the role of Chief of Staff to Minister Terry Roberts who held the portfolios of Regional Affairs, Aboriginal Affairs and Correctional Services. Kyam then went on to serve as the State Secretary of the Labor Party in South Australia before entering the Legislative Council in 2012. Upon the re-election of the Labor Government in 2014 Kyam took on the role of Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.

In 2015, Kyam became Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation and in 2016 was also appointed as Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Member of the Executive Council and in 2016 became Minister for Science and Information Economy and Minister for Employment until Labor lost Government in 2018. 

From 2018 to 2022 Kyam was Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Shadow Attorney-General, Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations & Public Sector, and Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. In 2018 Kyam was appointed as the Chairperson of the Budget and Finance Committee.

Following Labor’s victory at the 2022 election Kyam was sworn in as the first Aboriginal Attorney-General in South Australia, as well as Minister For Aboriginal Affair and Minister for Industrial Relations and the Public Sector.

Kyam is particularly passionate about ensuring that all South Australians are afforded the dignity that good, meaningful jobs provide, and that all South Australians are able to share in the opportunities and benefits this State offers. He has spoken on a wide range of issues including Aboriginal Affairs, equality, the importance of science in society, and the challenges facing regional and country communities. Kyam and his wife Carmel have three sons, six chooks and two cats and enjoy spending time in regional South Australia.