Supporting Australia’s First Peoples through Supply Nation

Posted on 27 January, 2025

Have you heard of Supply Nation?

It’s a unique not-for-profit which verifies and promotes Indigenous businesses across the nation through a central registry.

Supply Nation has been a force for Indigenous business growth and identity, supporting the procurement of their products and services from the government, corporate and non-profit sectors.

And if supporting home-grown Indigenous businesses is something you’re interested in, Supply Nation is hosting an Indigenous Business Trade Fair next month.

The Trade Fair, which will be held at QT Canberra, is expected to attract around 80 Indigenous exhibitors.

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The whole concept has been established on the belief that economic empowerment can provide Indigenous peoples with the means to achieve a more prosperous and stable future.

In 2024, Supply Nation celebrated its 15-year anniversary. It now has close to 5,500 verified Indigenous suppliers on its Indigenous Business Direct database – with over 250 servicing the Canberra region. More than 800 corporate, government and non-profit members are now listed and committed to embedding Indigenous businesses in their supply chains.

When it began in 2009, Supply Nation facilitated $300,000 of procurement spending. That figure has risen to an astounding $4.6 billion last financial year.

Supply Nation CEO Kate Russell said the organisation now represents Indigenous businesses located in every state and territory and across urban, regional and remote communities.

Supply Nation CEO Kate Russell

“Our members are drawn from corporate, government and non-profit organisations and from every sector in the economy.”

The Canberra Trade Fair builds on a successful event in Perth in November last year and will travel to Dubbo in April.

“We are proud to host this Indigenous Business Trade Fair on the lands of the Ngunnawal people. Canberra is of course an important location given some of our federal government members have significant procurement contracts with our suppliers…Businesses actively implementing supplier diversity models have proven to add value to the business bottom line as well as an enhanced culture and inclusivity,” says Kate.

Supply Nation now has almost 5,500 verified Indigenous businesses listed on their Indigenous Business Direct database. Pleasingly, around a third of these businesses are led or owned by women.

“Our Indigenous Trade Fairs are extremely popular with exhibitor stands selling out quickly and strong numbers of business and government representatives attending to identify opportunities for commercial collaboration.”

Their recent Legacy Research Report revealed supplier numbers have increased steadily at 41 per cent each year, indicating the establishment of more Indigenous businesses and their desire to expand their visibility and reach. It also indicates a strong entrepreneurial spirit within Indigenous communities.

Member numbers grew at 25 per cent each year, also providing evidence that governments and corporate entities are receiving a good return on investment from both membership and Indigenous procurement.