Consultancies support Indigenous Supplier Development Programme
The New South Wales Indigenous Chamber of Commerce (NSWICC) and the University of Sydney have launched the Indigenous Supplier Development Programme (ISDP), a new three-month programme that supports greater participation of Indigenous businesses in public sector opportunities.
Over the next two and a half years, five cohorts will undergo the training programme, which blends in-person and online learning delivery to best fit within business owner’s schedules.
The programme offers customised courses that provide education, mentorship and empowerment to Indigenous business owners, enabling them to develop the skills, understanding and tools required to improve their capacity and capability to grow their economic development and impact.
According to the University of Sydney, the programme will provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business owners the “communication, strategic and leadership skills required to take their business to the next level”, to be gained through capability training, sharing of best practices around winning more business, and mentoring support from peers and industry leaders.
Those “industry leaders” that have committed their support to the programme are HKA, Turner & Townsend, LogiKal and Deloitte. All four are international consulting firms, and all four have an established presence in the Australian market.
Comments from leaders
Darren Munton, Managing Director of Turner & Townsend for Australia and New Zealand: “Our sponsorship of the ISDP is part of our commitment to equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and facilitating sustainable long-term change by investing in the growth of Indigenous businesses for the benefit of the Indigenous community.”
“We will combine our core capabilities in major project, programme and portfolio management with our broader experience of leading and growing our own business to generate and accelerate a pipeline of highly capable Indigenous businesses.”
Phil Kienstra, Partner at HKA: “At HKA, we believe in creating meaningful and lasting change and supporting the empowerment of Indigenous communities, which strongly aligns with our core values. By sponsoring the ISDP, we aim to contribute to building a more inclusive and equitable business landscape in Australia.”
“Through the program, we hope to champion diversity and innovation and empower Indigenous businesses to thrive and succeed. We look forward to working hand-in-hand with the NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce, the University of Sydney and our PMOS Partners to bring about a brighter future for Indigenous entrepreneurs and their communities.”
Luke McIlroy-Ranga, General Manager of NSWICC and ISDP Co-Director: “We are immensely proud to see this programme come to life; the ISDP establishes best practice for Indigenous procurement policy in Australia, highlighting the importance of levers within policy to enable investment into programmes such as this, which ultimately drives growth and ignition of our sector.”
“By enabling greater participation by Indigenous businesses in public sector opportunities, the Indigenous Supplier Development Programme will create a positive ripple effect, leading to highly capable Indigenous businesses, long-term supply chain opportunities, and sustainable community benefits.”
