Monash, IBIR agreement to strengthen business integrity

Monash University’s Master of Indigenous Business Leadership and the Indigenous Business Integrity Register have formalised a partnership to bring together Australia’s leading Indigenous business leadership program and IBR’s Indigenous-designed economic governance infrastructure that works to verify the authenticity of Indigenous businesses.

The collaboration through an MOU has established a shared commitment to support Indigenous entrepreneurs, executives and managers, including those enrolled in MIBL, through a program of knowledge exchange, endorsements, events and training aimed at embedding integrity at the heart of Indigenous business practice.

Under the agreement, IBIR founder Gerry Matera and Ken Wyatt AM, chair of IBIR’s ownership and governance body Indigenous Business Council, have been invited to serve as Indigenous Business Knowledge Holders at Monash University.

In August they will host a class on business ethics and integrity for MIBL students. All parties will participate in an Indigenous business roundtable comprising First Nations leadership and industry representatives, with Indigenous business ethics training modules developed for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.

“We all want the next generation of Indigenous leaders to thrive in a business sector designed to amplify their efforts. Sadly, that has not been the reality for some time,” Mr Matera said.

“Acknowledging that problems exist and exploitation prevails is a powerful step forward, while building strong partnerships that help to instil integrity at the heart of Indigenous business culture is a lesson straight from our ancestors – the first entrepreneurs.”

Co-director of MIBL, Katrina Johnson, said within the MIBL community, leaders agreed that integrity was foundational for strong and effective Indigenous leadership.

“It’s how we honour our ancestors while safeguarding our economic sovereignty now and for future generations. Partnerships like this are crucial because they strengthen the systems that protect our communities, elevate our leaders, and ensure Indigenous business and leadership can thrive on our own terms,” she said.

Mr Wyatt said he was inspired by the calibre of Indigenous leaders emerging in the sector and is looking forward to working with Monash’s groundbreaking program.

“We are entering a new era for Indigenous peoples to move from welfare to wealth creation, and from passengers in business to leaders,” he said.

“Programs like MIBL are an example of how far we have come, and also what can be achieved. This unity between MIBL and IBIR creates a new standard for what is acceptable in business practice – and a vision for what is possible.”

Established in 2021, some 40 students have graduated from the MIBL,  a ground-breaking, award-winning two-year part-time program designed exclusively for Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.