Tennis star Ash Barty to headline Connect 2026
An incredible lineup of speakers are set to inspire at the Connect 2026 Knowledge Forum in Perth next month.
Hosted by proud Gamilaroi woman Brooke Boney, this year’s program brings together Indigenous leaders, entrepreneurs, changemakers and supplier diversity advocates for a day of powerful conversations and insights.
Highlights include a keynote with Tammy O’Connor, founder of KingKira Group, sharing lessons on forging economic empowerment and genuine sustainable partnerships on Country.
The forum on August 11 kicks off with a workshop to help businesses strengthen their cashflow management and optimise working capital to support sustainable growth, hosted by Commbank.
Throughout the day there are workshops to assist and guide Indigenous businesses with sessions on a number of key topics including procurement, brand elevation, the use of AI to grow business and emerging business opportunities.
The day’s highlight though is an ‘In Conversation’ with Australian tennis superstar Ash Barty.
Knowledge Forum Agenda: https://connect.supplynation.org.au/knowledge-forum/
Connect 2026 takes place at the Perth Convention centre August 11-12.
Tickets for the event can be purchased here: https://supplynation.eventsair.com/connect-2026/attendee-2026/Site/Register
Key speakers:
Ash Barty AO
Founder
Ash Barty Foundation
Ash Barty was a professional tennis player on the Women’s Tennis Association tour from 2011–2022.
Ranked No.1 in the world and following her Australian Open title, Ash announced her retirement in March 2022, departing the sport as one of the most accomplished players ever. Her tennis achievements include: 3 Grand Slam singles titles, 1 Grand Slam doubles title, 12 WTA singles titles, 11 WTA doubles titles and an Olympic bronze medal.
Post tennis, in addition to her most important role as being Mum to Hayden and Jordan, giving back is Ash’s priority. Ash launched the Ash Barty Foundation in 2024, with the purpose of creating sport and education opportunities for young Australians.
Tammy O’Connor
Founder and Ambassador
KingKira Group
Tammy O’Connor is a Nyiyaparli and Palyku woman from Marble Bar in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, with family connections to the Kariyarra and Ngarluma peoples. She is the Founder and Managing Director of KingKira Group, a 100% Aboriginal female-owned company delivering environmental, waste management and industrial services across Western Australia.
Gordon Cole
Chair
Noongar Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Gordon Cole is a Noongar leader, award-winning businessman, and visionary change agent driving First Nations economic empowerment through Business, Trade and Investment. He is Founder and Director of Blak Digital and B4.ai, Director at Paradigm Entertainment, Blak Angels Investment Network and Managing Director of Cole SX. As Chair of the Noongar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gordon champions innovation, investment, and enterprise. His ventures span various sustainable industries always anchored in First Nations philosophy.
Dino Otranto
Chief Executive Officer – Metals & Operations
Fortescue
Dino Otranto joined Fortescue in 2021 as Chief Operating Officer Iron Ore before being appointed CEO of Fortescue Metals in August 2023. In July 2025, his role expanded to oversee operational responsibility for global electrification and decarbonisation, and hydrogen product production.
With more than 20 years’ experience in the global resources sector, Dino has navigated diverse commodities and operations across multiple continents. His leadership is defined by operational excellence, technical expertise and financial acumen – grounded in a strong commitment to safety, values and workforce engagement. Now, as Fortescue undergoes rapid growth, Dino is at the helm driving large-scale decarbonisation efforts and shaping the future of the Company’s iron ore business.
Dr Amanda Healy
Founding partner and Chair
Warrikal
Amanda is a Wonnarua woman – traditional owners of the Hunter Valley in NSW, and part of the Koorie nation. She has spent most of her life living in WA.
Amanda has more than 35 years’ experience in the mining industry, in Australia, Africa and Canada – working for Blue Chip miners such as BHP, Rio Tinto and WMC. In 2003 she founded her own Engineering business in the Pilbara – Maxx Engineering which was sold to a large international company in 2015.
In 2014 she was awarded the prestigious ‘Indigenous in Business’ Award at the Ethnic Business Awards at the G20 in Brisbane (for Maxx Engineering), since then has won a number of small business awards both nationally and regionally. She has an MBA and was honoured with a Doctor of Commerce at Curtin University in 2020.
Arjun Ravi
Senior Manager, Climate Change and Sustainability
EY
Brooke Boney
Journalist and Television Presenter
Knowledge Forum Host
Clare Pope
Partner
Gilbert & Tobin
Daniel Moss
Defence Industry Adviser
Department of Defence
Dennis Kickett
Director, Transport Portfolio Aboriginal Engagement
Main Roads WA
Haimee Code
Director, Customer Success, Australia & New Zealand
LinkedIn
Ian Trust
Executive Chair
Wunan Foundation
Jahna Cedar
Managing Director
Jahna Cedar Consulting
Jasmine Kadic
Managing Director
Benang
Jenni Walke
Founder and Managing Director
Elephant in the Room Consulting
Josh Duke
Partner
Ochre Ventures
Kate Russell
CEO
Supply Nation
Leah Armstrong
Interim Director
ANU Centre for Indigenous Economic Transformation
Richard Tester
Managing Director
Red Invest Capital Holdings
Roanna Edwards
Partner
Yamagigu Consulting
