Nominations open for Supply Nation’s Supplier Diversity Awards
Nominations are now open for Supply Nation’s annual Supplier Diversity Awards.
The Awards honour and recognise businesses, government agencies, not-for-profit organisations and individuals making a significant contribution to supplier diversity and excellence in driving a prosperous and vibrant Indigenous business sector.
A full list of award categories and criteria can be found on the Connect website here:
https://connect.supplynation.org.au/supplier-diversity-awards-2026/
Award categories
- Indigenous Businesswoman of the Year
- Registered Supplier of the Year
- Procurement Professional of the Year
- Government Member of the Year
- Sam Tjengala Reuben Award recognising Young Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year
- Indigenous Exporter of the Year
- Supplier Diversity Partnership of the Year
- Dr Dean Jarrett Award recognising Outstanding Impact
Winners will be announced at the Gala Awards Dinner on Wednesday 12 August as part of Supply Nation’s flagship event Connect on the lands of the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation in Boorloo (Perth).
Supply Nation Indigenous suppliers and corporate, government and not-for-profit member organisations are encouraged to put forward businesses and individuals considered to have achieved excellence in promoting supplier diversity and contributing to the growth of the Indigenous business sector.
Supply Nation CEO Kate Russell.
“Our Supplier Diversity Awards are one of the highlights of our yearly Connect event for the Indigenous business sector and helps to showcase excellence and shine a light on the great things being accomplished,” Kate Russell, proud Awabakal woman and Supply Nation CEO, said.
“The growth of the Indigenous business sector, its contribution to the national economy and the positive social change it is bringing is one of Australia’s great untold stories and should be celebrated.”
“We hope that building more commercial momentum through Connect, we will continue to create growth for Indigenous owned businesses leading to economic empowerment and self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples right across Australia,” said Ms Russell.
Supply Nation’s recently released report The Sleeping Giant Rises found that for every dollar of revenue produced by Indigenous-owned businesses, $3.66 of positive economic and social value was generated into the Australian economy.
Social value refers to the positive changes seen through an Indigenous lens of wellbeing – one that encompasses people, Country, and Culture.
This value includes improved agency and control over life, expanded aspirations, financial security, pride, physical health and mental wellbeing and stronger connections to Community, Culture and Country.
National milestone
Indigenous businesses create this value purely by operating as a business, it excludes any formal or informal support or other philanthropic programs.
In the 2024-25 financial year, Supply Nation’s corporate, government and not-for-profit members achieved a national milestone, recording more than $5.83 billion in procurement spend with Indigenous businesses.
Female-owned Indigenous businesses received over 26 per cenr of this spend, totalling $1.52 billion and highlighting the critical role Indigenous women play in driving economic participation and creating opportunities within communities.
