Connect is Supply Nation’s annual flagship event for the Indigenous business sector. The event brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses, corporate organisations and government departments to foster strategic opportunities and celebrate supplier diversity excellence.

Indigenous businesses and attendees from some of Australia’s leading organisations will gather on Gadigal Land to conduct business, learn, engage and celebrate at Connect 2025.

Connect 2025 will take place on Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 August 2025 on Gadigal Land at ICC Sydney. 

Stay up to date via the Connect website. You can also sign up for Connect updates using the form at the bottom of this webpage or follow our social media channels, so you don’t miss important event announcements. 

Connect tickets will go on sale in late March 2025. 

The official theme for Connect 2025 is ‘Beyond the Horizon’. Returning to Gadigal Land (Sydney) with strength, purpose and vision. After celebrating 15 years of Supply Nation, we look to where land, sea and sky meet – ready to break new ground and shape the future of Indigenous business.

Wednesday 20 August 2025 

Knowledge Forum | 8:30am – 4:30pm
Knowledge Forum Networking Reception* | 4:30pm – 6:30pm
*Access to the Networking Reception is exclusive to Knowledge Forum ticket holders only.  

Thursday 21 August 2025 

Indigenous Business Tradeshow | 8:30am – 3:30pm
Gala Awards Dinner | 6pm – late

No. You can purchase individual tickets for each day of Connect 2025. The Two-Day Pass includes access to the Knowledge Forum, Networking Reception and Tradeshow. 

The Gala Awards Dinner is not included in any other ticket type, this must be bought as a single ticket as the Gala Awards Dinner tickets do not grant access to any other part of Connect 2025.

The Connect 2025 app will be available in the lead up to the event. The web-based app will include the event program and schedule, participating businesses, sponsors and important information. 

Children under 12 years are welcome to attend the Indigenous Business Tradeshow only on Thursday 21 August 2025 and must be accompanied by a paying adult. Children will not be permitted entry to the Knowledge Forum and Networking Reception, and Gala Awards Dinner, where alcohol is served. 

Nominations for the Supplier Diversity Awards 2025 are open. Visit this page to learn more and start your nomination.  

Nominations close at 11:59pm AEST, Sunday 6 April 2025. 

The Supplier Diversity Award finalists will be announced online in June 2025. 

The Supplier Diversity Award winners will be announced at the Connect 2025 Gala Awards Dinner on Thursday 21 August 2025 at ICC Sydney on Gadigal Land. 

If an individual or organisation won an award in 2023 or 2024, they are not eligible to be nominated for the same category in 2025. Please note criteria and weightings can change over time so there is no guarantee that the same individual or organisation will be a finalist or win in different years.  

Nominations for each category are reviewed by an independent judging panel and scored against the published criteria. The top three entries in each category are declared ’finalists’ and the recipient of the highest score is declared the ‘winner.’ 

For each category, the judges review the list of nominees and declare any conflict of interest. They are then recused from judging that category. A minimum quorum of two judges must judge each category. 

The judges’ decisions are final, and no correspondence or discussion will be entered into after the judging. Due to the number of entries and privacy reasons we are unable to give feedback on why an entry has not been included as a finalist or winner. 

The entire judging process is audited by BDO, a global audit firm, to ensure a fair and balanced process is adhered to. 

No. It is not possible for individuals and organisations to win multiple awards outside of the Dr Dean Jarrett Award. Each category is judged separately. 

The winner of the Dr Dean Jarrett Award recognising Outstanding Impact is selected from the finalists of all other award categories. 

As part of the nomination process, entrants are required to upload content to the awards platform. The materials provided may be used for marketing purposes to promote finalists or winners unless otherwise specified. 

Finalists must not disclose the outcome of their nomination to anyone (including Supply Nation staff) until the official, public announcement is made. 

All finalists are strongly encouraged to: 

• Purchase ticket/s to the Gala Awards Dinner 
• Prepare a 30 second speech in the event that they win 

Yes. Sponsors may enter a category that they do not sponsor. 

To express your interest in sponsoring the 2025 Supplier Diversity Awards, contact us at sponsorship@supplynation.org.au.

Visit the Tickets page to select your ticket type and proceed to the registration platform. 

Discounted tickets are exclusive to Supply Nation Registered and Certified Indigenous businesses and corporate and government members. Codes can be applied to all ticket categories except exhibitor booth tickets. 

On the ticket registration platform, suppliers and members must add the discount code to each individual ticket in their order before finalising their purchase e.g. group of 5 will require the same code entered on 5 tickets.

The Indigenous Business Tradeshow on Thursday 21 August is the only event with tickets available on the day (unless sold out prior). You will be able to purchase tickets outside the Tradeshow Halls at full price, no discounts are available on the day. 

The Knowledge Forum brings together pioneers of supplier diversity with leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entrepreneurs and business voices – creating a space for important conversations relevant to the Indigenous business sector and the broader Australian landscape. 

The Gala Awards Dinner brings together the Indigenous business sector in recognition of the achievements of outstanding individuals and organisations through the Supplier Diversity Awards. Guests will gather to celebrate the success of the supplier diversity community with live performances from First Nations artists. 

The Gala Awards Dinner includes networking and photo opportunities on arrival, official opening and Welcome to Country, three-course meal, announcements of the Supplier Diversity Awards winners, as well as incredible live performances from First Nations artists. 

The Indigenous Business Tradeshow provides the opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses to showcase the calibre, diversity and vibrancy of their products and services to some of Australia’s leading corporate organisations and government departments. The Tradeshow is a hub where passionate entrepreneurs and buyers from across the country will come together to conduct business, engage and learn. 

All Tradeshow exhibitors must be Supply Nation Registered or Certified Indigenous businesses. 

There is no cost for Indigenous businesses to become registered or apply for certification. Supply Nation Indigenous businesses receive access to discounted tickets to Connect. If you are interested in registration, contact our team here. 

Exhibitor booth tickets for the Tradeshow can be purchased here.

Supply Nation is committed to keeping costs as low as possible for Registered and Certified Indigenous businesses. We offer an exclusive discount code which can be found in the supplier portal. This code can only be applied to the Attendee form, as all Exhibitor tickets are already discounted.

No, booths are exclusively for Supply Nation Registered or Certified Indigenous businesses. Members that are interested in participating at the Connect 2025 Tradeshow may do so by securing attendee tickets, purchasing an activation space or by sponsoring the event. If you are interested in sponsoring, email us. 

In the lead up to Connect, a list of exhibitors, including an industry / sector breakdown, will be shared with ticket holders and available in the event app. 

The Tradeshow floorplan will be shared with ticket holders and on the event app in the lead up to the event. 

There are three exhibitor booth sizes available: 

• First-time exhibitor booths (2m x 2m or 4m2) – only available to businesses who have never exhibited at Connect before 
• Standard exhibitor booths (3m x 3m or 9m2) 
• Large exhibitor booths (6m x 3m or 18m2) 

Supply Nation cannot accommodate any bespoke requests for booth sizing or combine booths together. 

• $510 – First-time exhibitor booths (2m x 2m or 4m2) 
• $815 – Standard exhibitor booths (3m x 3m or 9m2) 
• $1,320 – Large exhibitor booths (6m x 3m or 18m2)  

All exhibitor booth tickets include two team members to staff your booth, two exhibitor lunch boxes, wall panelling, lighting, power and fascia signage with your business name. Staff names will be confirmed at a later date once

You will need to opt in at the time of purchase to take advantage of a free furniture package for your booth – one trestle table, one black tablecloth and two chairs. 

Each exhibitor booth includes two staff tickets. Staff names and any Additional Exhibitor Staff (max two per booth) ticket purchases, to be confirmed once exhibitor booths have been approved.

No, business details for all exhibitors must match their profile on Supply Nation’s Indigenous Business Direct. This information will be verified and cannot be modified. 

Exhibitor registrations are restricted to one booth per ABN registered on Indigenous Business Direct. 

Exhibitors may not reserve multiple booths or combine booths under a single business entity. Should business owners desire to exhibit multiple businesses listed on Indigenous Business Direct, they will need to register and pay for these separately. 

Exhibitors are authorised to bring food and beverage samples, as long as approval is obtained from ICC Sydney before the event.  Exhibitors without prior approval will not be able to provide samples. Once permission has been granted, exhibitors must comply with legislative requirements, including acquiring a Temporary Food Stall licence from City of Sydney Council. Please note the conditions of supply of liquor are governed by Liquor and Gaming NSW. The sampling activity must be the core business of the exhibitor, either demonstrating a food product or equipment. 

Exhibitors: 

• All exhibitor booth ticket registrations close on Wednesday 4 June 2025 (unless sold out prior) 
• All exhibitor staff attendee ticket registration close on Wednesday 4 June 2025 (unless sold out prior) 

Attendees: 

• All final names for attendee tickets across the Tradeshow and Gala Awards Dinner must be amended / entered into your ticket registration order by Monday 28 July 2025 

Yes, hot and cold food, beverages and coffee will be available to purchase within the Tradeshow Hall. 

Only exhibitors and select sponsors are permitted to distribute marketing or promotional materials, in line with their agreements. Non-exhibitors and the general public are not authorised to share promotional materials with attendees on the Tradeshow floor. 

ICC Sydney is located in Darling Harbour at 14 Darling Drive, Sydney NSW 2000. 

View the venue entrance and levels map here. 

Exhibitor access (including bump in/out) will be included in your Exhibitor Manual. 

Transport to ICC Sydney: 

• Taxi / rideshare drop off: Iron Wharf Place or Zollner Circuit, both accessed via Darling Drive. 
• Bus: routes 389 and 501 stop near the venue on Harris Street. 
• Ferry: Closest stops are Barangaroo Wharf or Pyrmont Bay Wharf. 
• Light rail: Closest stops are Convention and Exhibition Centre. 
• Metro: Closest stops are Central and Gadigal. 
• Train: Closest stops are Town Hall and Central. 

The venue has two car parks: Exhibition Centre (Car Park 1) and ICC Sydney Theatre (Car Park 2). Direct lift access to the event spaces is available. View ICC Sydney parking information and rates here. 

Nearby car parks include Wilson Harbourside Car Park and First Parking Darling Square. 

Supply Nation is not able to recommend businesses to ICC Sydney for Connect 2025. As part of the venue’s agreement, only ICC Sydney management and its representatives are entitled to bring into, provide or sell food and/or beverages inside the event space.

The following accommodation options are within walking distance of ICC Sydney:  

• Aiden Hotel | 45 Murray St, Pyrmont NSW 2009 | aidendarlingharbour.com.au  
• Furama Darling Harbour | 68 Harbour St, Haymarket NSW 2000 | furama.com  
• Hotel Woolstore 1888 | 139 Murray St, Pyrmont NSW 2009 | all.accor.com  
• Hyatt Regency Sydney | 161 Sussex St, Sydney NSW 2000 | hyatt.com  
• Kith Hotel Darling Harbour | 131-133 Murray St, Pyrmont NSW 2009 | kithhotel.com  
• Meriton Suites Sussex Street | 234 Sussex St, Sydney NSW 2000 | meritonsuites.com.au  
• Novotel Sydney Darling Harbour | 100 Murray St, Pyrmont NSW 2000 | all.accor.com  
• Novotel Sydney Darling Square | 17 Little Pier St, Darling Harbour NSW 2000 | all.accor.com  
• Parkroyal Darling Harbour | 150 Day St, Sydney NSW 2000 | panpacific.com  
• Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour | 12 Darling Dr, Sydney NSW 2000 | sofitel.accor.com  
• The Capitol Hotel | 730/742 George St, Haymarket NSW 2000 | thecapitolhotelsydney.com  
• W Sydney | 31 Wheat Rd, Sydney NSW 2000 | marriott.com 

Yes, see next FAQ section for more details. 

Yes, please refer to ICC Sydney’s accessibility and inclusion information here. 

a. In the event of a cancellation by you, and subject to clause (b) below, the following applicable cancellation fee will apply:

i. Cancellation notified more than 28 days prior to the event – Nil cancellation fee. Full refund applied (including GST, excluding booking fee).

ii. Cancellation notified 28 days or less, prior to the event – 100% of the total amount of event fees paid (including GST). No refund applied.

b. All cancellations must be made in writing to Supply Nation. The effective date of cancellation is the date the cancellation notification is received by Supply Nation.

c. Supply Nation reserves the right to make changes to the corporate event program at any time. Should Supply Nation postpone the event due to unforeseen circumstances, Registrants will not be entitled to a refund and such fees paid will be applied to the rescheduled corporate event unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Registrant.

Full T&C’s can be found here.

We understand that circumstances arise that may prevent you from attending or exhibiting at Connect 2025, including illness, family emergencies, natural disasters or Sorry Business. 

Attendees and exhibitors can cancel their tickets any time before 12:00am Tuesday 1 July 2025 without penalty (7 weeks before the event). Tickets cancelled after this date will be subjected to a cancellation fee, as per our event terms and conditions. 

All Connect sponsors must be Supply Nation corporate, government or non-profit members, or Registered / Certified Indigenous businesses. To express your interest in sponsoring, contact us.