Supply Nation’s Supplier Diversity Awards recognise companies, government agencies and individuals who are helping create a prosperous, vibrant and sustainable Indigenous business sector.
Last year, we were proud to launch two newly recognised award categories in honour of two individuals who made tremendous contributions to their communities and to the growth of the sector.
- Sam Tjengala Reuben Award recognising Young Entrepreneur of the Year
- Dr Dean Jarrett Award recognising Outstanding Impact
Award finalists will be announced ahead of our flagship event Connect 2023. All finalists will be notified prior to any official announcement. Award winners will be announced at the Connect 2023 Gala Awards Dinner on Tuesday 8 August 2023 at the ICC Sydney, Gadigal Land.
We encourage you to nominate yourself or your organisation for the incredible work that you are doing within the Indigenous business sector. This is your opportunity to be recognised for your achievements and celebrate your success alongside your team, business partners, peers, family and community.
Important note: if you / your organisation has won in an award category within the past two years (2021 or 2022), you are not eligible to be nominated for the same award category in 2023.
All awards are judged by an independent judging panel and audited by an independent audit firm.
If you are interested in becoming an award sponsor, please email us today.
| Award nominations open | Monday 6 March 2023 |  |
|---|---|---|
| Award nominations close | Friday 2 June 2023 | |
| Award winners announced | Tuesday 8 August 2023 |
Corporate Member of the Year
This award recognises a corporate member that has demonstrated exceptional commitment and leadership and driven significant growth in supplier diversity.
The winner will have:
- Developed a strong procurement program with Supply Nation Indigenous businesses.
- Demonstrated supplier diversity growth over the 2021 – 2022 calendar years.
- Demonstrated growth in procurement spend with Supply Nation Indigenous businesses over the 2021 – 2022 calendar years (will be verified against SpendTracker).
- Engaged in supplier diversity leadership and advocacy.
- Shown leadership in supplier development and capacity building.
- Demonstrated commitment to building a prosperous, vibrant and sustainable Indigenous business sector.
To view the full criteria and questions, click here.
Government Member of the Year
This award recognises a government member that has demonstrated exceptional commitment, engagement and leadership in supplier diversity and driven significant growth in the Indigenous business sector.
The winner will have:
- Developed, influenced and / or implemented a policy, project or initiative that has had a demonstrated impact on the sector in 2021 – 2022.
- Demonstrated commitment to building a prosperous, vibrant and sustainable Indigenous business sector.
- Demonstrated growth in procurement spend (direct or indirect) with Supply Nation Indigenous businesses over the last two calendar years (2021 – 2022). Federal Government members will be verified against Slice of Pie, all other members will be verified against SpendTracker.
To view the full criteria and questions, click here.
Certified Supplier of the Year
This award recognises a Certified Supplier that has driven significant growth in their business and has demonstrated ongoing engagement with Supply Nation and / or our members. This award is open to current Supply Nation Certified Suppliers (including sole traders) that are listed on Indigenous Business Direct.
The winner will have:
- A well-articulated and active strategy to sustainably embed their organisation in the supply chains of Supply Nation member organisations and / or Supply Nation Indigenous businesses.
- Demonstrated increased business engagements with Supply Nation members and/ or Supply Nation Indigenous businesses.
- Demonstrated activity in building and promoting long-term relationships with fellow Supply Nation Indigenous businesses, members and / or advocates of supplier diversity.
- Demonstrated organisational growth e.g. increased revenue / employment .
- Demonstrated commitment to building a prosperous, vibrant and sustainable Indigenous business sector.
To view the full criteria and questions, click here.
Registered Supplier of the Year
This award recognises a Registered Supplier (including sole traders) listed on Indigenous Business Direct that has driven significant growth in their business and has demonstrated ongoing engagement with Supply Nation and / or our members.
The winner will have:
- A well-articulated and active strategy to sustainably embed their organisation in the supply chains of Supply Nation member organisations and / or Supply Nation Indigenous businesses.
- Demonstrated increased business engagements with Supply Nation members and/ or Supply Nation Indigenous businesses.
- Demonstrated activity in building and promoting long-term relationships with fellow Supply Nation Indigenous businesses, Supply Nation members and / or advocates of supplier diversity.
- Demonstrated organisational growth e.g. increased revenue / employment.
- Demonstrated commitment to building a prosperous, vibrant and sustainable Indigenous business sector.
To view the full criteria and questions, click here.
Procurement Professional of the Year
This award recognises an individual who works within the procurement department of a Supply Nation member organisation and has driven significant growth in sustainable supplier diversity through their organisation's supply chain.
The winner will have:
- Demonstrated success in supplier diversity leadership and advocacy within their organisation and the wider sector.
- Demonstrated growth in procurement spend with Supply Nation Indigenous businesses in 2021 and 2022 (verified against SpendTracker).
- Demonstrated supplier diversity growth over the last two calendar years (2021 – 2022).
- Demonstrated success in implementing sustainable approaches that drive supplier diversity in the organisation’s supply chain.
- Demonstrated commitment to building a prosperous, vibrant and sustainable Indigenous business sector.
To view the full criteria and questions, click here.
Supplier Diversity Advocate of the Year
This award recognises an individual from a member organisation or Indigenous business (including sole traders) that has driven supplier diversity growth and development within their organisation and/ or the Indigenous business sector.
The winner will have:
- Led their organisation and / or the wider sector as a champion of supplier diversity, working to develop and strengthen networks to support supplier diversity both internally and externally.
- Demonstrated outcomes in supplier diversity over the last two calendar years (2021 – 2022).
- Influenced, developed and / or implemented procurement guidelines and/ or strategies to ensure that supplier diversity programs are sustainably embedded within their own or other organisations.
- Demonstrated commitment to building a prosperous, vibrant and sustainable Indigenous business sector.
To view the full criteria and questions, click here.
Supplier Diversity Partnership of the Year
This award recognises two organisations (Supply Nation Indigenous businesses [including sole traders] and / or members) that have worked in partnership to contribute to the growth of the sector and / or specific Indigenous businesses. Such partnerships can include mentoring, programs, consortia bids and / or strategic alliances.
The winner will have:
- Developed a successful venture with demonstrated growth either for the partnership and / or both parties and / or the Indigenous business sector.
- Demonstrated shared goals, risk and vision between the parties.
- Provided an example to others in developing strong partnerships.
- Demonstrated commitment to building a prosperous, vibrant and sustainable Indigenous business sector.
To view the full criteria and questions, click here.
Indigenous Businesswoman of the Year
This award recognises a female-identifying Indigenous business owner that has driven significant and sustainable growth in her business and has demonstrated ongoing engagement with Supply Nation and / or our members and Indigenous businesses.
The winner will:
- Identify as an Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander woman.
- Be the owner of a business listed on Indigenous Business Direct that has been in operation for at least three years as of 1 January 2023 (ie. from 1 January 2020).
- Demonstrate business acumen.
- Demonstrate increased business engagements with Supply Nation members and / or Supply Nation Indigenous businesses.
- Demonstrate business growth.
- Demonstrate commitment to building a prosperous, vibrant and sustainable Indigenous business sector.
To view the full criteria and questions, click here.
Sam Tjengala Reuben Award recognising Young Entrepreneur of the Year
This award honours the late Sam Tjengala Reuben. Sam, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander man and business owner from Townsville, sadly passed away in 2019. Sam was a proud leader in his community and was a valued member of Supply Nation’s inaugural Indigenous Business Advisory Group.
This award recognises a young Indigenous entrepreneur that has successfully brought their business idea to fruition, can demonstrate the potential for significant growth in the years to come and has demonstrated ongoing engagement with Supply Nation and / or our members and Indigenous businesses.
The winner will:
- Identify as an Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander person under 35 years old as at 1 December 2022.
- Be the owner and founder / co-founder of a business listed on Indigenous Business Direct that has been in operation for at least one year as of 1 January 2023 (ie. from 1 January 2022 or earlier).
- Demonstrate business acumen.
- Demonstrate business growth.
- Identify and meet a need / gap in the market.
- Demonstrate commitment to building a prosperous, vibrant and sustainable Indigenous business sector.
To view the full criteria and questions, click here.
Indigenous Exporter of the Year
This award recognises an Indigenous business (including sole traders) that is successfully operating within the export market; can demonstrate potential for future export growth and that has demonstrated ongoing engagement with Supply Nation and / or our members and Indigenous businesses.
The winner will:
- Be a Registered or Certified Supplier listed on Indigenous Business Direct.
- Have demonstrated sustainable export trade.
- Demonstrate business acumen.
- Demonstrate commitment to ongoing international business.
- Demonstrated commitment to building a prosperous, vibrant and sustainable Indigenous business sector.
To view the full criteria and questions, click here.
Dr Dean Jarrett Award recognising Outstanding Impact
This award honours the late Dr. Dean Jarrett, who sadly passed away in 2021. Dean was a proud Gumbaynggirr/Goreng Goreng/Punthamara man who worked as an academic-practitioner based at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Business School and was a valued member of the Supply Nation Board.
This award recognises an organisation or individual that has made an outstanding impact on supplier diversity and / or the growth of the Indigenous business sector.
The winner is selected from the finalists of all other award categories. The achievements and efforts of the winning organisation or individual illustrate the potential to drive growth and achieve a truly prosperous, vibrant and sustainable Indigenous business sector.
