Connect 2024 > Supplier Diversity Awards 2024

Finalists announced for Supply Nation’s 2024 Supplier Diversity Awards

The Supplier Diversity Awards recognise companies, government agencies and individuals making outstanding contributions to the Indigenous business sector.

Award winners will be announced at the Connect 2024 Gala Awards Dinner on Thursday August 29 at the Brisbane Convention Centre, on the lands of the Turrbal and Jagera peoples in Meanjin.

All awards are judged by an independent judging panel and audited by an independent audit firm.

Nominations open Tuesday 20 February 2024
Nominations close Friday 22 March 2024
Finalists announced Tuesday 21 May 2024
Winners announced Thursday 29 August 2024

Certified Supplier of the Year

Proudly sponsored by: Telstra

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 2024 finalists are:

Barpa Construction Services 
Barpa is a proud and dynamic Indigenous construction company. With advanced construction capabilites, they manage projects in various industry sectors, across 9 offices nationally. 
Corporate Culcha 
Corporate Culcha is an agile First Nations workforce and community development company. They collaborate with clients to establish culturally appropriate programs to align with business objectives. 
Killara Services 
Founded in 2017, Killara Services has emerged as Australia’s premier Aboriginal cleaning and maintenance company. Killara's vision is to become the leading employer of First Nations people in the soft services industry.  

Supplier Diversity Advocate of the Year

Proudly sponsored by: AusIndustry

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 2024 finalists are:

Amanda Inman 
Laing O’Rourke 
Amanda Inman has worked in Aboriginal health and engagement since 2002. She leads Aboriginal participation for Laing O’Rourke’s WA projects, focusing on inclusive, sustainable procurement strategies. 
Jenni Walke 
Elephant in the Room Consulting  
Jenni Walke, a Bundjalung woman and founder of Elephant in the Room Consulting, blends her heritage with over 25 years of experience to champion sustainable, inclusive business practices and innovative problem-solving. 
Simon Nash 
ANZ Banking Group 
A seasoned procurement specialist at ANZ, Simon Nash focuses on ESG activities and sustainable procurement initiatives, including action on modern slavery, diverse suppliers and environmental impacts. 

Corporate Member of the Year

Proudly sponsored by: Ethan Indigenous

This award recognises a corporate member that has demonstrated exceptional commitment and leadership and driven significant growth in supplier diversity.

The 2024 finalists are:

Boeing Defence Australia 
For over 96 years, Boeing has been part of the fabric of Australia’s aerospace industry. Boeing Defence Australia taps into the resources and experience of the world’s largest aerospace company to build Australia's sovereign capability. 
Fulton Hogan 
Fulton Hogan delivers high-quality, resilient infrastructure to improve the lives of people in Australia and New Zealand. They work in every kind of weather, creating, connecting, and caring for communities. 
Laing O’Rourke 
Laing O’Rourke is a global engineering enterprise with 70+ years of involvement in Australian construction and infrastructure, delivering projects across rail, defence, roads, energy, landmark buildings and transport. 

Indigenous Businesswoman of the Year

Proudly sponsored by: Westpac

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 2024 finalists are:

Ashley Carroll 
Alkira Fuel 
Ashley Carroll is Alkira Fuel’s National Marketing Director. Her experience encompasses mentoring, community engagement, IPP compliance collaboration, and ensuring substantial indigenous involvement. 
Carol Vale 
Murawin  
Carol Vale is a Dunghutti entrepreneur, businesswoman, CEO and Co-Founder of Murawin. Her passion, determination and commitment have driven her 40-year career as a specialist in intercultural consultation, facilitation and participatory engagement. 
Dr Karen Demmery 
Burbirra 
Dr. Karen Demmery is the CEO of Burbirra, and distinguished specialist renowned for her innovative training programs in Cultural Awareness, Mental Health First Aid, and professional development. Her initiatives in Trauma and Healing have been pivotal in addressing generational trauma. 

Registered Supplier of the Year

Proudly sponsored by: BP

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 2024 finalists are:

Cedrent Enterprises 
Cedrent Enterprises is a majority-owned Aboriginal car hire company operating the Enterprise Rent-A-Car brand in the Northern Territory, Regional South Australia and the Pilbara. 
Goanna Academy 
The Goanna Academy is an Aboriginal-owned preventive mental health education organisation. Their mission is to reshape lives and disrupt the cycle of poor mental health in youth, adults and Indigenous communities. 
Printing with Purpose 
With over 30 years of combined experience, Printing with Purpose is an Aboriginal female-owned and managed printing manufacturing firm dedicated to making a positive impact. 

Procurement Professional of the Year

Proudly sponsored by: Killara Services

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 2024 finalists are:

Ben Leslie 
Lendlease  
Proud Gamilaraay man Ben Leslie is passionate about educating others on advancing supplier diversity and supporting social and economic outcomes for First Nations communities across Australia. 
Ramon Dobb 
Fulton Hogan  
Ramon Dobb is a supplier diversity advocate who is passionate about creating opportunities for Indigenous businesses and social enterprises to provide goods and services across Fulton Hogan’s operations and projects. 
Ryan Sims 
Laing O’Rourke 
With over 20 years’ experience in contract and commercial management, Ryan Sims guides the work winning and project teams across a variety of industry sectors at Laing O’Rourke. 

Government Member of the Year

Proudly sponsored by: Laing O’Rourke

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 2024 finalists are:

Airservices Australia 
Airservices Australia is a government owned organisation managing 11% of the world’s airspace, and providing safe, secure, efficient, and environmentally responsible services to the aviation industry.  
The University of Sydney 
The University of Sydney, established in 1850, is a public research institution renowned globally for academic excellence, contributions to research, cultural diversity, and educational offerings spanning arts, sciences, medicine and engineering. 
Transport for NSW 
Transport for NSW operate with the purpose of making NSW a better place to live, work and visit. Transport is spending billions of dollars delivering infrastructure and procuring goods and services, with a focus on supporting the First Nations economy. 

Sam Tjengala Reuben Award recognising Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Proudly sponsored by: EY

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 2024 finalists are:

Jacob Gabriel 
First Transport  
Potawurtj Padthaway man Jacob Gabriel is the Co-Founder of First Transport, an Aboriginal-owned-and-led transport company. Growing First Transport's fleet from 1 to 13 trucks, Jacob has also founded First Nations Security and Padthaway GAVS Integrated Services. 
Jasmine Newman 
Killara Services 
Proud Wiradjuri woman Jasmine Newman is the Founder and Managing Director of Killara Services. She draws inspiration from over 50 years of family advocacy for equal access to education and employment for Aboriginal Australians. 
Tyson Hubbard 
Allpro Plumbing Solutions 
Tyson Hubbard, a graduate of the Indigenous Plumbing Apprenticeship program, founded Allpro Plumbing Solutions, which has grown into a thriving business with a dedicated team and robust project portfolio. 

Indigenous Exporter of the Year

Proudly sponsored by: Austrade

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 2024 finalists are:

Elephant in the Room Consulting 
Founded by Jenni Walke, a proud Bundjalung woman, Elephant in the Room Consulting specialises in leadership development and strategic consultancy, aiming to create lasting societal impacts through business innovation and sustainability. 
LassWho  
LassWho is a global speaker marketplace that allows you to instantly find, compare and book speakers for one-to-ones, small groups and corporate events. 
Munda Wines  
Munda Wines is a pioneer in Australia's wine sector. Named after the Wirangu and Kokatha word for land or country, Munda produces fine wines that promote language and start conversations one glass at a time. 

Supplier Diversity Partnership of the Year

Proudly sponsored by: ANZ

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 2024 finalists are:

Assetlink Indigenous Services (AIS) and Cushman & Wakefield (C&W) 
Through their partnership, commercial cleaning and facilities management company AIS has achieved 25% business growth, transitioned 515 sites, and strengthened Indigenous employment, with Global real estate firm C&W signifcantly increasing diversity spend and showcasing the benefits of Indigenous engagement. 
Brindabella Resources and Fortescue  
The partnership between Brindabella, an Indigenous essential services contractor, and global iron-ore leader Fortescue, has set a remarkable precedent in the mining sector; growing a comprehensive network of bus services and qualified drivers at operational sites. 
Kooya Fleet Solutions and Telstra 
The partnership between Telstra and Aboriginal-owned, fleet, finance and salary packaging company Kooya Fleet Solutions has grown from 20 vehicles in regional WA in 2018, to over 1,400 vehicles nationwide, with a cumulative expenditure surpassing $15million.  

Dr Dean Jarrett Award recognising Outstanding Impact

Proudly sponsored by: UGL

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.