Connect 2025 > Supplier Diversity Awards 2025

Finalists announced for Supply Nation’s 2025 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 2025 Gala Awards Dinner on Thursday 21 August at ICC Sydney on Gadigal Land.

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

Certified Supplier of the Year

Proudly sponsored by: Telstra

This award recognises a Certified 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 2025 finalists are:

Ethan Indigenous 
Developed by the David Liddiard Group in 2018, Ethan Indigenous aims to improve digital literacy capabilities and increase the numbers of Indigenous youth involved in the ICT industry.  
Hardy Fencing Australia 
Hardy Fencing is an Aboriginal-owned fencing and civil construction services company providing employment opportunities for Aboriginal peoples in remote Central Australia. 
Pipeline Talent 
Pipeline Talent is an Aboriginal-owned executive recruitment agency committed to increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation in leadership roles across Australia.  

Supplier Diversity Advocate of the Year

Proudly sponsored by: Department of Industry, Science and Resources

This award recognises an individual from a Supply Nation member business or Indigenous supplier (including sole traders) who has driven supplier diversity growth and development within their business and / or the Indigenous business sector.

The 2025 finalists are:

Amy Crookes 
EY 
Amy Crookes serves as EY's Asia-Pacific ESG Services Leader. She is dedicated to spearheading supplier diversity initiatives and the advancement and empowerment of Indigenous businesses. 
Sam Muir 
Coles Group 
A proud Wiradjuri man, Sam Muir is Coles Group's Indigenous Affairs Manager. Experienced in governance and strategy, Sam advocates for Indigenous participation and supplier diversity. 
Shinead Coleman 
Transport for NSW 
Shinead Coleman is the Procurement Sustainability Manager within Transport for NSW's Finance, Technology and Commercial Division, responsible for integrating supplier diversity outcomes across the procurement portfolio. 

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 2025 finalists are:

BAE Systems Australia 
BAE Systems Australia is a defence and security company, committed to supporting Indigenous businesses and communities through employment, procurement and community consultation opportunities. 
CPB Contractors 
CPB Contractors is Australia’s leading major contractor, collaborating closely with Indigenous businesses to develop sustainable procurement strategies that foster long-term economic opportunities. 
Woolworths Group 
Woolworths Group is Australia’s largest retailer and employer of First Nations people, partnering with Indigenous businesses to create positive economic outcomes for communities.  

Indigenous Businesswoman of the Year

This award recognises a woman-identifying Indigenous business owner who 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 2025 finalists are:

Jadah Pleiter 
Panku Safety Solutions 
Jadah Pleiter is a Palyku Traditional Owner and Director, Founder and CEO of Panku Safety Solutions, a personal protective equipment provider. She has spearheaded the growth and success of the business. 
Nicole Appleton 
NLA Logistics 
Nicole Appleton is the Founder and Director of NLA Logistics, a women-led, Aboriginal-owned trucking company. She drives initiatives that create employment opportunities for women and Indigenous people in the industry. 
Tammy O'Connor 
KingKira Group 
Tammy O'Connor, a proud Nyiyaparli Palyku women, is the Founder and Managing Director of KingKira Group, focusing on sustainable growth, community empowerment, and innovative environmental stewardship. 

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 2025 finalists are:

Jabil Commercial Diving 
Jabil Commercial Diving specialises in underwater construction, maintenance, and inspection services for commercial and industrial sectors. They offer training, mentoring and employment pathways for Indigenous communities. 
Mob Jobs 
Mob Jobs is an Aboriginal-owned recruitment, corporate development, and training service business, founded in response to a critical gap in workplace cultural safety and Indigenous recruitment and retention. 
TVN On-Country 
TVN On-Country is a majority-owned Indigenous enterprise, delivering tailored construction, project management and procurement services. Their vision is to be a driver of generational change for Indigenous people. 

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 2025 finalists are:

Mark Harrington 
CPB Contractors 
Mark Harrington is a Deputy Commercial Director at CPB Contractors, playing a key role in advancing CPB’s supplier diversity efforts and ensuring Indigenous procurement is embedded in the organisation’s strategy.  
Matthew Plichta 
Rio Tinto 
A proud Kungarakan man with 20 years at Rio Tinto, Matthew Plichta is a global leader in supplier diversity, with expertise in operations, strategy, and Indigenous economic empowerment. 
Samuel Hampson 
Sodexo Australia 
Samuel Hampson is the Sourcing Manager for Sodexo Australia's Supply Management Department, driving supplier diversity growth, managing Indigenous supply contracts, and seeking strategic partnerships. 

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 2025 finalists are:

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 
The Department works to enhance and maintain Australia's agricultural, fisheries and forestry industries and is committed to fostering Indigenous entrepreneurship and economic opportunities. 
Department of Defence 
The Department of Defence is a Commonwealth department of state which includes the Australian Defence Force (ADF). They are committed to supporting, promoting and advocating for Indigenous business growth. 
Main Roads Western Australia and the Transport Portfolio Aboriginal Engagement (TPAE) branch 
Main Roads and TPAE work to improve contracting and supply chain opportunities for Aboriginal businesses, supporting employment, business capability, and creating pathways for sustainable economic empowerment.  

Sam Tjengala Reuben Award recognising Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Proudly sponsored by: EY

This award honours the late Sam Tjengala Reuben, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander man and business owner from Townsville, who 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 who 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 its members and Indigenous suppliers.

The 2025 finalists are:

Associate Professor Rick Macourt 
First Nations Economics 
Associate Professor Rick Macourt co-founded First Nations Economics in 2023, providing professional services to partners and using this revenue to fund their scholarships, education programs and pro bono advisory practice. 
Steven Fordham 
Blackrock Industries 
Steven Fordham is the Managing Director of Blackrock Industries, focused on creating pathways to employment for marginalised groups, Indigenous people and incarcerated individuals. 
Tara Croker 
Yaala Sparkling  
Tara Croker, a proud Wiradjuri woman, founded Yaala sparkling, a beverage brand showcasing native botanicals that honour ancient ingredients and knowledge. She is committed to mentoring other women in business. 

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 has demonstrated ongoing engagement with Supply Nation and / or our members and Indigenous suppliers.

The 2025 finalists are:

Complete Business Solutions (Australia) 
Complete Business Solutions is an Indigenous-owned, female-led business empowering remote and regional Indigenous people across Australia and PNG through mentoring, training and business support.  
Kakadu Organics 
Kakadu Organics is an Indigenous-owned business exporting organic food and wellness products infused with native botanicals and a focus on ethical sourcing and cultural integrity. 
WV Technologies 
WV Technologies is an IT lifecycle services company, dedicated to data security, sustainability, innovation and providing employment opportunities to Indigenous at-risk youth.  

Supplier Diversity Partnership of the Year

Proudly sponsored by: ANZ

This award recognises two businesses (Supply Nation Indigenous suppliers [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 2025 finalists are:

ARA Indigenous Services and Woolworths Group 
ARA Indigenous, an Aboriginal-owned cleaning and property maintenance business, is Woolworths Group's top Indigenous supplier by spend, providing services across Woolworth's portfolio and contributing to increased indigenous employment. 
Djinda Produce and Cater Care Group 
Djinda Produce, an Aboriginal-owned fresh produce supplier, and Cater Care Group, a catering and facilities services provider, partnered together based on mutual values of sustainability, ethical sourcing and Indigenous empowerment.  
MobReady and Ventia 
Ventia, a leading provider of infrastructure services, partnered with Aboriginal-owned group training organisation MobReady, to deliver successful employment of Indigenous apprentices and trainees across major projects. 

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.