Supplier Diversity How Launches in WA

IPS Managing Director Kristal Kinsela-Christie spoke with Aboriginal Girls Academy students at Newton Moore Senior High School in Bunbury, WA, on June 26.
 
Kristal spoke with the girls about her new book, her journey, and the growing opportunities for aspiring young Aboriginal businesswomen and entrepreneurs.
 
The talk was a part of the official WA launch of her book Supplier Diversity How, the first book to be published in Australia on the topic of Supplier Diversity in an Australian context. It shares Kristal’s learnings over many years in running successful Indigenous businesses, and the challenges in opening doors to opportunities with state and federal governments and corporate clients. 

Kristal Kinsela-Christie speaks girls from Newton Moore Senior High School's Aboriginal Girls Academy. 
Photo: Nicole Salmeri | South Western Times

​The book’s launch coincides with an acute focus on policy to support Aboriginal business growth:

• WA’s Aboriginal Procurement Policy is about to kick over its first year, with procurement targets for Government departments and agencies set to double on July 1 2019.

 

• A range of new initiatives in WA to boost the sector, including plans to launch a state-wide education and training program for Aboriginal businesses.

 

• Changes to the Federal Government’s Indigenous Procurement Policy to increase actual dollars spent with Indigenous businesses, not just number of contracts.

 
There are now 634 Aboriginal businesses registered with the WA Aboriginal Business Directory, up from about 410 in 2017. Of those the majority (342) are in regional WA, with 32 of those in the South West.
 
“As an Aboriginal woman and business owner, I live and breathe supplier diversity every day,” Ms Kinsela-Christie said.
 
“Supplier diversity in Australia provides an opportunity to level the playing field and open up opportunities for Indigenous business.
 
“It also provides an opportunity for Indigenous people as business owners to own their destiny, to have true self determination and to create businesses that can service and support a community.
 
“Indigenous businesses are so important to our economy. They are 100 times more likely to employ and retain Indigenous employees. For every dollar spent with an Indigenous business, $4.40 is injected into Indigenous communities.”

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Supplier Diversity How lays out invaluable strategies to support government and corporate buyers in procuring Indigenous business, and supporting in their turn a prosperous Indigenous business sector.

You can find out more or purchase here.

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