Following its flagship Connect tradeshow in Sydney, Supply Nation has announced the winners of this year's Supplier Diversity Awards at a gala dinner.
Evolve FM won Supplier of the Year, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet won Government Member of the Year, and Evolve FM won Outstanding Impact of the Year.
Defence was a finalist in the Government Member category.
During a live cross to the event, PM Malcolm Turnbull said that the evening was about “switching the narrative away from despair and deficit to one where you can say that being an Indigenous Australian means that you are successful, innovative, enterprising, realising your dreams and getting ahead.
"Economic empowerment is what this is all about.”
This year over 850 guests attended the event at The Star Event Centre, and celebrated as the winners were revealed. The guests represented a cross-section of the 1,500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses that are listed on Indigenous Business Direct (Supply Nation’s directory) and of Supply Nation’s 347 members.
The Supplier Diversity Awards recognise the most successful organisations to the individuals who are creating change through their own advocacy or business acumen.
Laura Berry, CEO of Supply Nation, welcomed the guests to the Gala Awards Dinner.
“Shaping an inclusive economy is not only the theme of this year’s Connect, it’s also at the heart of everything we do at Supply Nation. We believe that if we all work together we can achieve a more inclusive economy, where all Australians have equal opportunities,” Berry said.
“Supplier diversity is an inclusive practice. Everyone from CEOs to procurement specialists; from start-ups to successful enterprises; from advocates to entrepreneurs with big ideas: must work together to build a truly inclusive economy for all Australians.”
“Tonight is about recognising the organisations and individuals who are leading the way in supplier diversity. Tonight is about identifying and rewarding excellence, so we can continue to set the bar higher," Berry continued .
“The award finalists and winners show us the art of the possible.”