On Monday 29 August 2022, the current and operational Indigenous Chambers of Commerce and Industry from across the Nation met on Ngunnawal country to unite as a collective for the ‘Rise of the Blak Economy’.
Together, we committed to collaboration, to impact, and to unite and form a national peak body.
Representing thousands of majority owned Indigenous business members across the nation, the Indigenous Chambers, as a collective, is the authority on Indigenous business and economic development. With a grassroots and placed-based approach, our Chambers reflect Indigenous decision‑making and sovereignty.
The collective confirmed our definition of an Indigenous Business to be majority owned, managed and controlled – 51% or greater. This will be applied across the nation, and we call for Government and Corporates to adopt this definition. We have declared that cultural protocols are central to everything we do.
We have committed to action and will meet again in Darwin, on Larrakia Country during Indigenous Business month from 11-13 of October. We have established a Working Group to consider an appropriate constitution and at this meeting we will elect our representative Board and governance structure moving forward. At this critical meeting we will declare our national priorities for Indigenous economic reform.
As the only self-determining Indigenous-owned, Indigenous-led, and elected Indigenous representative body, the national peak body will be the authentic and legitimate authority in this space.
We will be unapologetic in our mission to create impact. We welcome the opportunity to partner with Government and Industry to support our sovereign approach that will Close the Gap for our people.
For more information, please contact Naomi Anstess on 0400 397 664 or email naomia@ntibn.com.au.
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About the Goldfields Aboriginal Business Chamber Inc (GABC)
The GABC was formed in 2020 with a vision to support Aboriginal businesses to gain visibility and participate in the regional economy of the Goldfields region. The GABC emerged from industry feedback of the lack of visibility of Aboriginal businesses, the barriers experienced by Aboriginal businesses in engaging in commercial opportunities, and the communities desire to define their own narrative on Aboriginal business matters.
The goals of the GABC are to:
- Connect industry directly to Traditional Owner businesses, local Aboriginal businesses and authentic Aboriginal businesses
- Improved the visibility and networks of Aboriginal businesses
- Strengthen relationships between local Aboriginal business in the Goldfields region
- Champion Aboriginal business participation in the Goldfields by creating commercial opportunities through relationships and engagement with industry and government
- Develop and raise awareness of local Aboriginal businesses strength and capabilities.
For further information about the GABC, please contact Elaine Jolliffe on 9093 2214 or email enquiries@gab.org.au