This October, Indigenous Business Month will celebrate five years of showcasing the talent and depth of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entrepreneurs from a variety of business sectors.

The events aims to ignite conversations about Indigenous business development and innovation focusing on this year’s theme Indigenous Ingenuity.

Lead by Elders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been creating new and clever ways of doing things for thousands of years.

Ingenuity is seen in the many Indigenous businesses around the country from urban, regional and remote locations. It is seen in each and every Indigenous business owner, working hard to build financial independence, and it shines through the many hard-working family businesses balancing business demands in the context of family and community life, creating a legacy of success. For young Indigenous entrepreneurs, ingenuity radiates in contributions of innovation and creation that inspire us all.

Last year, an unprecedented forty Indigenous Business Month events were held, including for the first time an international event in New Zealand. Event numbers are expected to increase again this year, reflective of the Indigenous business sector being one of the fastest growing sectors in Australia and also due to the inclusion of the Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP) expansion in the 2019 – 20 Federal budget.

Jason Eades, Chief Executive officer, Welcome to Country and Indigenous Business Month 2019 host said, “I am proud to be part of Indigenous Business Month since its inception in 2014. It is inspiring to see the events be embraced across Australia and hear about the amazing achievements of Indigenous Business owners throughout the years. This milestone is a testimony that Indigenous businesses are thriving, and our ingenuity is having a large impact on the growth of the Australian economy.”

Indigenous Business Month is an initiative driven by the alumni of Melbourne Business School’s MURRA Indigenous Business Master Class, who see business as a way of providing positive role models for young Indigenous Australians and improving the quality of life in Indigenous communities.

“Indigenous Business Month has established itself to be the premiere business event of the year not only for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entrepreneurs, but also for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders considering business as a career and want to be part of this community,” Eades said.

This year’s theme Indigenous Ingenuity celebrates the continued growth and success of the Indigenous Businesses sector. Ingenuity is the heart of how Indigenous entrepreneurs bring their cultural knowledge to solving problems and finding original solutions that lead to business opportunities. It’s no wonder the Indigenous business sector is booming”, said Michelle Evans, MURRA Program Director and Associate Professor of Leadership at the University of Melbourne.

Indigenous Business Month runs from October 1 to October 31.