Five years of strengthening Indigenous Business communities

Five years ago, the Dilin Duwa Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership was established to advance meaningful change in Indigenous business communities through education, research and engagement.

Five years ago, the Dilin Duwa Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership was established to advance meaningful change in Indigenous business communities through education, research and engagement. 

Co-designed with First Nation Australian business leaders, the name Dilin Duwa means ‘everlasting flow’ in the Woi Wurrung language of the Wurundjeri and was gifted to the Centre by Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Gail Smith.

Guided by the ancient flows of Country and the responsibility to their Communities, the ‘dilin duwa’ of ancestors, culture and entrepreneurial spirit collectively work towards an economically powerful Indigenous Australia.

This week Aboriginal and Torres Strait business leaders, educators, researchers and the broader community gathered in Boorloo (Perth) to reflect on the impact they have made over these past five years, and what is next in the path to Indigenous economic empowerment.

Buoyed by community

Opening the event, Professor Michelle Evans, Director of Dilin Duwa reflected on how the concept of the Centre was developed to meet Community needs and this focus has never shifted.

“In 2018, we had been delivering MURRA Indigenous Business Program for 6 years, we had started to get some good momentum on our research, our network was building and awareness for our activities was growing,” she said.

“We invited a group of Indigenous business leaders – MURRA alumni and friends – to Naarm to discuss what the sector needed and how we could support.  “And the group strongly supported the need for an Indigenous-led research centre, delivering on research and programs that the community identified as critical areas.”

Despite the interruption of the pandemic, which saw the revenue of many Indigenous business owners decimated, and access to the MURRA program interrupted, the community continued to find ways to connect and grow.

“An idea that somehow succeeded against the odds, buoyed by community and allies and showing the power of the sector,” Professor Evans said.

Building strength for our people and future generations

Delivering the keynote presentation for the celebrations was Jasmine Kadic, a proud Whadjuk/Ballardong woman from a long line of Aboriginal leaders and elders within the Noongar Community.

A MURRA alum, Jasmine has held management positions within the health and construction industries and currently serves as the Managing Director of award-winning infrastructure company Benang and its staffing and professional services arm, Ergon.

Jasmine spoke of the personal impact that the MURRA program had on her in helping her discover her culture again.

She also shared the story of her business, Benang, which means ‘tomorrow’.

"The premise of that is we are always thinking about tomorrow. For our people and for generations."

Sharing photos of her ancestors, Jasmin reflected that she of ten thought about how powerful they were, and what they had to come through.

“I feel like that’s part of why I have to do what I do.”

From small beginnings

Beginning with just six staff, the Dilin Duwa team has grown to 17 members with another three slated to begin by January 2027.

Over five years, the Centre has achieved numerous milestones including the creation of the Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Business Leadership and Master of Indigenous Business Leadership.

The Master programs is the first of its kind offering with fully Indigenised content and Faculty, providing a research pathway for students wanting to pursue a PhD.

The Centre has also made incredible impact on the research front.

Outputs include the Indigenous Economic Power Project, (the Snapshot Study now contributing to the Productivity Commission’s Closing the Gap Dashboard), Indigenous Preferential Procurement Research, Dilin Duwa Dialogues, Global Social Mobility Project and Ochre Paper Series, each contributing to a richer picture of the Indigenous economy.

In addition, the five years has seen the establishment of the Indigenous Advisory Group and strategic expansion of the centre through partnerships with BHP, ANZ and the SEMBA Class of 2003.

Throughout it all, the Centre has been consistent with its community support to show its commitment to grass-roots growth, serving as a major sponsor for Indigenous Business Month, which Professor Evans co-founded.

“What all this tells us is that there is a thirst for knowledge and a commitment to see the Indigenous business sector thrive,” Professor Evans said.

The next horizon

As Dilin Duwa enters its next chapter, it progresses under a clear ten-year vision focused on expanding Indigenous business growth, championing First Australians talent, and embedding Indigenous knowledges into mainstream economic systems.

Paul Paton, Murra Gen 3 and the Centre’s Associate Director noted that through the support of their sponsors ANZ, Minter Ellison, SEMBA Class of 2003, Morris Family Foundation, Global Forwarding and the transformational funding from BHP, the Centre has been able to dream big.

“In the last five years I too have seen and felt the momentum and change,” he said.

“We have an opportunity here to really seize the wave and make a big impact.”