The Albanese Labor Government is backing First Nations people, businesses and communities to take up new trade and investment opportunities through a new First Nations Trade and Investment Advisory Group.
Growing trade and investment links for First Nations people delivers well paying, secure jobs in communities across Australia. We know that First Nations businesses who export generated over $670 million in revenue in 2022-23 and typically employed over seven times more workers than other First Nations businesses.
The group will help First Nations businesses tap into a wide array of trade and economic opportunities, including our recently signed free trade agreement with United Arab Emirates, so that First Nations businesses can reap more of the benefits from international trade.
By establishing this pilot Advisory Group we are delivering on our commitment to share the benefits of trade widely across our community.
The membership includes a range of First Nations business leaders, industry groups and experts in international trade including:
- Mr Bevan Mailman, Desert Springs Octopus
- Mr Joshua Gilbert, Gilbert Consulting
- Mr Cameron Costello, Costello Consultancy
- Mr Brian Bero, First Nations Clean Energy Network
- Ms Sharon Brindley, First Nations Bushfood and Botanical Alliance Australia
- Mr Michael Dickerson, Gambarra Kaha
- Ms Shannon McGuire, Kirrikin Foundation
- Ms Leah Armstrong, First Nations Representative on the Indigenous Peoples Economic Trade and Cooperation Agreement (IPETCA)
- Mr Leslie Delaforce, Dreamspark
- Ms Jenny Wardrop, Supply Nation Representative
- Ms Michelle Deshong, Deshong Consulting
