Thousands of buyers and hundreds of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business owners attended the Connect 2018 Indigenous business conference in Sydney on 22-23 May.

Kicking off with the Knowledge Forum on Tuesday, attendees gathered to learn from experts about a range of issues, including successful tendering, unconscious bias and entrepreneurial know-how.

Connect 2018 welcomed two inspiring keynote speakers to open and close the Knowledge Forum. From the USA, Clifford A. Bailey, a business owner and Chair of the National Minority Supplier Development Council opened the conference with an inspiring speech about how removing barriers to inclusion strengthens the economy. Jamila Gordon, an Australian businesswoman with significant executive experience in Australia and around the world, spoke about her passion for diversity in the workplace and how she is finding opportunity for refugees like herself in Australia.

The next day over 150 businesses owned by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander businesspeople set up shop to provide an insight into the goods and services they have to offer, and to pursue new connections and opportunities. Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator the Hon Nigel Scullion spoke at the tradeshow and had informal conversations with business owners from across Australia.

Several government agencies joined forces at the Australian Government Link so business owners could get all the information they needed about accessing government business services and procurement opportunities.

Congratulations to Supply Nation for organising another successful Connect conference. Connect 2018 showed why the Indigenous business sector is one of the most exciting elements of the Australian economy.