A First Nations led Regional Business Workshop Series will be held in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) from 11-13 October, led by the Dilin Duwa Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership, in consultation with the local Indigenous business community.
The Dilin Duwa Centre, part of the Melbourne Business School and the University of Melbourne, provides education, engagement and research to support the self-determined growth of Indigenous businesspeople, companies and communities.
Dilin Duwa Director, Associate Professor Michelle Evans, said the Alice Springs event is the first in a series of events to enhance access to business education for regional areas.
"The best way to improve Indigenous economic inclusion is to offer access to business education, regardless of where people are located," Associate Professor Evans said.
“It’s always been our goal, within Dilin Duwa, to create opportunities for our sector to gather, learn and share. We know that enhancing education and knowledge is what fosters growth for our sector and what better region to kick off our regional events than Alice Springs – the heart of our country, with a diverse and growing Indigenous economy.”
Supported by Indigenous Business Australia, the 3-day program has been co-designed with local Indigenous businesses and leaders in the region to respond to the region’s business needs, including mini-masterclasses, business sessions, panels, and local keynote speakers.
Local Mparntwe Sole Trader, Catherine Satour, welcomed the event, encouraging businesses and community organisations to come together.
"No matter where you are in your business journey, from our remote enterprises to urban businesses, this is an opportunity to share learnings, expand our thinking and business networks, relationships and enhance the economic empowerment of our own people in our region," said Ms Satour.
The program is designed to support both First Nations established businesses, as well as people thinking about business or social enterprise opportunities.
All Regional Workshop Series sessions are delivered by and for First Nations people.
Business workshops are designed to support people just starting out in business or curious about business opportunities and include business fundamentals like marketing and insights from Indigenous business leaders. Business sessions are designed specifically to support established businesses with more detailed topics including Indigenous business models, pricing, networking and customer centric marketing.
For those more established in their business and organisations, Melbourne Business School and University of Melbourne academics Professor Geoff Martin, Associate Professor Michal Carrington and Associate Professor Michelle Evans will be running Masterclasses in Strategy, Marketing and Leadership.
For more information and to register for the Regional Business Workshop Series visit Eventbrite or contact Dilin-Duwa@unimelb.edu.au.
Learn more about Dilin Duwa.