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Media Release: Launch of the Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council

Last night the Hon Jenny Macklin Minister for Indigenous Affairs and Senator Mark Arbib Minister for Employment Participation launched the Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council (AIMSC) at Parliament House in Canberra.

Based on the US National Minority Supplier Development Council (www.nmsdc.org), AIMSC represents the beginning of a transformation in the Indigenous business sector. AIMSC, its founding members and certified Indigenous businesses aim to build a vibrant and prosperous Indigenous business sector by incorporating Indigenous owned, controlled and managed businesses into the supply chain of Australian companies and government agencies.

Mr Stephen Roberts, AIMSC Chair and Chief Executive of Citi Australia, noted that AIMSC will achieve this aim by:

• building an active membership base comprised of Australian companies and government agencies prepared to purchase goods and services from Indigenous businesses,
• certifying suppliers as majority Indigenous Australian owned, controlled and managed, and
• working with members and strategic partners to mentor and support Indigenous suppliers to effectively compete in corporate procurement processes.
• At the launch, Mr Roberts announced a number of AIMSC’s early achievements, including:
• the certification of four Indigenous businesses – Message Stick Communications, Willmett Group, Xsite Building Services and Xsite Training and Assessment,
• the confirmation of its eight founding members – KPMG, ExxonMobil, NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs, NSW Department of Education and Training, Corporate Express, Marriott Hotels Group, Unisys, and Compass Group, and
• the announcement of AIMSC’s inaugural Chief Executive, Ms Natalie Walker. Ms Walker has built an extensive career in

Indigenous social policy including enterprise development through her previous roles in small business, corporate, community and government.
“These early achievements will pave the way for AIMSC’s success in building a vibrant and prosperous Indigenous business sector”, Mr Roberts stated. The final number of certified Indigenous businesses and AIMSC members is limitless.

Mr Roberts emphasised the importance for “AIMSC and its founding members to convert Michael McLeod’s groundbreaking idea and all the good will into action by achieving their annual goals on purchasing Indigenous businesses goods and services”. Ministers Macklin and Arbib affirmed the need for the corporate good will to result in tangible outcomes which contribute to closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage.

AIMSC is a three-year pilot supported and funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and the NSW Government. Following its launch, AIMSC will be fully operational by the end of 2009.