Amotai members join Supply Nation's Connect 2025

Insights from Supply Nation's Connect 2025

Kelsey Benefield - Buyer Manager, Amotai

Hosting our international delegation at Connect 2025 was an energising reminder of why I do this mahi. There is something unique & special about travelling with a roopū of Indigenous peoples — each of us carrying the perspectives of our own hapū and rohe, yet immediately bound together by a shared curiosity on this kaupapa called Supplier Diversity. Even though many of us met for the first time on the morning of our departure, it felt like setting out with whānau.

As we moved through a jam-packed schedule, fully surrendering to the Supplier Diversity kaupapa in Australia, three themes rang out with clarity: trust, responsibility, and long-term impact. What struck me most was the collective conviction, lived, not just spoken that Indigenous procurement is and has always been about reshaping economies for generations to come.

The Knowledge Forum and the Indigenous Trade Show were the beating heart of the haerenga for me. A full day of panels and fireside kōrero offered hard truths, bold visions, and practical pathways forward. These were my top three!

Global DEI Trends & Government Policy

In this session, Shane Dexter reinforced how policy levers are shifting the procurement landscape, Indigenous engagement targets in Commonwealth Procurement Rules are no longer optional, they are best practice, and they are driving spend.

Belinda Murdoch  spoke to the importance of accountability, pushing us to ask the obvious but often-avoided question: are engagement targets actually translating into economic outcomes? Aren’t we past the point of counting commitments rather than results?

It was Mark Dokis (Chair, First Nations Procurement Authority) who delivered the most confronting provocation. He challenged the adequacy of the 51% ownership rule, reminding us that unless Indigenous partners hold genuine authority, expertise, and a pathway into leadership, partnerships risk being hollow. His point was clear: ownership without decision-making power is tokenism.

Jason Timor (Director, Stonecrab) rounded out the kōrero with reflections on governance integrity and the need for transparency, noting that without joint monitoring and verification, the system risks exploitation. The panel’s stance on Black Cladding was uncompromising - in Australia it carries criminal consequences, while in Canada the issue remains unresolved. This reignited for me why robust verification in Aotearoa is so important and why we need to get better at amplifying our position on this.

Bridging Two Worlds: Traditional Knowledge & Emerging Industries

This panel was alive with innovation and challenge. Daniel Joinbee (Founder & MD, Gunggandji Aerospace) shared how his venture in aerospace is grounded in cultural principles:

His point reframed how Indigenous enterprises can approach high-tech industries without abandoning tikanga.

Tully Mahr (Master of Mechanical Engineering student, University of Melbourne) spoke about data sovereignty, underscoring that collecting data does not mean you own it — collectors are custodians, and consent must always be revocable.

Simon O’Toole (CEO, Alliance ICT) explored how Indigenous values reshape technology adoption, reminding us that responsibility must always come before rights. Without this, industries like AI or ICT risk extracting more than they contribute.

The collective call was clear: future-facing industries create enormous opportunities, but unless designed with Indigenous values at the centre, they risk becoming another form of exploitation.

Beyond Spend: Measuring Social Value

Glenn Johnston (Deputy Chair, Supply Nation) set the tone: we can only go at the speed of trust. Social value, he argued, is not abstract -  it is felt in everyday transactions, from GST paid to groceries bought and families supported.

Jessica Simpson (Head of Governance & Social Value – Procurement, BHP) shared how BHP has embedded rapid 7-day payment terms and co-designed impact assessments with Traditional Owners, positioning these as non-negotiables rather than “nice-to-haves.” Jess also hit home the importance of documenting every part of the journey, collect and measure success - prioritize shouting it from the roof tops! It encourages tangible buy-in and amplifies social proof. 

Associate Professor Rick Macourt (Managing Director, First Nations Economics) grounded the discussion in long-term thinking, reminding us that true success must be measured seven generations from now. His message: move beyond virtue-signalling and set up systems that endure.

Cherie Thompson (Founding CEO, Native Secrets Australia) brought it home by speaking about values in action — responsibility, respect, and relationships. She highlighted that Indigenous businesses don’t need to “add” giving back; they exist and give back inherently.

This panel left me with a deep sense of responsibility. Measuring spend is no longer enough; our role is to normalise Indigenous participation in the economy as both powerful and ordinary.

Connect Trade Show

I also want to acknowledge how exhilarating it was to be completely surrounded by Indigenous business excellence at the Connect Tradeshow. The sheer scale and mana of what was on display left me buzzing  and ten toes in, committed to seeing something like this take root and flourish here in Aotearoa.

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It was also a real opportunity to meet Amotai champions across some of our Buyer members that are championing the kaupapa from Australia - embracing Rita Perivolarys from Accenture and Amy Crookes from EY was a truly special highlight of my trip, keep an eye on these wahine, they are relentless and endearing in their pursuit to shaping the world to be a better place.

Finally, and perhaps most uplifting of all, was realising that Amotai does not walk this path alone. At times back home, the journey can feel isolating. But in Sydney, surrounded by peers and allies, it was validating and comforting reminder: we are part of a global movement, united in purpose, determined in action, carrying the same vision of intergenerational prosperity.