From Procurement Pipelines to Indigenous Trade Partnerships - Whāki Webinar

This webinar explores the role of procurement intermediaries and the common challenges and opportunities of strengthening at scale indigenous procurement opportunities. We discuss the recently signed MoU and how they will collaborate to support indigenous trade and investment opportunities.
The Whāki webinar series is supported by Tauhokohoko, Te Mana Raraunga and Te Kotahi Research Institute.

Ngā Kaikōrero | Speakers

Nanaia Mahuta (Tainui, Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Maniapoto) is a prominent leader in New Zealand’s political and Māori landscape. She became the first woman to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2020 to 2023. Mahuta has been a Member of Parliament since 1996, representing several Māori electorates, including Hauraki-Waikato. Her career reflects a deep commitment to Māori development and public service, promoting Indigenous rights and sustainable governance. Nanaia’s work is closely tied to the Kīngitanga movement, advocating for social and economic transformation for Māori.

Leading the charge of championing business relationships and economic growth of the Canadian supply chain through the inclusion of Indigenous and racialized suppliers, Cassandra Dorrington has expanded the CAMSC brand, both nationally, internationally, and globally. This has resulted in significant growth and impact in the Canadian marketplace and beyond for both our CAMSC certified suppliers and our corporate and government members. Known for her business and community involvement, Cassandra has been named one of Atlantic Business Magazine’s 2021 25 Most Powerful Women, and has received one of Canadian Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (CDEI) Corporate Directors’ Award in 2023. She sits on the Supplier Advisory Council for Public Services Procurement Canada for the Government of Canada, the 50 – 30 Challenge Advisory Board, the Canadian Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (CCSBE) and the Dalhousie University Board of Governors CAMSC is a co- founder and proud member of both Supplier Diversity Alliance Canada (SDAC), the single voice for supplier diversity in Canada and Global Supplier Diversity Alliance (GSDA), promoting supplier diversity globally with sister councils in Australia, China, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. With its national and international reach, CAMSC works with approximately 700 certified suppliers and over 170 plus corporate members resulting in billions of dollars spent with diverse suppliers.

Chris joined Supply Nation with an extensive background in international business including almost 20 years' experience living and working in Asia. After over a decade in international business development in Australia and Japan, he became a trade diplomat, working as a trade commissioner in Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore, helping Australian companies enter overseas markets, attracting productive foreign direct investment into Australia and promoting Australian education worldwide. He has helped Australian’s achieve success in a range of industries including housing, marine, agribusiness, aerospace, consumer products, professional services and the arts. Chris has developed Austrade’s Indigenous International Business Strategy and was responsible for Austrade’s Northern Australia investment program as well as their partnerships program. Chris is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a graduate of Griffith University and the University of New South Wales. Chris is passionate about helping Indigenous companies succeed internationally.

Anna-Jane Edwards (Kuki Airani, Waikato) is the Manukura (General Manager) of Amotai, Aotearoa New Zealand’s national intermediary for supplier diversity—an organisation she co‑founded to spark economic transformation for Māori and Pasifika businesses. A systems thinker and unapologetic disruptor, Anna‑Jane works at the intersection of economics, Indigenous knowledge, and design to challenge the structures that prevent communities from thriving. With 15 years of experience across health and local government, she has become a leading voice in embedding Indigenous worldviews into economic development and in championing procurement as one of the most powerful, and most overlooked levers for equity. Her mission is clear: redesign the economic conditions so future generations inherit an Aotearoa where everyone can prosper. Beyond her work at Amotai, Anna‑Jane is raising a small change‑maker of her own and contributes her governance expertise to organisations across Aotearoa.