The 17th AEMEE conference welcomed Indigenous business leaders, owners and stakeholders for a two-day focus on maximising future opportunities to grow the sector, with an eye on sustainability.

Established in 2005, AEMEE helps expand market share for Indigenous businesses in the resource sectors through networking and events that foster genuine opportunities.

The annual business conference analysed how Indigenous enterprises were shaping the resources sector.

More than 200 delegates - from Traditional Owner groups and across the Indigenous business sector - joined industry stakeholders, thought leaders and researchers, all given a platform to engage in meaningful dialogue and collaboration.

AEMEE chair Derek Flucker said discussions this year would assess the diversity across the Indigenous business sector, and the challenges and chances the industry and its stakeholders face, particularly in the renewable energy space.

"The transition to net zero is an exciting opportunity for Indigenous businesses to be leading the way," Mr Flucker said on the eve of the 2024 conference in Fremantle.

"Strategies on accelerating the sector's journey to net-zero and reducing the carbon footprint for our future generations will be developed."

​2024's theme "From Sparks to Flames: Indigenous Business Fuelling the Future" was a nod to the diverse impact of First Nations businesses in the resources sector.

Noongar Elder Kym Collard opened Wednesday's event with a Welcome to Country, before Indigenous businessman and First Nations Clean Energy Network co-chair, Chris Croker outlined the generational opportunity for Aboriginal businesses in the net zero transition.

The day's keynote speaker Mechelle Turvey – renowned for her contributions to the community and inspiring advocacy work – shared emotional and rare perspectives, reflecting on her journey of resilience and activism after the tragic loss of her 15-year-old son Cassius, and also her husband.

"I know what I stand for, what my family stands for, and also what Cassius stood for," she said.

"So in terms of the rallies, everyone was angry. I was angry as well. But what do you do with your anger? And what I did was I channeled it down to name my son as a victim of crime, which is something not all Indigenous people do, and I wanted people to say his name.

"I also wanted people to know the real Cassius: he is not just a statistic. He is not just another Aboriginal person that has been assaulted.

"He was a leader and he was a mentor in the 15 years he lived on this Earth."

Ms Turvey detailed how she had to channel her anger into empathy and action, working closely with WA Police and developing the Take Five training program, fostering trust and respect for police recruits within their communities.

"I have had some negative experiences with the police, I guess I'm doing my best to turn that around [through the programs]," she said.

"It's called Take Five because that is all it takes – five seconds, five minutes – for police to engage with someone, to get their trust, be respectful, and let the communities know that you're not a criminal 'Robocop'.

"You're there for a safer community and you're there to treat everyone as a human being."

Ms Turvey emphasised better support systems would greatly assist victims of crime and community and personal healing from traumatic events, citing the experience of Cassius' friends, who witnessed his attack and endured torment without support in the immediate aftermath.

"Those kids obviously witnessed that. The police and ambulance came, and then they left with Cassius, taking him to the hospital," she said.

"But they left all those kids … there were no phone calls, no consoling whatsoever.

"I mean, my son's head, the gash was over here [spread across his head] and his ear was hanging by a thread.

"They had to jump on public transport with no money, get themselves there [to the hospital where Cassius was] and then sit without crying, sitting there, among strangers."

Ms Turvey recalled urging WA Police in the aftermath of the tragedy to build a network of Indigenous contacts in communities.

"I said 'you guys need to build up your network of how you get to know your Aboriginal people in the community' … they should be able to ring an Uncle or Aunty," she said.

Ms Turvey's powerful keynote address preceded AEMEE's opening day session Grounded Leadership – Finding Purpose, Juggling Wealth and Influence, a nod to the 2024 theme and analysing the importance of staying grounded while serving a greater purpose, getting clarity and cementing a legacy.

Delegates heard from Biodiversity Australia's Steve Noy (A Lonely Journey), WRL Shipping's Kira Seeley (Succession in Action) and Cundaline Resources chairman Barry Taylor (Walking Two Worlds), before a stirring address from Naomi Anstess.

Ms Anstess, from the NT Indigenous Business Network, gave delegates plenty to ponder before the broke for lunch with address The Importance & Impact of Blak Business: Self determined Wealth Generation & the Hard Conversation around 'for Profit, 'for Purpose'.

She highlighted the significant economic impact of Indigenous businesses, noting while they were 100 per cent more likely to employ Aboriginal people, Indigenous people had proven exceptional when it came to training for career progression.

"For every dollar spent on an Aboriginal employee in the private sector, or created in the private sector on an actual employee, the Commonwealth saves $4.10, in the [Northern] Territory it's $6.70," she said.

"There is an absolute economic imperative to the taxpayer for Aboriginal people to be earning our own money and employing each other."

Ms Anstess said fellow employment of First Nations contractors would boost economic growth in communities, and urged conference sponsors Rio Tinto and Chevron and other big miners to start investing in capital Indigenous businesses required to launch, grow and remain sustainable.

"Start thinking broadly about the communities that you're supporting in and around your mines," she said.

"Everybody doesn't want to be in construction or resources, there are other businesses around here you can grow.

"Royalties can be disablers, they're necessary but they can be disablers.

"Think about how you are engaging to grow the economy and creating the high-warranty capital for us, because we can't get it anywhere else.

"The impact of our businesses is real and is strong.

"Blak excellence will keep growing if we partner and grow together."

For more on the 2024 AEMEE Conference, awards night and program of speakers, click here.