Telstra has returned as a sponsor for the 2025 Supplier Diversity Awards, demonstrating its ongoing support for First Nations excellence in business.
Held by Supply Nation, the Supplier Diversity Awards recognise businesses, government agencies, not-for-profit organisations, and individuals who contribute to a prosperous and thriving Indigenous Business sector.
As Australia's largest and most influential Indigenous business event, it is an opportunity to honour the dedication of nominees and winners, as well as connect Indigenous suppliers with corporate and government buyers.
This year, Telstra sponsors the Certified Supplier of the Year category, recognising certified businesses that have driven significant growth and demonstrated ongoing engagement with Supply Nation and/or its members.
Announced in early June, this year's category finalists include Ethan Indigenous, Hardy Fencing Australia, and Pipeline Talent. The winner will have shown a clear strategy and progress in their involvement within Indigenous supply chains, strengthening relationships, driving growth, and supporting a sustainable and vibrant Indigenous business sector.
Lauren Ganley, proud Kamillaroi woman and Head of First Nations Strategy and Engagement at Telstra explained that Telstra's sponsorship stems from a broader commitment to supporting First Nations communities and customers.
"What we want to do is support a platform that showcases Aboriginal businesses, Aboriginal excellence, so that they are on people's radars to engage with," she said.
Ms Ganley added that supply diversity is a "cornerstone of [their] reconciliation journey".
Her words reflect the broader direction of Telstra's Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) launched in July 2022, outlining 93 actions that reflect its reconciliation vision and journey over three years.
The RAP was developed after Reconciliation Australia revoked Telstra's Elevate RAP status in March 2021. It followed concerns that some retail partners had sold mobile devices and plans to customers who could not afford them or may not have been appropriate for their needs, including some First Nations Australians in remote communities.
In the RAP's foreword, former Telstra chief executive Andrew Penn described the revocation as a "deeply disappointing moment".
"These lessons have reshaped our commitment to reconciliation and while it will always be deeply disappointing that it happened, I am certain we will look back at this time as a turning point in our reconciliation efforts," he said.
In response, the 2022 RAP promised to improve connectivity for customers, increase cultural awareness across the organisation and support employment and procurement opportunities through a wide range of initiatives.
"By partnering with First Nations businesses, we help foster a thriving and innovative enterprise sector that reflects the diversity of our customers, our people and the community," Ms Ganley said.
Now, Telstra is looking towards the future, with its 2025 RAP set to launch at the end of July in Darwin. Ms Ganley explained that the process of creating this year's RAP involved external consultations with Aboriginal leaders and businesses.
"I was asking people, 'What is one of the things you think Telstra should focus on, and given our size and our spread across the country, how can we make a difference? And one of the emerging themes was economic participation - so a focus on employment and procurement," she said.
"Evidence supports that Aboriginal businesses are more likely to attract First Nations people to work for them. So in supporting Aboriginal businesses, you are also supporting Aboriginal employment."
Telstra's sponsorship of the 2025 Supply Nation awards underscores its commitment to reconciliation and its continued dedication to the Indigenous Business Sector.
"These partnerships bring unique insights, spark innovation, and strengthen our supply chain," Ms Ganley said.
Award winners will be announced at the Connect 2025 Gala Awards Dinner on Thursday 21 August.