Michael McLeod, co-founder and longest-serving board member of Supply Nation, has retired as a director but will continue his work as the organisation's inaugural Patron.

As Supply Nation celebrates its 15-year anniversary, his transition marks a new chapter in a career dedicated to empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-owned businesses.

In 2009, Mr McLeod, a Ngarrindjeri Monaro man from South Australia and Southern NSW, and co-founder Dug Russell established the Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council, now known as Supply Nation. Starting with just 13 Indigenous-owned businesses, Supply Nation's Indigenous Business Directory now lists over 5,000 suppliers across every state, territory, and sector of the Australian economy.

"Michael's early efforts have resulted in tangible and significant benefits to diverse communities," the Supply Nation Board acknowledged as part of the announcement of his new position as Patron.

"By driving economic and business growth, supporting self-determination, and advancing reconciliation goals, meaningful progress has been made toward Closing the Gap."

An entrepreneur at heart, Mr McLeod's business journey began in the early 1990s during the rise of the internet and digital technologies. In 2003, he co-founded Message Stick Communications with his friend Dug Russell.

Recognising the challenges faced by Indigenous businesses, he submitted recommendations to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs. His advocacy for a supplier diversity model was instrumental in empowering procurement with Indigenous-owned businesses.

Now, Mr McLeod is channeling his passion into the Message Stick Foundation, a national not-for-profit dedicated to empowering First Nations youth.

"Our youth are falling through the cracks at alarming rates," he said.

"We need to give them something I and many others were not afforded—a safe space, support to heal, mentoring, and help with life skills."

Mr McLeod's personal journey is one of resilience and transformation. Stolen from his family as a baby, he spent his early life in institutions and struggled with addiction and homelessness until his mid-thirties. A turning point came when he realised that "no one could really help me but myself," leading to over twenty years of sobriety.

Reflecting on his path, he shared, "Commencing a business and the knowledge it provided helped me lose my demons and embark on the start of a life I could be proud of".