 IPS will once again be attending Supply Nation Connect 2025, the flagship national summit for Indigenous businesses, held on 20–21 August 2025 on Gadigal Land, Sydney. Connect 2025 brings together certified First Nations and Torres Strait Islander businesses with major corporate and government procurement buyers to foster partnerships, showcase services and enhance supplier diversity across Australia. IPS has proudly been delivering services across Australia since int's inception in 2015, and it's continued national expansion comes amid sweeping reforms to the Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP), which aim to drive greater economic empowerment for First Nations enterprises. From July 1 2025, the Commonwealth’s Indigenous procurement target will rise from 2.5 per cent to 3 per cent of all contract value, climbing incrementally to 4 per cent by 2030. New eligibility rules will also ensure that businesses accessing IPP-linked contracts are genuinely Indigenous-owned — requiring 51 per cent or more First Nations ownership and control, or registration as an Indigenous corporation, by 2026. Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, said the changes were about boosting genuine opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses while stamping out practices such as “black cladding,” where non-Indigenous companies exploit loopholes to access programs. “The Albanese Labor Government is committed to increasing opportunities for First Nations businesses,” she said. “First Nations businesses play a key role in advancing the economic empowerment and self-determination of First Nations people.” “These reforms, based on consultations with Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses, Chambers of Commerce and various levels of government, will create even more opportunities for First Nations businesses,” said McCarthy.  For IPS, a majority-female-owned and a Certified First Nations supplier, the changes strengthen its position. On top of its IPP eligibility, IPS can be directly engaged by agencies through Exemption 16 of the Commonwealth Procurement Rules — allowing unlimited direct contracts with Indigenous SMEs that demonstrate value for money — and Exemption 17, which permits direct SME engagements up to $500,000 without open tender. In addition to being Supply Nation certified, IPS is one of just eight First Nations-owned businesses on the Australian Federal Government’s coveted Management Advisory Services (MAS) Panel, proudly providing services across Australia. “Being part of the MAS Panel signals to buyers that IPS is a proven and trusted partner,” said IPS Co-Founder, Katina Law. “With the IPP reforms and rising Indigenous procurement targets, we’re well positioned to not only help government agencies meet their goals but deliver real outcomes.” “Our goal at Connect 2025 is to showcase the breadth of our capability and demonstrate why working with IPS isn’t about compliance — it’s also about delivering innovation, value, and impact,” Katina said. As the IPP reforms take effect, IPS stands to be at the forefront of a federal procurement landscape that is increasingly focused on authentic partnerships, transparency, and the economic empowerment of First Nations businesses.  Comments are closed.
|
