Indigenous businesses, corporates and government came together to take a major step forward for Queensland’s Indigenous business sector — the launch of the Indigenous Business Gateway (IBG). The IBG is a first-of-its-kind, industry-led platform designed to strengthen visibility, trust and opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses.
What is the IBG?
Owned and governed by the Queensland Indigenous Business Network (QIBN), the IBG is a platform shaped directly by the sector itself. After years of listening to and learning from Indigenous businesses across the state, QIBN ensured the design reflects the sector on its own terms, with cultural authority, accountability and transparent verification at the centre.
The platform brings together more than 2,000 sustainability, capability and performance credentials, giving government and corporate buyers a clear and evidence-based view of a business’s delivery history. From ESG impact and workforce diversity to safety, compliance and financial indicators, the IBG provides a depth of information not previously available in one place.
A key innovation is the Gateway’s real-time validation engine, which continuously updates business data from trusted national sources. This creates a living profile for each supplier, reducing administrative burden for Indigenous businesses while giving buyers confidence that the information they are relying on is accurate and current.
Assurance in Verification
QIBN’s Member Badges add another layer of trust by clearly identifying Indigenous Majority (51%+) and Family (50%) owned, managed and controlled businesses operating in Queensland. These badges offer a visible, sector-endorsed assurance for organisations seeking to engage with authentic Indigenous suppliers.
The Honourable Fiona Simpson MP, Member for Maroochydore and Minister for Women and Women’s Economic Security, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Minister for Multiculturalism, joined the celebration — recognising not only the launch of the platform, but the strengthening of Queensland’s Indigenous business sector. She described the Indigenous Business Gateway as an “invaluable tool” that will support meaningful, long-term growth across the state.
Quotes attributable to Shane Kennelly, QIBN Co-Chair
What we are going to reveal [with the launch] is the ability to use innovation and technology to combine into showcasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses here in Queensland.”
“We were able to use technology to be able to scrape all publicly available information and to be able to then save a lot of administrative time to be able to represent that information onto the [IBG].”
“We consulted through the Department of Innovation five years ago and we had stakeholders from government, corporate, the Indigenous business sector, where we collaborated to work out what is it we need. What is the gap? How can we represent this data and this opportunity to ensure we can connect…?”
“The importance of having all that verified data, that is not self-administered, [is so] you as a buyer can have the confidence that the business is delivering that product or service and they have the capability and capacity, and importantly, that they are Queenslanders.”
Quotes attributable to Julie-ann Lambourne, QIBN Co-Chair and Acting Chief Executive Officer
“This consultation process has taken a long time to even get to the [launch of the] Indigenous Business Gateway.
QIBN came from passion, and commitment, and the want for so much better for our mob… Everything we do is driven by mob and making sure we always do what mob asks, what they would like to see and opportunities [that are open to them].”
Access the IBG Today
Indigenous Businesses
Begin your QIBN Membership journey and build your supplier profile on the Indigenous Business Gateway today.
Buyers
Become a QIBN Corporate Partner today to gain access to the Indigenous Business Gateway.
Contact the QIBN Corporate Partners team at corporates@qibn.com.au or 0461 428 789
Media Contact:
Bryanna Saylor-Zelayandia
QIBN Marketing and Communications Officer
marketing@qibn.com.au
0483 078 851