Exploring the Boundaries of Indigenous Business and Social Entrepreneurship

At its essence, the social entrepreneurship practised in Australia is an appropriation of an Indigenous way of creating value that places a higher priority on reciprocity and connection to country and community than individual profit accumulation. However, in many mainstream conversations, the terms social enterprise and Indigenous enterprise are used interchangeably.

In this industry forum, we propose to unpack this by exploring the contested boundaries of two important movements: The first is the growing social enterprise movement and specifically, where non-Indigenous founders lead ventures aiming to have a measurable impact on Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The second is growth in Indigenous-led business as a critical platform in the global First Nations’ project of self-determination and sovereignty.

Hosted by:

• Greg Hodgkinson (First Innovators)
• Cindy Mitchell (The Mill House Ventures)
• Dennis Foley (Professor of Indigenous Entrepreneurship at the University of Canberra)

Some possible topics include:

• What are the differences between Indigenous businesses and Social Enterprises that all SECNA members (and partners and governments) need to understand?
• Should Social enterprises for Indigenous purpose with non-Indigenous founders be welcomed as SECNA members?
• Should SECNA have a firm position on Social enterprises that cause harm to communities in exploiting Indigenous knowledge, including art, culture, bushfoods?

Proudly supported by City of Sydney