Kicking off Indigenous Business Month 2025, First Nations business excellence and innovation was honoured with award winners being announced at a breakfast awards event in Sydney today.
The Indigenous Business Month Awards under the theme ‘Strength through Collaboration’ celebrates exceptional leadership, ingenuity, and collaborative spirit across Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enterprises.
This year’s award winners are:
- I2I Award: Nathan Lovett, Aus Native Foods
- Indigenous Digital Inventiveness Award: Brett Leavy, Virtual Songlines
- Indigenous Ingenuity Award: Tyson Carmody, Kings Narrative
- Regional Indigenous Business Award: Kantesha Ward (nee Takai), Lola Digital
“This year’s winners exemplify the very essence of collaboration – building meaningful relationships grounded in respect, reciprocity, and shared purpose,” said Dr Michelle Evans, Director of the Dilin Duwa Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership and Co-Founder of Indigenous Business Month.
Co-Founder and Managing Director of Iscariot Media, Leesa Watego added, “These businesses don’t just excel individually – they strengthen communities by working together, inspiring a vision of collective prosperity.”
Mayrah Sonter, Co-Founder and Director of 33 Creative, said: “Celebrating these winners is about more than individual success – it’s about showing what is possible when Indigenous businesses, communities and partners come together. Their achievements light the path for the next generation of First Nations entrepreneurs.”
The awards event itself supported a number of outstanding Indigenous businesses and suppliers across all aspects of venue, catering, trophies and florals to collaboratively recognise the excellence of Indigenous Business Award Winners amongst their peers.
Co-founders of Indigenous Business Month thank all involved in this year’s event, including our esteemed judges Rory Chapman and Nicole Brown, as well as our generous Platinum Sponsors and collaborators Dilin Duwa Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership and Commonwealth Bank.
DETAILS AND QUOTES OF AWARD WINNERS
At the celebratory awards event held at Bangarra Dance Theatre in Sydney today, the following awardees were honoured across four impactful categories:
I2I Award: Nathan Lovett, Aus Native Foods
For Indigenous businesses strengthening the sector by buying from or supplying to fellow Indigenous businesses.
Aus Native Foods / Naway Yila Buradja meaning “Today brings Tomorrow” in the Dhurga language is a 100% Aboriginal-owned native foods business connecting Aboriginal growers with Australia’s hospitality and food industries. Founded to bridge the gap between chefs and Aboriginal suppliers, Aus Native Foods grows and sources native produce, while mentoring Aboriginal businesses and communities across Western NSW to build sustainable enterprises in growing, supply, and food production.
“An award like this is recognition of what we can achieve when we are all working together for the benefit of our communities. I’m looking forward to continuing to grow the network of growers and native food businesses that I work with around the country and into the export market where I am now a licenced exporter”- Nathan Lovett, Aus Native Foods.
Website: www.ausnativefoods.com
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Indigenous Digital Inventiveness Award: Brett Leavy, Virtual Songlines Digital Twin
For outstanding cultural creativity and business acumen powered by technology.
Virtual Songlines Digital Twin is an innovative platform that reclaims First
Nations narratives by embedding stories, language, and songlines into interactive digital Country. More than a map, it is a living cultural archive – preserving heritage, educating future generations, and challenging the legacy of erasure. By combining ancient knowledge with cutting-edge technology, it connects communities, fosters collaboration, and demonstrates the power of Indigenous digital inventiveness to shape a stronger, self-determined future.
“I really love providing a new technology for an ancient culture. There is nothing better than empowering our First Nations communities with digital enablement”-Brett Leavy, Virtual Songlines
Website: https://www.virtualsonglines.org
Indigenous Ingenuity Award: Tyson Carmody, Kings Narrative
Celebrating businesses tackling community challenges through innovative models.
Kings Narrative is guided by Arrernte cultural values, to deliver culturally grounded solutions and innovative programs such as the Barber Blak Kings Program, Trauma Training Workshops, Angkentye Cultural Camps for men, and Cross-Cultural Awareness Training across Central Australia and beyond. With a focus on Aboriginal leadership, employment, and healing, Kings Narrative is re-imagining how programs are delivered and proving the power of Aboriginal ingenuity to drive social and economic change.
“We are excited to leverage this recognition to showcase not just the work of Kings Narrative, but also what the impact looks like when Aboriginal people are leading this work in Aboriginal communities” -Tyson Carmody, Kings Narrative
Website: https://www.kingsnarrative.com.au
Regional Indigenous Business Award: Kantesha Ward (nee Takai), Lola Digital
Recognising impactful contributions to regional economies.
Lola Digital is a Torres Strait–based creative business blending cultural responsibility with commercial excellence. Operating for six years with strong recent growth, the company delivers digital and creative services while building Indigenous supply chains, outsourcing to First Nations creatives and suppliers, and giving back through pro-bono community support. Lola Digital champions digital inclusion, strengthens local economies, and creates opportunities for Torres Strait Islanders to thrive on Country while engaging with global markets.
“It is truly an honour to be recognised with the 2025 Regional Indigenous Business Award. We are privileged to live, work and grow Lola Digital on Waiben in Zenadth Kes. We are driven by our community and our success isn’t possible without the support of our community, our team and our clients in the region and abroad. So where we can, we give back, share our knowledge and support mepla people in the journey towards building a stronger Indigenous business economy in Zenadth Kes”- Kantesha Ward, Lola Digital.
Website: https://loladigital.com.au
About the Awards
The Indigenous Business Month Awards celebrate achievements in excellence, leadership, innovation, and collaboration across Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enterprises and each year invite Indigenous Businesses to nominate or be nominated for the award categories. Nominations closed on 8 September 2025, with winners notified in late September and publicly honoured at today’s event.
Building on a Decade of Impact
Indigenous Business Month, held annually from 1–31 October, is now in its eleventh year, continuing its community-led mission to elevate Indigenous entrepreneurship, culture, and economic empowerment and honour Indigenous Businesses amongst their peers.
Resources for Indigenous Businesses and friends
To help businesses, government, and community organisations show their support this Indigenous Business Month, a suite of free resources including social media tiles, signature blocks and online conferencing backgrounds are available at www.indigenousbusinessmonth.com.au. These resources make it easy for supporters to amplify Indigenous voices, promote the theme “Strength through Collaboration”, and join the celebration throughout October.
Join the Conversation
Show your support and celebrate First Nations business excellence by sharing stories and resources on social media using #IndigBizMonth #IndigenousBusinessMonth #StrengthThroughCollaboration #IBM2025
2025 Award Ceremony photos by Joseph Mayers available 4pm post event here.
Media Contact: For further information, interviews with award winners and co-founders, please contact: media@33creative.com.au