Supply Nation will represent Australia’s Indigenous business sector at the 10th Australia-Canada Economic Leadership Forum in Vancouver from 8-10 November 2026, as it looks to continue to build connections between First Nations businesses, industry and financial institutions in both countries.
Held every 18 months, alternating between Canada and Australia, the Forum brings together around 150 leaders from both countries to examine global challenges and opportunities and identify areas for greater collaboration across trade and investment, global security, foreign policy, economic growth, innovation and technology, energy, and education.
While Australia’s trade in goods and services with Canada remains relatively modest at $6.1 billion in 2025, two-way investment is significant, totalling $145 billion. For Australian Indigenous businesses seeking to expand internationally, Canada offers opportunities to access new markets, develop commercial partnerships and connect with a sophisticated network of First Nations enterprises, financial institutions and industry.
For Supply Nation, the Forum provides an opportunity to build on relationships established through its trade mission to Canada in June and the participation of Canadian First Nations organisations at Connect 2026 in Boorloo (Perth) earlier this month.
The growing commercial relationship between Indigenous businesses in Australia and First Nations businesses in Canada reflects the complementary strengths of both countries and the potential to create new opportunities across international supply chains.
The Chief Executive Officers of the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC) and the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) joined international representatives from New Zealand, the United States and Taiwan recently at the International Lounge at the Connect 2026 Indigenous Business Tradeshow.
Held in Boorloo (Perth) for the first time from 11–12 August, Connect brought together over 4,500 attendees and more than 230 Indigenous exhibitors for Australia’s largest and longest running event for the Indigenous businesses sector. Connect 2026 featured an Indigenous Business Tradeshow, Knowledge Forum, with panel discussion and workshops and Gala Awards Dinner celebrating the Supplier Diversity Awards finalists and winners.
The participation of Canadian First Nations organisations at Connect demonstrated the growing potential for Indigenous businesses and organisations in Australia and Canada to share experience, develop commercial relationships and work together to expand Indigenous participation in international trade and supply chains.
Supply Nation’s international engagement to date has reinforced a clear message from Indigenous business leaders across government, industry and finance: the future of Indigenous trade will be built on trusted relationships, complementary strengths and long-term collaboration — not one-off transactions.
The Australia-Canada Economic Leadership Forum provides an important platform to strengthen those relationships and identify practical opportunities for Indigenous businesses to participate in the growing commercial and investment ties between the two countries.
Supply Nation CEO Kate Russell said, “The strong response to our recent trade mission reflects both the growing maturity of Australia’s Indigenous business sector and the natural alignment between the two countries.
“There is a mature, developed market for Australian Indigenous businesses and their products and services, alongside a recognition of the shared values and potential for collaboration with Canada’s First Nations owned businesses. Our work with Canadian businesses is always front of mind.
“Today’s partnerships can lay the foundations for a broader global Indigenous trading network. There is significant potential for strategic partnerships between Australian and Canadian businesses, particularly in delivering services in third markets where Indigenous knowledge, engagement and interests are central to success.”
National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) Project Manager Mark Dokis added, “Australia and Canada each bring different strengths. Australia has become internationally recognised for supplier diversity through organisations such as Supply Nation. Canada has built sophisticated Indigenous financial institutions and investment mechanisms that continue strengthening Indigenous business capability. Neither model is complete on its own. Together, they provide valuable lessons for both countries.
“I would encourage Australian exporters to approach Canada strategically. Success requires careful market research, understanding regional differences, identifying where demand exists and ensuring products or services can scale commercially across a geographically diverse country.
“Equally important is engaging Indigenous communities and organisations early. Partnerships built after commercial decisions have already been made rarely deliver lasting outcomes.”