CPB Contractors recently brought together over 30 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses at its inaugural CPB Contractors Connect: Indigenous Business Forum in Brisbane’s CBD at Birrunga Gallery.
The forum reiterated CPB Contractors’ longstanding commitment to providing participation opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and businesses. It included showcasing current and upcoming projects and highlighting opportunities for potential supply chain partnerships.
Sharon Gray, CPB Contractors’ Group Manager Diversity, Indigenous and Social Inclusion, presented on CPB Contractors’ Reconciliation journey and key achievements to date, recognising the importance of building genuine relationships through engagement, listening and understanding.
The event also featured a Supplier Diversity Yarn panel discussion, facilitated by QLD Senior Indigenous and Social Inclusion Advisor Natalie Chapman and featuring representatives from Queensland Indigenous businesses Bridgeman and Multhana Property Services alongside CPB Contractors Project Director Carmelo Di Bella and Sharon Gray. The panel provided valuable insights and practical advice for businesses interested in engaging in the field, such as:
- Make an effort to understand the project you wish to engage with and its scope of work.
- Keep building relationships with project and business team members. This is a great way to stay informed about future opportunities.
- Embrace collaboration and support within the industry and approach contractors to explore ways of working together.
CPB Contractors’ vision for reconciliation is to see safe, rewarding and fulfilling careers for First Australians in the construction industry and on infrastructure projects. As part of this, we have developed an industry-leading Social Inclusion procurement approach that focuses on encouraging and embedding Indigenous and social enterprises into our supply chain over the life of our projects and beyond.
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