As part of Indigenous Business Month, the TNQ Drought Hub is celebrating First Nations businesses and the people creating new opportunities across Northern Australia.

This month, we showcase the Queensland Indigenous Business Network (QIBN), a statewide representative body working to connect, support and grow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses across Queensland.

The TNQ Drought Hub’s SATSIE Program supported QIBN during its formative stages and is continuing to work together to strengthen Indigenous enterprise and create opportunities across regional and remote Queensland.

Growing stronger through connection: QIBN and the power of Indigenous enterprise

What began as a vision for a stronger, more connected voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses in Queensland has grown into a statewide network creating opportunities for Indigenous businesses to connect, collaborate and thrive.

The Queensland Indigenous Business Network (QIBN) was officially launched during Indigenous Business Month in October 2023, becoming a statewide representative body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses in Queensland.

While QIBN is a relatively new organisation, Indigenous enterprise has a history spanning thousands of years. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have traded across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region for more than 60,000 year, with relationships, culture and connection continuing to play an important role in creating economic opportunities.

For QIBN, these connections are central to building a stronger Indigenous business sector.

“In my short time in the role as CEO, we have increased our membership to over 140 members, 10 corporate partners and are now recognised on the Queensland Procurement Policy and Australian Government Indigenous Procurement Policy with the Indigenous Business Gateway as a recognised register of verified Indigenous businesses here in Queensland.

“The networking between members and our corporate partners is encouraging and we are seeing genuine procurement opportunities being secured through the private and government sectors.”

Paul Graham, Chief Executive Officer, QIBN

Strength in connection

Central to QIBN’s story is the Gidyea Tree, which provides a metaphor for the relationships that underpin Indigenous enterprise. QIBN describes the tree as representing cultural hubs of family connections, places and communities that provide a core of strength from which opportunities can grow.

This philosophy shapes QIBN’s work today. The network provides a collective voice for Indigenous businesses while strengthening connections between businesses, communities, government and industry. Its focus includes advocacy, collaboration, employment pathways and improving access to economic opportunities.

The 2016 Census identified approximately 11,538 Indigenous business owner-managers nationally, including an estimated 3,176 in Queensland. At the time QIBN was being developed, Queensland was the only Australian jurisdiction without a dedicated independent body representing Indigenous business interests. At the same time, Indigenous procurement policies, Closing the Gap priorities and procurement opportunities associated with the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games were creating new opportunities for the sector.

QIBN was founded by experienced Indigenous business leaders Julie-ann Lambourne, a Wagedagam and Samsep woman, Shane Kennelly, a Bundjalung man, Leann Wilson, a Bidjara and Kara Kara descendant and Colin Saltmere AM, a senior Indjalandji-Dhidhanu Traditional Owner, bringing together significant expertise in business, governance, regional development, employment and community development.

Today, Julie-ann Lambourne and Shane Kennelly serve as QIBN Co-Chairs. They are joined on the Board by Leann Wilson, Colin Saltmere AM and Dale Chapman, a Yuwaalaraay and Kooma woman, bringing extensive experience across Indigenous enterprise, regional economic development, training and community development opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

This Indigenous-led governance helps ensure QIBN is shaped by people with direct experience of the opportunities and challenges facing Indigenous-owned businesses.

Supporting the foundations

The TNQ Drought Hub’s Sustainable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Enterprise (SATSIE) Program supported QIBN during its formative stages, providing practical and structural support to assist its establishment and growth.

That early involvement has developed into an ongoing relationship between QIBN, the TNQ Drought Hub and James Cook University, with a shared interest in strengthening Indigenous enterprise, leadership and economic opportunities, particularly across regional and remote Queensland.

QIBN established its office at The Precinct in Fortitude Valley in March 2024. Its strategic priorities focus on supporting Indigenous businesses to grow, facilitating partnerships, advocating for the sector and creating employment pathways.

Regional development is also an important part of its approach, with plans to strengthen connections and build business capability on the ground closer to where people live and work.

Growing a statewide network

Since its establishment, QIBN has continued to grow its reach and role as a statewide voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses. In August 2026, QIBN announced it had 115 verified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business members across sectors including construction, professional services, tourism, health, education and creative industries.

A significant part of this growth has been the development of the Indigenous Business Gateway (IBG). Owned and governed by QIBN, the Gateway gives Indigenous businesses greater visibility and helps government and corporate buyers identify verified suppliers and understand their capabilities.

Developed following engagement with Indigenous businesses, the platform aims to reduce administrative burdens and make it easier for buyers to connect with Indigenous suppliers.

QIBN is also working to expand its regional presence, helping businesses outside South-East Queensland access networks, support and opportunities.

That focus was reflected in a September meeting in Cairns between QIBN CEO Paul Graham, SATSIE Program Lead Dr Jim Turnour and Program Coordinator Jennifer McHugh. Discussions explored opportunities to continue working together to strengthen the capability of Indigenous businesses across Far North Queensland, build regional connections and create pathways for growth.

For Dr Turnour, QIBN’s journey demonstrates the value of backing Indigenous-led organisations early and supporting them to build strong foundations for long-term growth.

“The SATSIE Program was pleased to support QIBN in those important early stages, helping to put some of the foundations in place for the network to establish and grow. To see how the network has developed since then, and the connections and opportunities it is creating across Queensland, is a great outcome.”

Dr Jim Turnour, SATSIE Program Lead

Building stronger connections for the future

As Indigenous Business Month celebrates the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses, QIBN’s story demonstrates what can grow from investing in Indigenous-led ideas and organisations.

From the deep history of Indigenous trade to the relationships represented by the Gidyea Tree and the development of a statewide business network, connection remains at the heart of QIBN’s work.

The relationship between the TNQ Drought Hub’s SATSIE Program and QIBN reflects the value of long-term collaboration, strong partnerships and a shared commitment to creating opportunities for Indigenous businesses, particularly across regional and remote Queensland.