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Kicking goals with Adam Goodes for Indigenous businesses

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Trish Sunga Trish Sunga Australasia Press Office,Sydney
16 August 2019

Adam Goodes may have retired from professional football, but as CEO of the Indigenous Defence & Infrastructure Consortium (iDiC), he is still putting points on the board – this time for Indigenous businesses, lining up with Arup.

iDiC supports its consortium partners of around 90 Indigenous businesses by navigating the supply chain requirements of large companies, identifying business opportunities and partnering with large companies, which can be daunting for small to medium businesses. 

Arup has now signed a national partnership agreement with iDiC as part of our commitment to support the growth of the Indigenous business sector in Australia. 

Pictured signing the agreement from left to right - Ross Campbell, Adam Goodes, Peter Chamley and George Mifsud Pictured signing the agreement from left to right - Ross Campbell, Adam Goodes, Peter Chamley and George Mifsud
Pictured left to right – Ross Campbell (formerly Arup), Adam Goodes (iDiC), Peter Chamley (Arup) and George Mifsud (iDiC)

Among other undertakings, we will assist iDiC by helping to include Indigenous businesses in the supply chain. 

iDiC will support Arup with the implementation of our Reconciliation Action Plan and help build capability of Indigenous businesses while working on specific projects in the Australian market.

“

I’m totally convinced that all of Arup will be keen to see this opportunity, this partnership with iDiC, delivering great outcomes for small to medium sized Indigenous businesses. ”

Peter Chamley Peter Chamley Former Chair, Australasia Region

The partners have recently landed their first major contract.

Goodes is pleased with the development.“Our engagement is proof of Arup’s real commitment to working with Indigenous businesses as a meaningful partner; it is not just a box ticking or tokenistic gesture,” he said. 

“The shared values that we have really excite me, and we’re looking forward to the outcomes we can achieve.”

“

This strategic agreement is about how we’re going to work together to grow capability of the Indigenous business sector, to help Arup with its Indigenous engagement, but most importantly, we get to be a part of the planning phase for projects Arup is involved in, and we’ll be able to map out the Indigenous engagement. ” Adam Goodes iDiC CEO

Adam Goodes presenting to Arup staff in Melbourne Adam Goodes presenting to Arup staff in Melbourne
“

We’re excited to be entering into an agreement with a company whose values so closely match our own. Our company is owned by our people, so we are free to live our values. And a big one is social inclusion. ” Ross Campbell Former Australasia Highways Leader