Aboriginal minds at the forefront of business in Central Australia

Arrernte man and the founder of Ltyentye Apurte based company Spinifex Skateboards Nicky Hayes. Picture: Philippe Perez/CAAMA

As part of Indigenous Business Month, many First Nations-led businesses gathered over the last few days for the tenth anniversary of the Aboriginal Economic Development Forum, being held in Alice Springs.

The conference hosted a US panel session with Native American CEOs and business owners and keynote speeches from Ernie Dingo and Rayleen Brown, the founder of Kungkas Can Cook – a catering business specialising in Central Australian bush food.

CAAMA’s Philippe Perez headed down to the conference and spoke to a couple of local Aboriginal business entrepreneurs who were speaking at the conference.

We hear from Arrernte man Declan Miller who is a graphic artist and one of the people behind Stick Mob Studio, a group of First Nations artists looking to sell works and graphic novels in Central Australia.

Arrernte man and the founder of Spinifex Skateboards company Nicky Hayes also spoke to us at the conference (audio of both interviews below).