02/09/2026
A couple of weeks on, we’re still reflecting on a fantastic two days at Connect 2026.
A big thank you to Commonwealth Bank for inviting our Managing Director, Lene Sjobrend, and to Supply Nation for bringing Connect to Perth this year.
This year’s theme was Journey, and it felt particularly fitting.
Connect brings together Indigenous businesses, corporates and government from across Australia to create genuine relationships and real business opportunities. We went to listen and learn.
Genuine supplier diversity isn't built through a single conversation or a box-ticking exercise. It starts with showing up, staying curious, and following through when a connection has real potential. That resonates strongly with us.
As we celebrate our 25th year, we can look back at a business that has changed and adapted considerably along the way. But curiosity, diversity of thinking and the desire to keep doing better have always remained important parts of who we are. We’re fortunate to already work with a number of Indigenous businesses, but Connect introduced us to many more - engineers, furniture suppliers, environmental consultants, great chocolate, very good coffee, even some new PJs - and several of those conversations are already turning into potential opportunities.
Day One was about listening, learning and being inspired by an incredible range of speakers. Day Two was about meeting people, discovering businesses and starting new conversations, capped off by the Gala Awards Dinner celebrating some remarkable achievements.
One thing that particularly stood out to Lene, as the owner of a female-led business, was the number of impressive Indigenous women building businesses that create opportunities not only for themselves and their families, but for their communities.
Connect 2026 gave us new knowledge, new perspectives, plenty of inspiration and, most importantly, the beginning of some new relationships.
Thank you Supply Nation. We hope to see Connect back in Perth again soon.
