Advance Queensland was proud to welcome three exceptional female founders at a special event held at The Precinct to share their success story and challenges as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesswomen.
Held as part of the Advance Queensland Deadly Innovation Strategy, the event, 60,000 years in the making: A First Nations Female Panel discussed how indigenous female founders can turn their ideas into reality, building wealth and creating jobs in their community.
The panel shared how they started their business, discussed some of the unique challenges they faced as a First Nations woman and offered advice to other aspiring entrepreneurs.
Panel members included:
- Ms Carol Vale, chief executive officer at Murawin, who has dedicated her career to breaking cycles of disadvantage and amplifying initiatives that contribute to improved futures.
- Ms Jo Kaczmarek, founder of Health Jobs, who is currently studying a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery.
- Ms Mindy Woods, founder and owner of Karkalla restaurant in Byron Bay and co-creator and director at Gourmet Earth. Ms Woods is the first Aboriginal female Chef Hat winner in the Australian Good Food Guide and was awarded fourth place on Season 4 of MasterChef Australia.
The audience from across business and industry were facilitated through the panel discussion by master of ceremonies Ms Mikayla French, a solicitor and proud Wagadagum woman.
The panel shared passionate and heartfelt discussion on what it meant to be Indigenous Female Founders.
Jo Kaczmarek:
“First Nations people are great at entrepreneurship because they are masters at scanning the environment, masters at iteration and masters at finding the most efficient and effective way of doing some things.”
Mindy Woods:
“I believe it’s important for female founders to know your short fallings, don’t be afraid to learn new things that challenge you as you end up needing to have to be an expert at everything.”
Carol Vale:
“Leave shame behind and back yourself, speak your truth and be the seat at the table, even if it means you’re the only First Nations person there – see this as your opportunity.”
Earlier in the day, an Advance Queensland-led workshop was held for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entrepreneurs to dig deeper into what skills, training and support is needed to inform the Accelerating Female Founders Program.
Find out more about the Advance Queensland Deadly Innovation Strategy.
