Independent consulting firm Beca and the Indigenous Defence and Infrastructure Consortium (iDiC) have formed a strategic partnership to grow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander companies.
The partnership was announced on 17 January by Beca Australia Managing Director Craig Lee and CEO and founder of iDiC Adam Goodes and is designed to facilitate greater participation of Indigenous businesses in the delivery of long-term infrastructure projects. With the signing of the agreement, Beca becomes one of twelve iDiC strategic partners.
One of the initial joint projects undertaken under the agreement will see iDiC partner Origin Project Management (OriginPM) providing project management services to Beca for the Defence Aviation Safety Authority’s Regulation’s 139 (DASR.139) Aerodrome Transition program. Under DASR.139, all Defence aerodromes are required to be classified as Certified or Non-Certified and Beca and OriginPM will work together to assist certification of each one.
“Supporting the growth and development of Australian communities is already a cornerstone of our business, but it’s critical to be partnering with iDiC to commit to supporting and nurturing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses,” Beca’s Craig Lee commented.
“We also have a lot to gain from purchasing from Indigenous businesses beyond products or services. Sharing of knowledge and culture shifts the paradigm and provides First Australians with strength and success.”
Several areas have already been identified that will benefit the Beca workforce in this regard, including the roll-out of an education and cultural competency training program; partnering on the development of Beca’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP); the potential of supply chain integration, and joint initiatives to partner in the delivery of future projects.
“We have over 100 Indigenous businesses as part of the iDiC consortium that we will help Beca engage with, to create solutions as a supply chain aggregator and relationship manager,” Adam Goodes explained.
“We want to be part of your family and to add value where we can. That’s the best form of partnership – creating value for each other.”
Goodes said that he wanted it to be clear that the partnership had been deliberately considered to ensure both organisation’s needs and wants were represented. “The process has also been a fantastic opportunity for Beca to better understand the cultures and experiences of First Australians and to pay respects to one of the oldest civilisations in the world.”