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• Strengthening leadership pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in business.
• Empowering First Nations people to shape their own economic futures, strengthen community-led enterprise, and lead with integrity across diverse sectors.
• Collaboration to co-develop research, education sessions, and Indigenous business case studies.
Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) and Monash University are proud to announce a new collaboration that deepens their shared commitment to empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the Master of Indigenous Business Leadership (MoIBL), a culturally grounded education and leadership development program.
The partnership aims to strengthen pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership in business through supporting students to be part of the program. This is Australia’s first Indigenous-led business master’s program, designed by Indigenous leaders and Elders to empower First Nations participants across public, private, and community sectors.
“This is more than a scholarship program - it’s a strategic investment, to help shape our Indigenous economic development and knowledge base,” said David Knights, IBA Chief Executive Officer.
“This partnership reflects our commitment to long-term, values-driven collaboration. We’re proud to partner with Monash University to support a program that is culturally grounded, academically rigorous, and transformational in its impact providing pathways that help First Nations leaders and enterprises thrive.”
Monash University shares this vision, highlighting the program’s informative approach. Katrina Johnson, a Gooreng Gooreng woman and Co- Director of Indigenous Engagement at Monash University, said that the MoIBL program is a strength-based, interdisciplinary course that equips students to lead with innovation and cultural integrity and that the partnership enables meaningful outcomes.
“This partnership with IBA enables us to create meaningful outcomes that extend beyond the classroom by empowering First Nations leaders to shape their own economic futures and strengthen community-led enterprise across the nation."
Beyond enhancing leadership excellence, the partnership will have a strong focus on co-designed research and education initiatives that may support the MoIBL program as well as communities. Under the partnership, co-authored Indigenous business case studies are envisaged, along with exploration of global Indigenous business research opportunities.
Applications for the MoIBL program are now open , and both organisations invite First Nations leaders to explore this unique opportunity.
Media contact: Katie Hoskins 02 9207 6362 or katie.hoskins@iba.gov.au or Helen Westerman 03 9903 1277 helen.westerman@monash.edu
About IBA
Economic independence for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is at the heart of what we do. Our programs support Indigenous Australians to buy their own homes, be successful in business, and invest in commercial ventures that provide strong financial returns. IBA was established under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005 (ATSI Act) and is a corporate Commonwealth entity for the purposes of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act). IBA resides in the portfolio of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and is accountable to the Australian Parliament through the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy.
About Monash University
Monash University is one of Australia’s leading universities, recognised globally for its commitment to excellence in education, research, and community impact. Monash is dedicated to advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination through culturally grounded learning and meaningful partnerships.
The Monash Master of Indigenous Business Leadership (MoIBL) is the first program of its kind in Australia, designed, taught, and shaped by Indigenous leaders, Elders, and scholars. The program strengthens the Indigenous business ecosystem by supporting First Nations leaders to grow their enterprises, deepen community impact, and lead with cultural integrity across sectors.
