Building Global Indigenous Economic Partnerships in Canada

Representatives from First Nations Economics recently travelled to Canada as part of an Indigenous trade and collaboration delegation, joining leaders, organisations and businesses from across Australia, Canada and Aotearoa New Zealand to explore opportunities for Indigenous-led economic development and international collaboration.

The delegation, coordinated by Supply Nation with support from Austrade, included participation in the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) Indigenous Prosperity Forum in Ottawa, alongside engagements with Indigenous businesses, finance organisations and economic development leaders from across Canada.

Representing First Nations Economics, Managing Directors Rick Macourt and Shaun Cumming joined delegates in exploring opportunities to strengthen relationships between Indigenous businesses and organisations internationally, while sharing knowledge and approaches to economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, access to capital and community-led development.

Speaking from Ottawa, Rick reflected on the significance of the experience and the lessons being shared between countries.

“We’re really excited to come back to Australia and look at the ways we can address the access to capital challenge in an Australian context by learning from our friends here in Canada.”

Throughout the forum, delegates heard directly from Indigenous leaders working across finance, entrepreneurship, trade and community development sectors. Discussions highlighted the importance of Indigenous-to-Indigenous trade, shared values-based partnerships and creating long-term economic systems that support self-determination and prosperity.

Shannin Metatawabin, CEO of NACCA, described the forum as a place to “share information, build partnerships, and share success stories from Indigenous entrepreneurship in Canada,” while emphasising the importance of reconnecting Indigenous peoples globally through collaboration, trade and shared learning.

The delegation also reinforced the growing role of Indigenous businesses in the global economy. Delegates explored how Indigenous enterprises can build stronger international trade relationships grounded in trust, cultural connection and shared priorities, rather than purely transactional approaches.

For First Nations Economics, the visit reflects the organisation’s broader commitment to strengthening economic systems, supporting Indigenous entrepreneurship and fostering international partnerships that create long-term opportunities for First Nations communities.

The experience also highlighted the value of collaboration between Indigenous organisations, governments, corporate partners and entrepreneurs in creating pathways for innovation, investment and shared prosperity.

As the delegation concludes, First Nations Economics looks forward to continuing conversations with international partners and exploring how lessons from Canada can help inform future approaches to Indigenous economic empowerment in Australia.

Watch the full video to hear directly from delegates, partners and Indigenous business leaders involved in the delegation.

Gurminder Saro

Interim Chair

Associate Professor Rick Macourt is a proud, queer Gumbaynggirr man, lawyer, and economic specialist. He leads First Nations Economics as Managing Director of Strategy and Foundation and serves as Associate Dean of First Nations Strategy and Services at the University of Sydney.

With over 15 years of experience spanning government, corporate, and not-for-profit sectors, Rick is deeply committed to advancing the economic development of First Peoples. As the former Director of First Nations Expenditure and Outcomes at NSW Treasury, he spearheaded the state’s inaugural Indigenous expenditure reporting processes and established the groundbreaking First Nations budget process in 2021/22. Previously, Rick held an executive role at the Westpac Group, overseeing First Nations affairs, and has a rich history in government, monitoring, evaluation, and negotiation, with senior positions at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, City of Sydney, and Standards Australia.

Rick is a published author with Oxford University Press, a member of the First Nations Advisory Board of Siemens Australia, and a Non-Executive Director on the board of Barnardos Australia.