Andrew Dowding speaks on Indigenous participation in the digital economy
On the 21st of October, Winyama’s Managing Director, Andrew Dowding offered insights to 20 Perth-based Committee for the Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) trustees at the event, Mapping the Path: Digital Economy and Indigenous Engagement, which was hosted by NGIS Australia.
CEDA is an independent membership-based think tank. It provides a space for constructive conversation and debate on issues that impact economic and social development in Australia.
During the roundtable discussion, Andrew spoke of his traditional country, Moorrumburri Yinda, and the Elders he worked with at the very beginning of his business journey. For Andrew, cementing his Elder's knowledge with the help of digital mapping was the foundation of the initial service offering of Winyama. It was at this time he knew that the use case for maps within Indigenous communities was immense.
Andrew Dowding addressing CEDA trustees
Attendees heard how maps can be used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to communicate songlines, dispossession and contemporary uses of traditional land management. From those early days, Andrew shared how Winyama’s service offering has grown and continues to develop solutions which are reshaping and enhancing how geospatial technology and mapping are leveraged to improve communication and further understanding—particularly when it comes to culturally divisive gaps in a business context.
Andrew highlighted significant statistics that Supply Nation and the Australian Government has reported in recent years. For instance, how in 2018 it was found that “for every dollar of revenue, Certified Suppliers create $4.41 of economic and social value”, and in 2020 “Indigenous businesses are 100 times more likely to employ other Indigenous staff”.
This research emphasises the potential that comes with investing in First Nations businesses and how this will build a stronger economy and further social development in Australia. Andrew closed out the occasion by highlighting the importance of diversity in the tech sector, particularly if “you want solutions that come from places that you never expected.”
Do you want to read more from our Managing Director? Check out his latest written piece on the far reaching impact of Indigenous procurement.
If you would like to discuss how Winyama can assist your organisation in its efforts to provide training and opportunities to Indigenous people or access our services, get in touch with us.