BLAQ DIAMONDS Women Empowerment (BDWE) proudly acknowledges Founder and Managing Director Melisa Drummond-Anderson, who was invited as a guest speaker at the First Nations Industry Yarns event, held on Wednesday 4 June 2025 in Ipswich, Queensland.
This community-led event brought together thought leaders, entrepreneurs and change-makers to discuss vital topics such as leadership, business awareness, and the power of Indigenous women in the economy.
Melisa’s keynote message, drawn from lived experience, cultural strength and her role as a national advocate for Indigenous women, was a rallying call for equity, inclusion and systems transformation.
🖤 Reclaiming Economic Power Through Culture
In her opening remarks, Melisa paid her respects to the Traditional Custodians of the land and all First Nations people present, before sharing her personal journey as a survivor, leader and founder of BDWE — a 100% First Nations female-owned business that empowers women to rise from trauma into confidence, leadership and economic independence.
“We are not just starting businesses,” Melisa said. “We are rewriting the narrative for ourselves, our families and our communities — breaking cycles of welfare dependence and building legacies rooted in culture.”
🌍 Aligning With Global Vision: UN Women’s Economic Empowerment Strategy
Melisa drew attention to the UN Women’s Economic Empowerment Strategy (2022–2025), which recognises that economic participation is essential for achieving sustainable, inclusive societies.
She highlighted how this global strategy aligns with the values and vision of BDWE — calling for culturally safe, trauma-informed and self-determined pathways for First Nations women to thrive economically and socially.
“This isn’t just about jobs or money,” she said. “It’s about restoring voice, agency and dignity to women who have carried the weight of injustice for generations.”
💎 The BDWE Model: Healing, Business & Leadership
Melisa shared how BDWE’s Next Steps program is transforming lives — moving First Nations women from trauma to training, from silence to speaking and from survival to sustainable business.
She described the role of cultural leadership and how women carry multiple identities — carers, custodians, creatives and CEOs — often navigating systems not designed for them.
“Our culture doesn’t hold us back,” she said. “It shapes our best practice. At BDWE, we walk with women who are mothers, grandmothers, carers and leaders — all while building businesses that honour their story and strengthen community.”
📊 Procurement with Purpose: Why Intersectionality Matters
Melisa made a compelling call for procurement systems that recognise and prioritise First Nations female-owned businesses, which remain largely invisible in mainstream policy frameworks.
“Too often, procurement targets are set for Indigenous businesses or women-led businesses — rarely both,” she said. “But First Nations women face unique barriers and bring unmatched strength. We need procurement that understands intersectionality — we are not just Indigenous. We are not just women. We are both — and that matters.”
🔥 Barriers and the Bold Way Forward
Melisa didn’t shy away from naming the ongoing barriers:
- Limited access to capital
- Lack of culturally safe business support
- Navigating trauma while fulfilling community obligations
- Gendered expectations and systemic bias
And yet, she stressed, First Nations women are rising.
✨ A National Movement in Motion
She reflected on the Inaugural Sistas in Business Gathering held on her Nywaigi Country in April 2025, a gathering that brought women from across Northern Australia and the Torres Strait together for healing, enterprise and connection. Supported by Good Return and the Menzies Foundation, this initiative is laying the foundation for a national sisterhood network modelled on Kimberley Jiygas and Maganda Makers in WA.
https://kimberleybirds.com.au/
https://magandamakers.business/
💜 Call to Action
Melisa closed with a powerful message of hope and a call for investment in Indigenous women-led solutions:
“Support for First Nations female entrepreneurs is not charity — it’s smart economics, true reconciliation and visionary leadership.
We’re not asking for handouts. We’re offering transformation — grounded in culture, driven by passion and built for generations to come.
Let’s walk together — from aspiration to action. Let’s invest in HER. Because when she rises, we all rise.”
📩 Want to Partner With Us?
If your organisation is ready to stand with First Nations women and support culturally grounded pathways to empowerment, connect with BDWE today.
📧 melisa@blaqdiamondswe.com.au
🌐 www.blaqdiamondswe.com.au
📱 Facebook: @blaqdiamonds2018
BLAQ DIAMONDS Women Empowerment – Where culture meets courage.