A landmark collaborative project evaluating tier-one procurement frameworks has been successfully showcased at the annual AEMEE Conference in Cairns. Co-delivered by AEMEE leadership and expert researchers from the University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI)—specifically the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM)—the benchmarking initiative independently reviewed Rio Tinto Iron Ore’s internal sourcing strategies, cross-cultural competence, and contractor engagement models.
Utilising AEMEE’s specialized Indigenous Business Procurement Evaluation Checklist, the project moves beyond generic corporate indicators to establish clear, objective best practices. This transparency provides resource operators with a practical roadmap to shift from basic supply chain box-ticking to deep, permanent commercial equity that strengthens First Nations economic independence on Country.
Indigenous business procurement project showcased at national conference. Read the full article here.