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IBA & Black Magic Woman Announce New Partnership Series!

Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) announce partnership with Black Magic Woman under an arrangement with BlackCard Pty Ltd, a 100% Aboriginal owned business.

The series will produce a set of podcasts and vodcasts featuring women in business that build conversations around economic empowerment, safety and social justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.

Influencer Mundanara Bayles is the host and creator of the Black Magic Woman series, produced by BlackCard. Mundanara is connected to the Wonnarua and Bunjalung people on her mother’s (Northern NSW) side and the Birri-Gubba and Gungalu people (Central QLD) on her father’s side.

Accor partners with BlackCard to inspire and educate team members

As part of our Indigenous Business Month series, we’re showcasing the stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses that we proudly work with.

Founded in 2013, The Australian BlackCard is a 100% Aboriginal owned business certified with Supply Nation and was established by Dr Lilla Watson and Mundanara Bayles and has been appointed as Accor’s preferred partner in Cultural Education.

Mundanara Bayles is a respected and well established businesswoman whose cultural heritage is connected to the Wonnarua and Bunjalung people on her mother’s side and the Birri-Gubba and Gungalu on her father’s side.

BlackCard is a specialist consultancy providing cultural capability training and consultancy services to enable people and organisations to work effectively with members of the Aboriginal community. Their purpose is: working with people, not for people, with the genius of Aboriginal Knowledge.

The inspiration behind BlackCard is simple, “To educate all Australians about the tens of thousands of years of knowledge that comes directly from this land.” Mundanara says.

The impact of COVID has been significant for BlackCard with the majority of their sessions involved face-to-face training and interstate travel. As a result they immediately shifted to online delivery and had to put their tourism operation, BlackCard Cultural Tours, on hold for six months resulting in the loss of income to BlackCard and also to their Aboriginal tour guides and performers.

During this period, Mundanara took the opportunity to launch her very own podcast ‘Black Magic Woman’ to stay connected to her clients while also educating the wider community.

When asked what advice she would share with Indigenous businesses, Mundanara shares “My recommendations to Indigenous businesses is to engage with their local Indigenous business sector, find out what other Indigenous businesses are operating in the community and see if there’s any events that are run by the local Indigenous Chamber of Commerce and of course promote yourself on LinkedIn.”

Accor is proud to partner with BlackCard to ensure our workplace is culturally safe for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, while also educating our team members on the true history of this nation.

Supplier Diversity Partnership of the year 2021

This year, Australia’s leading supplier diversity event, Connect, was transformed into a unique online experience, breaking down borders to support the growth of the Indigenous business sector. Supply Nation’s Connect 2021 was delivered via world-class technology, allowing greater accessibility and engagement, with plans to resume the face-to-face tradeshow event in 2022.

Hosted by renowned journalist, author and filmmaker, Stan Grant, Connect 2021 was held in May and

incorporated the Knowledge Forum, Tradeshow and Awards Show into an interactive two-day online experience.

“When I think about my ancestors and the fight, they had to fight I feel a deep sense of obligation to continue what they started. That’s one of the reasons why I went into business with my elders and started BlackCard with my co-founder Dr Lilla Watson, to provided cultural training to organisations like CommBank that enables people to work effectively with members of the Aboriginal community.

This award is a testament to all of the hard work put in over the years from all of our BlackCard team. I’d like to thank my elders, its honour to be in business with you and lastly our partners, Commonwealth Bank Australia.

Co-founder of the BlackCard Mundanara Bayles

Supply Nation magazine – November 2021