Broome’s Cultural Intelligence Project wins national NBN award

A Broome initiative which provides support for budding Aboriginal entrepreneurs has received a share in $125,000 worth of grant money after winning a National Broadband Network Corporation award.

The NBN grant program, now in its third year, aims to provide regional and remote businesses with funding to help transform their business ideas into real products and services.

The Cultural Intelligence Project won the Indigenous Business award and received a $15,000 grant to help continue its hub for First Nations entrepreneurs which host programs to accelerate learning and support development in Kimberley Aboriginal communities.

The local project based in Cable Beach joins four other winners from WA across the tourism, health and arts categories.

Expressing her love for working and living on her country, Cultural Intelligence Project founder Adele Peek said the aim of the project was to help other First Nation entrepreneurs create independent wealth.

“We support First Nation peoples to realise their entrepreneurial potential and encourage defining entrepreneurship on their own terms,” she said.

“This occurs by their being the first national innovation hub that provides physical and professional business support and access to specially designed programs and key partners who have been vetted and are experts in their fields.

“It is not often that First Nation female-owned businesses from regional, remote and rural areas receive recognition for the challenges they have to overcome in order to participate in the economy.”

The successful grant recipients were announced at an awards ceremony in Canberra on February 22.