Heath Nelson

2019 Cohort

Heath is building Indigenous business capability through the implementation of Indigenous procurement targets and strategies, opening doors of opportunity to Indigenous entrepreneurs.

Heath is the Manager of Community Development at Fortescue Metals Group.

Heath joined Fortescue Metals in 2011 to increase the engagement and participation of Indigenous businesses. He pioneered the Billion Opportunities program which has awarded over $2 billion in contracts to over 100 Indigenous businesses in the past six years. The Billion Opportunities program was the blueprint for the Forrest Review’s Government Indigenous procurement recommendation which lead to the release of the Commonwealth Government’s Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP) in July 2015. The IPP has resulted in over $1 billion in Commonwealth contracts awarded to Indigenous businesses over the past three years.

“I am invested in the increased economic participation of Indigenous owned businesses, which leads to the advancement of the socio-economic and well-being of Indigenous people. This in turn leads to generational improvements in living, education and health standards. I strive to influence government agencies and the corporate sector on providing platforms and pathways for Indigenous employment, wealth creation, capacity building and role modelling.”

Social change work

Heath’s social change project is to advocate, establish and enhance the Indigenous economic landscape through procurement.