From a single truck just over 15 years ago, First Nations and family-owned civil contracting, transport and waste-to-resource company Eather Group has grown to 20 vehicles plus heavy machinery and equipment.

Even with this rise, "it's really important to keep showing up" to Indigenous business summits with what's on offer, co-founder Sally-Ann Eather says.

NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce (NSWICC) estimates the contribution of First Nations businesses to the state economy at around $2 billion.

The Chamber's membership sits at around 600.

Many of those are on Wonnarua Country this week for NSWICC's annual summit.

These businesses, many leading the way, are making impact in a breadth of sectors from construction, infrastructure and professional services to creative industries, Chamber chief executive and Gomeroi woman Deb Barwick told National Indigenous Times.

"Before procurement policies came into play, which were all about bringing equity in the supply chains of governments, they were quoting around $6,000 per annum with Aboriginal business," Ms Barwick said.

"To see it now into a couple of billion, it's a proud moment for us as the Chamber, and it's a proud moment for our members that they are leading the way and contributing that sort of value into the economy of New South Wales."

The Summit is in its fifth year in the Hunter Valley.

Relationships are vital to procurement success, Ms Barwick believes, with contract meetings made at the event leading to outcomes throughout the year.

In 2026, women-owned businesses are being specifically celebrated, with initiatives to foster future generations also a new addition.

Networking and trade show are central to day one, with the 'Knowledge Forum', canvassing policy, procurement, opportunity, culture and capability on the agenda day two.

Aboriginal businesses are in the room government and corporate procurement teams throughout, Ms Barwick explained.

For Eather, with a business footprint across Greater Sydney, the Hunter and regional project sites, also delivering also crushing and screening and bulk earthworks, there's value in coming to connect as the Aboriginal business sector continues to grow, Ms Eather said.

"It's been really great to connect with other Indigenous businesses as well as clients, and it's been really great to see the Indigenous business sector develop over the years and mature," she said.

"There's new businesses who have come in. Businesses have grown just like ours have, so their capabilities are now increased. And then also the clients' needs have changed over the years as well, so It's really important to keep showing.

"We get to bond with everyone as well. It's like coming home to a family reunion."

Dottbuild Constructions is a Sydney-based multi-trade builder delivering office fitouts, refurbishments and renovations — for government agencies.

Managing director Corey Dotti has been coming to the summit for four or five years. He said the relationships built over that time "have really helped us get into a position where we are today."

Killara cleaning services turns over around $50 million of revenue, servicing over 1500 sites daily for 200 clients, and employing over 700 staff nationwide.

Is Dominique Elsbet head of bid management. She sees events like the NSWICC's Summit as part of its community role.

"It's all about mob and family and community," Ms Elsbett said, "and the more that we can support each other, the more that everyone gets lifted up."

Entrepreneurs. Innovators. Creating wealth in their own communities and families

In 2026, the Summit introduced the Yinnau Numbley Corridor, a dedicated space for a growing cohort of women-owned businesses making an impact.

Women-owned Aboriginal businesses have grown significantly over the past decade, Barwick said, and an upward trajectory continues.

"Our culture is all about working together and supporting each other...reciprocity kicks in," she said.

"We quite often witness our women coming together and pursuing business opportunities together, and that flows out to the broader membership as well.

Many are pooling capability and capacity through the Chamber to chase bigger opportunities, Ms Barwick added.

"Women are certainly leading the way," she said.

The next generation

School students from around the Hunter and close-by Central Coast got a taste of things in 2026.

"The aim was to really start to plant the seed while they're still in school, so that they know that there are these huge opportunities for them," Ms Barwick said.

A few Dozen stalls, from Defence Forces to STEM, police, construction, manufacturing and the options TAFE offers were there for the schoolkids to see what's out there at the Summit's Employment and Careers Expo.

Ms Opie, Year 10 adviser at Francis Greenway High School just outside of Newcastle, said it broadens horizons, and the schoolkids there take a lot more out of it than the trinkets on offer at stalls.

"I've had a couple of students go to careers expos and tell me about careers they'd never even heard about before," she said.

"I think a lot of the time, for all students, but particularly Aboriginal students, the old saying, 'You can't be it if you don't see it [applies],'" TAFE NSW Aboriginal Strategic Partnerships and Programs manager Janaya Field said.

"TAFE offers so much. We're able to offer mainstream courses, but also bespoke and contextualised training courses as well. So I think it opens the door, and at the end of the day, TAFE is really the conduit from where a student is to the job they want. So we'll be able to provide that pathway."