How MCB engaged with First Peoples business event suppliers

In 2023 and 2024 the Melbourne Convention Bureau actively sought ways to work with local Indigenous businesses to create a concept and activations for the Melbourne, Victoria stand at the Asia Pacific Meetings and Incentives Event (AIME).

In 2023, the Melbourne, Victoria stand showcased the city’s storied culture, kicking off every morning with a Yidaki performance by Kiernan Ironfield. The top floor of the stand was transformed into The Yarning Area, with a café serving coffee, Blak Brews tea and sweet treats by Jarrah Catering.

Visitors were treated to a Worn Gundidj Ice Cream pop up celebrating native Indigenous flavours. While Jarrah Boy beer flowed at happy hour and tastebuds tingled with a cold cooking demonstration and tasting of Wallaby Tartare with Finger Lime by the National Indigenous Culinary Institute.

For AIME 2024, MCB engaged with Little Rocket to design bright Indigenous-inspired artwork for the booth’s exterior and interior cladding, and Alchemy Orange to bring organic style and beauty with architectural floral arrangements.

Visitors to the stand caught Taungurung fine artist Mick Harding conducting a traditional shield wood burning demonstration and facilitator Lee Couch giving a mini traditional practices workshop in mindfulness.

Pawa Catering provided stand visitors with native-fusion sweet treats and a Taka gin tasting, Loco for Cocoa dished out tastings of their premium couverture chocolate, and musician Kiernan Ironfield returned to perform a Welcome to Country.

Other examples of business events working with Indigenous suppliers

Rotary International Convention

Rotary International worked with an Indigenous artist to create a logo incorporating Aboriginal artwork for their 2023 Rotary International Convention in Melbourne.

Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME)

The event planners for AIME, Talk2Media, partnered with Indigenous-owned Little Rocket to produce artwork for AIME 2023’s 30th anniversary lanyard design. They partnered again with Little Rocket for AIME 2024 to introduce this Indigenous artwork across the event's overall branding.