Ron Morony

As outgoing General Manager of Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), I invite you to enjoy issue four of Inspire, our economic development magazine.

This magazine and your readership has allowed me to regularly share the kind of experiences that have been ongoing personal highlights of my nearly 13 year career at the helm of IBA.

These experiences are from Indigenous individuals and families who, with a great sense of pride, have joined the ranks of the home ownership community or developed successful businesses. Indigenous Australians from all around the country who are combining the resources and choices available through IBA’s programs and services with their own formidable passion and drive to achieve remarkable outcomes.

As diverse as their background and experiences may be, all have in common a willingness to push through barriers and their own assumptions about what might be possible in taking that important step towards economic independence.

These success stories should remind us that we cannot underestimate the ability and desire of Indigenous Australians to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of their communities.

It is just such quiet achievers who I encourage you to consider and acknowledge during NAIDOC Week (external website, new window) 2010. Held 4–11 July, this week of celebration provides all Australians with an opportunity to reflect on, and celebrate the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through a host of local and national activities. During that week, IBA will reflect on its own successes and acknowledge 20 years of its contribution towards the economic development of Indigenous Australians.