About Us

Women's Business is a collaboration of women's organisations aligned in their passion to amplify First Nations and Culturally and Racially Marginalised (CARM) women in Australia. We work with Australian organisations providing strategies to develop programs that respectfully and authentically engage First Nations and CARM women.

Our key relationships are with Women & Leadership Australia, Women for Election,

Generation Women, Tiddas in Business and Politics in Colour Global.

Kat Henaway

Kat is a descendant of the Mer and Mua peoples of the Torres Strait Islands. She has gained significant experience working in multinational organisations in Sydney, London & Edinburgh and has worked for some of the world’s largest public and private sector companies including Andersons, ABN Amro, Société Générale in Australia, EY and Freshfields and The Pensions Regulator in UK.

Today, Kat is a an Indigenous entrepreneur specialising in Business Development. She has also designed and delivered some of the country's most innovative leadership development programs and events for First Nations and People of Colour.

She was Board Director of Women for Election Australia (2018-20), is Board Director for Bankstown Women's Health Centre (2022-23) and Indigenous Advisor to Women and Leadership Australia (2019-23).

Marie Barbaric

Marie is a proud Dunghutti and Gamilaroi woman, a mother of 5 Grandmother of 10.

Marie is CEO of Koori Kulcha Experience which provides Indigenous catering, cross-cultural training, team building workshops and Indigenous tourism. She is also Managing Director of Koori Kulcha Aboriginal Corporation, which runs Community Development Programs and is fully funded by Koori Kulcha Experience.

Marie has several decades of experience working in NSW local and state government organisations. She is a Director of Illawarra Wingecarribee Aboriginal Alliance, a Director of Hume Coal Charity and lead negotiator for OCHRE, the community focused plan of the NSW Government. Her passions include fighting homelessness and empowering marginalised women.

Learning Design and Development by Kat Henaway

2017 Emerging Indigenous Executive Leaders Program

Co-Design & Delivery of Emerging Indigenous Executive Leadership Program for AGSM at UNSW

2019 WLA Indigenous Women's leadership Symposium

2017 Emerging Indigenous Executive Leaders Program

Co-Designed & Delivery of Women & Leadership Australia’s Indigenous Women’s Leadership Symposium

2020 Political Candidate Training

2017 Emerging Indigenous Executive Leaders Program

2020 Political Candidate Training

Design & Delivery of Political Candidate Training workshops for Politics in Colour Global.

2021 Business Ready Workshops

2023 UTS - Human Centred Design workshop

2020 Political Candidate Training

Design & Delivery of Business Ready Workshops for Tiddas in Business including providing Group and One-on-One Business Mentoring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in business.

2022 WoC Executive Leadership Program

2023 UTS - Human Centred Design workshop

Design & Development of Australia’s first Women of Colour Executive Leadership Program for the Victorian Government

2023 UTS - Human Centred Design workshop

Co-facilitation with UTS on Human Centred Design in the Aboriginal Career Leadership Development Program for the NSW Public Services Commission's Leadership Academy.

status of first nations women

Fastest-growing female prison population

Over-represented in hospitalisation for family violence

First Nations women are the fastest-growing prison population, constituting 37% of the female prison population, despite making up only 2% of Australia’s total population [1]. We are imprisoned at more than 20 times the rate of non-Indigenous women [2].

Over-represented in hospitalisation for family violence

Aboriginal women here are 37 times more likely to be hospitalised than non-Aboriginal women for non-fatal family violence-related assaults[3].

Lower Workforce Participation

Less likely to be small business owner

First Nations women have a considerably lower workforce participation rate compared to all women. The average workforce participation rate for First Nations women in New South Wales aged 15–64 was 62 per cent, compared to 73 per cent for all women in New South Wales in 2019[4].

Less likely to be small business owner

First Nations people in New South Wales are less likely to be small-business owners compared to non-Indigenous people, with First Nations women more likely to experience barriers in accessing capital to start and grow businesses than non-Indigenous businesses[5].

About Us

Kat Henaway

Marie Barbaric

Learning Design and Development by Kat Henaway

2017 Emerging Indigenous Executive Leaders Program

2017 Emerging Indigenous Executive Leaders Program

2017 Emerging Indigenous Executive Leaders Program

2019 WLA Indigenous Women's leadership Symposium

2017 Emerging Indigenous Executive Leaders Program

2017 Emerging Indigenous Executive Leaders Program

2020 Political Candidate Training

2017 Emerging Indigenous Executive Leaders Program

2020 Political Candidate Training

2021 Business Ready Workshops

2023 UTS - Human Centred Design workshop

2020 Political Candidate Training

2022 WoC Executive Leadership Program

2023 UTS - Human Centred Design workshop

2023 UTS - Human Centred Design workshop

2023 UTS - Human Centred Design workshop

2023 UTS - Human Centred Design workshop

2023 UTS - Human Centred Design workshop

status of first nations women

Fastest-growing female prison population

Over-represented in hospitalisation for family violence

Over-represented in hospitalisation for family violence

Over-represented in hospitalisation for family violence

Over-represented in hospitalisation for family violence

Over-represented in hospitalisation for family violence

Lower Workforce Participation

Less likely to be small business owner

Less likely to be small business owner

Less likely to be small business owner

Less likely to be small business owner

Less likely to be small business owner

References