BP supports expansion of Melbourne Business School's MURRA program for Indigenous business leaders
Australia’s only Indigenous Business Master Class program, MURRA, is expanding in 2019. For the first time, participants from not-for-profit, native title and corporate sector leaders will be invited to participate, and the number of participants welcomed into prestigious leadership development program will double.
The MURRA program, delivered by Melbourne Business School’s Asia-Pacific Social Impact Centre, comprises of three intensive, four-day modules over three months, focusing on developing leadership, strategy, business acumen and negotiation capabilities.
Dr Michelle Evans, MURRA Program Director, says Melbourne Business School has drawn on the success and learnings of the past seven years and we’re excited to be expanding the participant criteria to better serve the Indigenous business community.
“At the centre of our success lies our unique privilege to connect and nurture mutually beneficial relationships between budding Indigenous businesses and our industry and government partners. These connections support organisations deliver on their aspirations for supplier diversity, as has been the case with one of our program sponsors and valued supporter, BP Australia.”
Dr Michelle Evans, MURRA program director, Melbourne Business School
“We know business knowledge is critical to developing Indigenous economic opportunities and this applies to entrepreneurs and all Indigenous managers. By broadening the cohort, we will expand the MURRA network to promote cross sectoral collaborations and joint ventures,” Dr Evans said.
“At the centre of our success lies our unique privilege to connect and nurture mutually beneficial relationships between budding Indigenous businesses and our industry and government partners. These connections support organisations deliver on their aspirations for supplier diversity, as has been the case with one of our program sponsors and valued supporter, BP Australia.”
Lucy Nation, BP Vice President Midstream, Asia Pacific and Chairperson of BP’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), says it’s our honour to partner with the Melbourne Business School to empower Indigenous business owners and leaders to succeed.
“The graduates are not the only beneficiaries of this wonderful program; the MURRA program’s focus on strengthening the capability of Indigenous business leaders and influencers is strongly aligned with BP’s aspirations to foster greater cultural respect and increase supplier diversity,” Ms Nation said.
“It’s our honour to partner with the Melbourne Business School to empower Indigenous business owners and leaders to succeed.”
Lucy Nation, BP vice president midstream, Asia Pacific and chairperson of BP’s reconciliation action plan (RAP)
BP has been involved with the MURRA program since 2016, providing funding as well as offering industry expertise to support the curriculum. Each year, a BP executive presents to the MURRA cohort as well as attending all social networking events in the effort to connect with diverse Indigenous business people.
MURRA Alumni, Jasmin Herro, knows first-hand the value of business networks and mentorship, working with BP to establish her stationery business, Tjindgarmi, and later Tetermek, a not-for-profit foundation that was established to channel some of the Tjindgarmi profits to developing teaching resources on Indigenous culture for schools.
“BP was one of the first supporters of my Tjindgarmi business. Thanks to a very supportive and collaborative relationship, I was provided with valuable commercial guidance, especially from my mentor, which helped me grow my business and even take on new ventures,” Ms Herro said.
Notes to editors
About Melbourne Business School
Melbourne Business School is Australia's best business school, as ranked by the Financial Times. We offer a range of MBA and other post-graduate business degrees, as well as short courses and custom solutions for organisations, with a focus on improving social outcomes through initiatives such as the Asia-Pacific Social Impact Centre. The school is a not-for-profit organisation owned jointly by the University of Melbourne and the business community.
For more information about Melbourne Business School visit mbs.edu
About the MURRA Program
At the end of 2018, 136 Indigenous leaders had graduated from the MURRA program. MURRA remains unique in the Australian context – the only graduate level business education program designed for Indigenous entrepreneurs in consultation with the sector and underpinned by research. MURRA is also a central plank to the University of Melbourne’s strategy to develop 1000 Indigenous Business Leaders by 2025, with the University looking to the MURRA network to build its pipeline of undergraduate and postgraduate students.
For more information visit http://www.mbs.edu/murra-program
About BP
BP is engaged in the exploration and production of oil, natural gas and liquefied natural gas and the refining and marketing of petroleum and lubricant products in Australia. BP is a leading fuels retailer with a network of approximately 1,400 retail service stations across Australia.
Through our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), we have formalised accountabilities to help actualise the economic and social changes required to maintain Australia’s prosperity, for all Australians. Our RAP supports Indigenous communities through employment opportunities, procurement of supplies and services, strategic partnerships, fuel discounts and the sale of Opal® fuel.
For more information about BP in Australia visit www.bp.com.au
Further information
Melbourne Business School
Nick Temelkovski
Phone: +61 (0)439 346 962
Email: nick.temelkovski@mbs.edu
BP Press Office - Australia
Tara Albiston
Phone: +61 (0)410 479 002
Email: tara.albiston@bp.com