Wesfarmers has announced the winners of its annual Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Awards. The awards celebrate team members across the Group who make exceptional contributions to advancing reconciliation in their businesses and in the community. 

Previously, Wesfarmers celebrated the achievements of team members in two categories, the Employment Champion and the Supplier Diversity Champion.  A new award, the Community and Culture Champion, was added this year to recognise a team member who embodies the essence of reconciliation in their business by celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and building stronger communities.  

Wesfarmers is committed to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people feeling welcome in our businesses as team members, suppliers, customers and community members.  

“Our vision for reconciliation is an Australia that affords equal and equitable opportunities to all,” Wesfarmers Managing Director Rob Scott said. “This year’s winners were chosen from a strong field of nominees across all our businesses, and they have shown exceptional dedication, enthusiasm and a commitment to reconciliation at Wesfarmers and in the community. I’m proud to work alongside all the winners and the teams they work with and applaud their outstanding efforts to help advance reconciliation in Australia.” 

The winners were selected by the Wesfarmers RAP Steering Committee, which includes two external leaders in the Aboriginal business and community sectors.  

Award winners (Images available upon request)  

Employment Champion - Bayley Mifsud and Angie Lie – Officeworks 

This is awarded to a team member who has gone above and beyond to employ, retain and develop Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander team members. 

This year, Bayley and Angie were jointly recognised for their incredible work over the last 12 months in leading Indigenous employment initiatives at Officeworks and for their passion for Indigenous culture. The proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander team members working at Officeworks now exceed the proportion of the Indigenous population in Australia (approximately three per cent).  

At the start of the financial year 2021, Officeworks had 190 Indigenous team members or 2.4 per cent representation. Over the course of the year, Bayley and Angie have worked tirelessly to increase Indigenous team member numbers to around 330, or 3.8 per cent representation by 30 June 2021. 

Supplier Diversity Champion - Alice Burney – Bunnings 

This is awarded to a team member who has gone above and beyond to increase their business’ spend with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business, or to identify new supplier opportunities for engagement. 

Alice has been instrumental in implementing a new range of Indigenous pots at Bunnings, in partnership with artists from Warlukurlangu and an existing supplier, Homewares.  

Warlukurlangu is a wholly-owned Aboriginal art centre in Central Australia, run by an executive committee of men and women representing the Yuendumu community. The 16 pots feature traditional artwork from 13 artists in the remote communities of Yuendumu and Nyirripi, as part of the core range and are available in Bunnings stores and online. 

Community and Culture Champion - Donna Yates - Bunnings 

This is awarded to a team member who embodies the essence of reconciliation in their business, by celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and building stronger communities.  

Donna is an outstanding supporter and influencer across the WA-based Bunnings operation, leaders and teams more broadly. Donna was nominated because she is an outstanding individual who is tireless in helping her team achieve their best and for her support of the Bunnings Indigenous Affairs team, to achieve the strategic pillar of building diversity and inclusion. 

Her ability to quickly respond to community requests for support has made a significant difference in many diverse settings, from small community organisations through to missions, and supported the successes we are seeing in Indigenous employment in Western Australia.