Meet the UNSW First Nations Business Society's Executive Leadership Team

Established in 2022, the UNSW First Nations Business Society is dedicated to empowering First Nations students to thrive at UNSW Business School, contributing to the growth of the Indigenous Business sector in collaboration with industry and government partners, and the wider community.

UNSW First Nations Business Society is pioneering community-led initiatives within business. With over 50 members (and growing) our students range in experience from first-year undergraduate students, to working professionals with decades of experience to successful entrepreneurs. The society works with more than 10 industry partners to build on the many different pathways for its members to become the future business leaders they aspire to be.

The society offers employment pathways, mentor programs, skills building through masterclasses, personal brand building, and community events. The society is open to all UNSW Indigenous Business school students across all degree pathways and alumni.

The UNSW Business School EDI is honoured to introduce you to one of our 2024 UNSW First Nations Business Society's Executive Leadership Team Members: Emma Comninos, a proud Gumbaynggirr women, Bachelor of Actuarial Studies/Bachelor of Commerce (Finance), Vice President of UNSW First Nations Business Society.

Dream career or industry to work at: to as a professional services firm around finance or consulting.

Why did you choose to a Business Degree? And what led you to study at UNSW?

I chose business because I had always seen myself beginning my career in a corporate space to understand business from a large corporation’s perspective. I initially considered Law but after developing a love of maths during my last few years of high school, business was the clear choice for me.

I chose UNSW for its reputation, convenience and my family’s experiences with UNSW; my parents are both UNSW alumni, with my mother being one of the first 100 Indigenous law graduates, and my brother recently graduated with an engineering degree. Their positive feedback about UNSW greatly influenced my decision.

How has your experience helped you make a positive impact in your degree, career and/or community?

Participating in various internships alongside my degree has been incredibly beneficial. These experiences have helped me feel confident and have allowed me to narrow down the specific areas I want to focus on in my future career.

How has UNSW prepared you to lead in the workplace and community once you graduate?

UNSW has prepared me for leadership in several ways:

• Many courses emphasize critical thinking, particularly in the Bachelor of Commerce degree’s Integrated First Year (IFY) structure, setting a solid foundation for success throughout the degree.
• The university offers numerous opportunities, such as internships and connections to university societies.
• They also host numerous events, especially for First Nations students. For example, I have had the opportunity to teach at Indigenous business pre-programs and participate in the first Indigenous Business Case Competition.

These experiences have helped me feel immersed in both the business workplace and the wider community.

What inspired you to join the UNSW First Nations Business Society? Tell us a bit about your Executive role.

I was inspired to join after interning at an ethically responsible superannuation firm in the summer of 2022. This experience opened my eyes to the impact of business as a driver for change and motivated me to encourage other mob to go through a business route to have more power to create the changes we want to see.

What initiatives or activities do you run? How is this making a positive impact on Business School Indigenous Students?

We host masterclasses for our members, such as an upcoming one we are discussing with EY, which will help us critically read newspapers and understand their economic impact and insight for business growth.

We extend invitations to networking events with our sponsors to our members and the broader First Nations community within the Business School. These events help us build connections and gain exposure to different industries.

Our sponsors also provide mentors for eager students, offering guidance on applying to specific companies and providing insights into work and life in general.

How is UNSW Business School helping to improve Indigenous representation within the business sector? And how is the society helping to improve this?

UNSW Business School is highly supportive of any initiatives we want to lead within the First Nations Business Society, ensuring our goals align with improving Indigenous representation in the business sector. This support allows our initiatives to remain community and student-led.

The Business School also runs Indigenous Business pre-programs, offering potential students a taste of commerce courses and providing alternate pathways into university. Our members and executives actively participate in these programs and help mentor future students whether they choose to undergo a university degree or go into the corporate sector post high school. 

UNSW Business School strives to cultivate a welcoming environment that supports all Indigenous business students - from their first enquiry to graduation and beyond.

We provide ongoing advocacy and support for Indigenous business students and graduates. We support students to achieve their best throughout their studies and academic, career mentoring and industry opportunities in Australia and overseas.

Find out more about the UNSW First Nations Business Society. 

Find out more about UNSW Business School's Indigenous Engagement.