Ember Connect and Minderoo Foundation have launched a new three-year partnership to support the growth of Ember Connect’s national digital community for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
The partnership will support the charity to strengthen its core operations, grow its reach and deepen its impact across Australia. It will help the organisation continue building a trusted digital community that connects First Nations women to networks, mentoring, learning, resources, business and career opportunities, cultural connection and pathways into leadership.
Since launching in 2022, Ember Connect has grown to a community of more than 5,000 First Nations women members and more than 1,100 allies across Australia. Through its digital platform, programs, grants, events, mentoring and partnerships, Ember Connect works to strengthen social capital, increase economic participation and create pathways for First Nations women to live a life of choice, not chance.
The new partnership comes at an important time for Ember Connect, following the appointment of Latoya Bolton as the organisation’s inaugural CEO and the commencement of work on its next three-year strategic plan.
Ember Connect Chair Eve Howell said the partnership was an important endorsement of the organisation’s vision and potential.
“This partnership is a significant moment for the charity. It gives us the stability and support to build on the strong foundation created over the past few years and to keep growing a national community where First Nations women can connect, share, lead and access opportunities that support their aspirations.”
“At its heart, Ember Connect is about backing the strength, capability and leadership of First Nations women. With Minderoo Foundation’s support, we can continue to build ourmodel that is grounded in trust, cultural safety and the voices of our members.”
Ember Connect CEO Latoya Bolton said the partnership would help strengthen the organisation’s next phase of growth.
“First Nations women bring extraordinary leadership, knowledge, creativity and community strength. Ember Connect has already shown the power of bringing women together through a national digital community, and this partnership will help us deepen that work and create even stronger pathways into opportunity.”
Minderoo Foundation CEO John Hartman said this partnership reflects a shared commitment to community-led change.
“At Minderoo Foundation, we know that lasting change is driven by communities themselves,” Mr Hartman said.
“Ember Connect has built a powerful, trusted community that is connecting First Nations women to opportunities, networks and support across Australia, and we are proud to support its next phase of growth.”
Over the next three years, Ember Connect will focus on growing and deepening its national digital community, strengthening youth engagement, improving pathways into education, employment and enterprise, and building a stronger evidence base to inform future practice, investment and systems change.
The partnership was formally launched at an event at Minderoo Foundation’s offices on Monday 17 August 2026, bringing together Ember Connect members, partners, funders and supporters.