Cara Peek, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Director General Heather Brayford, Kaimina Hoogland, Adele Peek.
BREAKING: Make It Happen HQ in Broome has just been awarded the prestigious Economic Development award at the 2025 7NEWS WA Community Achievement Awards, held on October 25, 2025, at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Perth. This recognition highlights the organization’s vital role in empowering local Indigenous communities through innovative programs and grants.
The award, presented by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, acknowledges organizations that enhance job creation and career opportunities in regional areas. Adele Peek, head of business strategy at Make It Happen HQ, expressed her pride, stating, “This award is a huge acknowledgment of our vision to empower Indigenous entrepreneurs across regional and remote Australia.”
Make It Happen HQ, founded by the Peek sisters, is a dynamic innovation and gaming hub dedicated to supporting First Nations entrepreneurs. Their flagship programs, EQUALIZER and Peek Performance, are designed to foster sustainable business pathways in diverse sectors, including fashion, digital design, food services, and cultural tourism.
Since its inception, Make It Happen HQ has significantly impacted the community, assisting over 50 First Nations participants in launching more than 20 businesses and generating over 60 new income streams. Remarkably, the organization has secured more than $250,000 in funding for these initiatives, demonstrating a strong commitment to economic development.
Adele Peek emphasized that Make It Happen HQ is just getting started, with plans for a new initiative on the horizon. “Our next major flagship event, Reclaim the Narrative, aims to bring capital to country and challenge perceptions while spotlighting the economic power of First Nations businesses,” she stated.
The statistics are compelling: First Nations Australians constitute only 3.8 percent of the population yet contribute over $16 billion to the GDP and employ 116,000 people, with $4 billion paid in wages. “This is not an emerging market; it’s an undervalued one. And we’re here to change that,” Peek asserted.
As part of the award, winners will receive 20 online live group coaching sessions, valued at $990, along with a trophy and a feature in a television advertisement aired across regional WA on the Seven Network.
Stay tuned for more updates as Make It Happen HQ continues its mission of driving economic empowerment in Indigenous communities and shaping a brighter future for regional Australia.
