With just days to go until the Hunter Innovation Festival, the final speakers and panellists have been locked in along with participants from the EV cleantech showcase – and what a program it is! The Festival is happening next Thursday, October 19 at Newcastle City Hall and the final program is now available.
Keynote speakers include Australian business and finance leader and Executive Chairman of Yellow Brick Road Home Loans Mark Bouris AM, NSW Modern Manufacturing Commissioner Lisa Emerson, 2021 Newcastle Citizen of the Year and 2023 NAIDOC Person of the Year, Professor Kelvin Kong, and Port of Newcastle’s Chief Commercial Officer, Simon Byrnes. They will be joined by inspiring local business leaders from a broad range of sectors.
“The growing profile of the Hunter Innovation Festival is reflected by the profile of our keynote speakers, as we focus on expanding our reach and connectedness beyond the Hunter to other regional and capital innovation ecosystems. The hard work, collaboration and influence of our amazing local businesses, both large and small, is on display throughout the roadshow October 9-13. On October 19 it all comes together in one place, where we know from experience that plenty of connections, partnerships and exchange of ideas will take place,” Mr Brennan said.
The Hunter Innovation Festival also includes a carefully curated lineup of exhibitors from across the region including start-ups, scale-ups, investors, innovators, incubators and accelerators.
Mr Brennan added: “Well-known local innovators and scale-ups will be on display like . The exhibition will offer an opportunity to talk directly with founders, investors, and big thinkers, potentially creating the spark of inspiration that will lead to our next innovation success story.
“In the context of a growing sense of urgency to improve global supply chains, access scarce materials, drive the rapid creation of critical infrastructure and achieve net zero emissions, innovation and collaboration has never been more important. Platforms like the Hunter Innovation Festival are essential to allow connections to be forged, relationships established, and solutions ideated to the issues facing our economy, and we are very excited to measure the outcomes of the whole event.”
The Festival conference follows the Hunter Innovation Roadshow that kicked off earlier in the month with stops at Muswellbrook, Singleton, Port Stephens, Maitland and Lake Macquarie. Participants had the opportunity to meet experienced Business Connect advisors who shared information on how to get their projects off the ground.
Festival organisers have experienced robust ticket sales for the Conference, and anticipate a sold out City Hall on the day, creating an electrifying atmosphere of innovation and possibility.