Events & Webinars
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Strengthening the Voice of Business in the Mid North Coast
About Business NSW
We are the peak advocate for business in our region, working to ensure the Mid North Coast remains the best place to live and work.
As part of the Business NSW network, we combine strong local insight with the influence of a state-wide organisation. This enables us to represent Mid North Coast businesses at local, state and federal levels, advocating with integrity, purpose and a clear focus on economic growth.
We understand the unique challenges and opportunities facing our region. Through strong relationships, practical support and meaningful collaboration, we help businesses operate with confidence, adapt to change and achieve sustainable success.
What we do for you
We support Mid North Coast businesses and their leaders by strengthening regional influence, driving strategic outcomes, and creating the conditions for long‑term economic growth. Our role is to elevate the collective voice of industry and build meaningful stakeholder relationships to ensure the region is positioned for future competitiveness.
We work alongside Regional Leaders to address the Mid North Coast’s most pressing challenges: skills and workforce pathways, industry capability, investment attraction, government engagement, and regional identity. Through high‑value connections, evidence‑based advocacy, and access to timely economic and industry insights, we help leaders shape strategy, inform decisions, and influence meaningful change.
Our services include:
- Advocacy and Influence, shaping policy and regulatory settings through united, evidence‑based representation
- Strategic Relationships, connecting regional leaders with industry, government, and regional stakeholders to accelerate collaboration
- Government Engagement, providing direct access to Ministers, advisors, and agencies to remove barriers and unlock opportunity
- Economic and Industry Insights, delivering data, trends, and analysis to support informed decision‑making
- Leadership Development, strengthening the capability of established and emerging leaders through targeted programs
- Skills, Training and Workforce Pathways, aligning industry needs with education and talent pipelines
- Networking and Connection, facilitating meaningful engagement with senior leaders and decision‑makers across the region
- Brand Awareness and Visibility, positioning your organisation as a recognised leader through events, partnerships, and profile‑building initiatives
- Thought Leadership and Regional Collaboration, shaping regional conversations and strengthening a shared identity across the Mid North Coast
Everything we deliver is grounded in professionalism, accountability, and a deep understanding of the region’s economic landscape. We help leaders navigate complexity, build influence and drive outcomes that strengthen both their organisation and the future of the Mid North Coast.
Meet the Mid North Coast Team
Rod Barnaby is the Regional Director of Business NSW for the Mid North Coast, where he champions regional business growth, resilience and collaboration across the region.
A long-standing advocate for regional Australia, Rod brings deep experience working across business, community and government. His background spans military and commercial operations, business ownership, and complex stakeholder environments, equipping him with strong leadership, strategic judgement and a practical, outcomes-focused approach.
Rod has led and contributed to innovative regional projects across biodiversity, land stewardship and workforce development, including initiatives supporting Indigenous employment and emerging environmental markets. Since then, he has been closely involved in supporting Mid North Coast businesses through periods of disruption and recovery, with a clear focus on strengthening regional economies by backing local businesses and ensuring regional voices are heard in decision-making.
Lauren Charlton is the Strategic Partnerships Manager at Business NSW Mid North Coast, where she works closely with business leaders to build strong, enduring relationships that support regional growth and advocacy.
With a professional background spanning senior hospitality and club management roles across regional NSW and metropolitan Sydney, Lauren brings a deep understanding of member-based organisations, commercial operations, and relationship management. Her experience includes general management, people and culture leadership, and high-level stakeholder engagement.
Having grown up in regional Australia, Lauren has a genuine appreciation of the challenges and opportunities facing regional businesses. She brings this perspective to her work every day, connecting leaders with the networks, insights and support they need to remain engaged, informed and confident as part of the Business NSW community.
Carla Caswell is the Regional Coordinator at Business NSW Mid North Coast, supporting the delivery of regional programs, events and engagement activities that connect the local business community.
With experience across digital marketing, operations and client relationship management, Carla brings a highly organised, detail-focused approach to supporting the regional team. She has worked with global brands and small business owners alike, giving her a strong appreciation of both strategic planning and practical delivery.
Having lived and worked across South Africa, the United Kingdom and Indonesia, and as a former small business owner, Carla brings a strong cross-cultural perspective and a practical understanding of business realities, helping ensure Business NSW events and programs are well-managed, relevant and valuable for members.
