What a Regional University Should Do

Ask Mike what a regional university should do and he does not hesitate.

“Universities exist to serve their communities. The Northern Rivers, Coffs and southern Gold Coast are our communities. The relationship between us and the region is symbiotic: we both succeed together or we both fail together – and failure is not an option.”

It is a blunt frame. It also fits the Northern Rivers.

This region is built on small to medium business. It carries the scars of floods and the cost of insurance. It fights for staff. It competes with capital cities for talent. The workforce challenge is real.

“The twin peaks of staff attraction and staff retention remain a major challenge in our region – particularly for employees in the twenty-forty-year-old age bracket. We need to better communicate the benefits of the Northern Rivers. It is still too well kept a secret.”

At Business NSW Northern Rivers, we see this daily. Owners who cannot fill roles. Skilled staff who leave for larger markets. Businesses that want to grow but lack capability in strategy, finance or marketing.

Mike believes the university has skin in the game.

“We want to walk this journey together with the region. I spoke earlier of a symbiotic relationship and I really mean that. A rising tide really does lift all boats.”

A New Kind of Postgraduate Study

Out of that mindset came the Industry Partner Graduate Certificates at Southern Cross University.

The thinking was simple. Regional professionals needed applied, accessible postgraduate study. They did not need theory in isolation. They needed tools they could use on Monday morning.

“We identified a need for a new kind of professional development, one that is more applied. Regional businesses kept telling us the same thing: their staff needed practical capability, confidence in decision-making, and learning they could apply immediately. We developed the Industry Partner Graduate Certificates to close this gap. They are designed with industry input, focus on real-world challenges, and provide a learning and assessment framework that helps learners build capability progressively over time. Students develop a learning portfolio that demonstrates their growth across the program. The thinking was simple: make postgraduate education accessible, relevant, and genuinely useful for small to medium sized businesses and their people.”

Built With Industry

Mike is clear on what makes the program different.

“Three things make this program stand out: (1) It is built with industry, not just aligned to it. Every element—from curriculum to assessment—is shaped by employers, practitioners, and academic experts to ensure direct workplace relevance. (2) It uses an application-first learning approach. Participants don’t just study concepts; they apply them to real business problems as they learn. Through our programmatic assessment framework, students build a coherent learning portfolio across units, culminating in an integrated, functional business plan or applied workplace project. (3) It is designed around the Southern Cross Model. Our accelerated, focused study terms allow employees to balance full-time work with manageable bursts of learning. This model has been transformative for postgraduate students who need flexibility without compromising academic quality. Overall, the program is practical, workplace-embedded, and supportive. Very different from the traditional, theory-heavy postgraduate experience.”

In plain terms, staff do not just submit assignments. They build something useful. Often an integrated business plan. Sometimes a workplace project that delivers value straight away.

“This program is designed for regional professionals wanting to strengthen their capabilities and contribute more strategically at work. It suits emerging leaders, operational staff, small business managers, and anyone seeking confidence in strategy, finance, marketing, and decisionmaking. It also supports business owners, entrepreneurs, and startup founders who need structured planning tools, as well as selfemployed practitioners who must understand customers, money, and operations.

Participants gain clearer decisionmaking skills, and businesses benefit from staff who think more strategically and communicate effectively. Through programmatic assessment, learners produce a portfolio of applied work, often an integrated business plan, demonstrating real capability and immediate organisational value.”

For a region dominated by SMEs, that matters.

Partnership in Practice

Ask Mike about partnerships and he does not default to talk about “stakeholders” and theoretical collaboration. For Mike, regional engagement is not a slogan. It is about relationships, genuine collaboration and by the sounds of it - a fairly significant commitment on his calendar.

“Our partnership with Business NSW has been remarkably rewarding and enabled me to form great relationships with many businesses in the region. I’m also on the board of Business Lismore and I already have good relationships with the CEOs of Norco, The Casino Food Company, Collins Hume, Thomas Noble Russell, WCA, Mountain Blue Farms, Summerland Bank, St. Vincents Hospital, Lismore Toyota – to name but a few. And smaller firms like GreenX7, Intelligent Directions, Basec Engineering, BMB247, Lion & Lamb – and the list goes on.”

And yes, he is generous when the topic is Business NSW.

“It is no secret that I’m a huge fan of “JLav” and the entire Business NSW team. They do an outstanding job, and I cannot imagine being able to do what I do without their support. It really is that simple.”

This is what regional economic development looks like in practice. Not press releases - relationships, coffee meetings, shared projects. In the Northern Rivers, progress moves at the speed of trust.

Leadership, Lee and Letting Go

Mikes leadership philosophy draws from an unlikely source.

“I subscribe to Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do philosophy, often called "style without style," centered on absorbing what is useful, discarding what is useless, and adding what is specifically one’s own. No leader is ‘perfect’. ALL have strengths and weaknesses. I consciously absorb the strengths and reject the weaknesses of all the leaders I have ever met.”

It is pragmatic. Take what works. Leave the rest.

The Dogs, the Chooks and the Frogmouths

When work gets heavy, he does not head to a golf course.

“Caring for my two dogs (Bruce Edward and Annie), six chooks (Amy, Beth, Daisy, Mabel Mary, Shell and Tess) and my three wild tawny frogmouths (who even allow me to stroke their chests).”

He laughs when asked about his favourite thing about the region.

“Literally EVERYTHING. But probably the lack of traffic and indeed, traffic lights! You didn’t ask, but I will tell you my least favorite thing – snakes!”

His local loyalties are clear.

“Coffee at Butcher Baker in Bangalow (made by Jason) on my way to Gold Coast or Bexhill Store on my way to Lismore. Common People Brewing Co (best beer on earth) and best pizza in NSW. And I am an Eltham Pub tragic.”

An Open Door

When asked what drives him in the role, he does not talk about rankings or funding.

“Gratitude. Every day I am grateful to live and work here.”

For business leaders who have not yet engaged with Southern Cross University, he keeps it simple.

“You are missing out on great opportunities – but it’s never too late to reach out – our doors are always open.”

In a region that has faced floods, labour shortages and rising costs, that message matters. The Northern Rivers does not need more theory. It needs capability. It needs people who can think strategically and act locally.

Southern Cross University is betting on that future. Professor Mike Ewing is betting on this place.

regional leaders academy

If you are serious about building capability inside your business, this is your moment. Through the new Regional Leaders Academy, Business NSW Northern Rivers and Southern Cross University are inviting members to nominate team members for a fully sponsored Industry Graduate Certificate commencing March 2026 . These programs are practical, flexible and built for regional employers. Small Business Management. Circular Economy. Real skills applied in real time. Places in the founding cohort are limited. Register your interest, nominate your people, and invest in the kind of leadership our region needs next.
You can find out more below.

Not a Regional Leader member? You are still very welcome to apply for any of the Industry Graduate Certificates directly.
Apply Now.