What we covered 

Opening remarks

Jane Laverty (Regional Director, Business NSW Northern Rivers) welcomed the room with a reminder that liveability is not just a lifestyle factor, it’s a workforce advantage. “When a region is rich in culture and buzzing with visitors,” she said, “we don’t just keep talented people here. We draw more in”.

Under the Hood: Sector Deep Dive

Jane Fuller, Executive Director Arts Northern Rivers and Michael Thurston, General Manager Destination North Coast opened the day with data and insight:

• Creative industries employ over 5,200 people, making up 4% of the region’s workforce, the highest share outside of Sydney.

• The visitor economy delivers $7.7 million into the Northern Rivers daily, supporting more than 4,100 businesses and driving investment in public infrastructure.

They called for stronger recognition of the sectors as essential to regional growth, not cultural extras but economic drivers.

Perspectives panel 1: What makes a place truly liveable for locals and visitors alike?

This panel was packed with place makers & creators:

• Libby Lincoln, Executive Director, NORPA 

• Chris Tyas, Founder & Creative Director of Solhaven 

• Melissa James, CEO & Founder 

• Toby King, General Manager Crystal Castle 

• Lisa O’Meara, CEO, Screenworks 

• Aunty Delta Kay, Founder, Explore Byron Bay 

The panel explored how creative businesses can help shape more liveable places through collaboration. 

Key ideas included:

• Creativity is a catalyst and driver for strong, vibrant communities

• Liveable places are designed to foster connection, support wellbeing, and tread lightly on the environment

• Accesibility is a core element of equitable living. Make it inclusive, build it and shout about it and they will come!

• Visitors are drawn to places that offer grounding, healing, and authenticity

• Screen production can act as both a cultural asset and economic driver

• True liveability starts with caring for Country, caring for people and looking for benefit for all.

Keynote: Charlie Sutton

The Chief Design Officer at Atlassian delivered a talk on how regions can create “Thriving Environments for Creative Minds”. Drawing on two decades of global design leadership, Sutton pushed for deeper investment in creative infrastructure spaces, systems and communities that allow good ideas to take root.

Keynote: Libby Lincoln

Returning to the stage, Libby dug into Creativity, Community and Place, arguing that creative industries are engines of innovation. They model the skills our future economy demands: innovation, adaptability, collaboration and imaginative problem solving. Her question to the audience was "how do we create a region where creativity drives wellbeing, economic opportunity, social cohesion and pride?".

perspectives Panel 2: How do we keep pace with change without losing the essence of who we are?

The panel brought together business leaders, creatives, and civic voices with deep roots in the Northern Rivers :

• Pam Brook, Co-Founder Brookfarm, Cape Byron Distillery & Coolamon Community 

• Will Gammon, Founder & Director, FIN Design + Effects 

• Cr Sarah Ndiaye, Mayor Byron Shire Council

• Marlon Denning, Filmmaker

• Magdalena Roze, Journalist, Meteoroligist & Author 

• Charlie Sutton, Chief Design Officer, Atlassian

This discussion focused on growth, identity, and responsibility. The speakers and contributors shared personal insights and practical ideas for building a strong future without losing the region’s core.

Key themes:

• Business should serve community, not just profit

• Support young people with real training, jobs, and local study options

• Retain local talent by offering creative career paths in-region

• Build workplaces that are inclusive, sustainable, and connected to place

• Protect the region’s identity by leading with values, not chasing global trends

• Plan for growth without sacrificing environment or village culture

• Push for a circular economy and invest in local supply chains

• Make innovation accessible and people-centred, not just efficient

Final session: What kind of NorRivean are you?

The forum closed with a soft launch of the Northern Rivers NSW place brand quiz, What kind of NorRivean are you? Developed with the Adacy team, in collaboration with The Northern Rivers Brand, the quiz sparked conversations about the many identities that make up the region, and why that diversity is something to celebrate.

Over a working lunch, people shared their quiz results and swapped stories, about towns, rivers, families and futures.

In summary:

A strong and vibrant creative industries sector, coupled with a healthy and dynamic visitor economy, is central to liveability in the Northern Rivers.
When our region offers cultural vibrancy, authentic experiences and an enviable lifestyle, we retain and attract the skills and talent needed for our current and future workforce. In this way, investment in creativity and the visitor economy is not just cultural policy – it is economic policy, delivering long term benefits for all business and industry sectors and the broader community. 

Creative industries and the visitor economy are not side sectors – they are liveability assets, cultural amplifiers and workforce and industry enablers. 

As Jane Laverty closed the day, she reminded the room: “A truly liveable Northern Rivers doesn’t just happen, it’s created through vision, collaboration and care.”

CR8iVE was a key input for ProspER Northern Rivers - a Regional Economic and Environment Plan with a view to 2040.
If you havent already submitted your BRE Survey for ProspER or would like to know how you can contribute your ideas to the plan you can find out everything you need to know to get involved here. We need insights from the people who know business best - you!

Proceeds from CR8iVE went to Fletcher St Cottage.

Thank you to our partners 
This event was made possible by the backing of our Strategic Partners, Clarence Property, Northern Rivers Housing, Southern Cross University and Winslow and our event partners; Screenworks, Byron Community Centre, Adacy, Destination North Coast & Arts Northern Rivers. And and the support of Regional Leaders. Your investment in this work is part of what’s helping shape the future of our region.