Northern Rivers Catalyst Summit

OPENING THE DAY

The Summit opened with an Acknowledgement of Country from Oliver Costello, CEO of Jagun Alliance Aboriginal Corporation, who grounded the day in Country, culture and collective stewardship.

Oliver invited delegates to think deeply about what it really means to prosper in the Northern Rivers - not only in economic terms, but through cultural integrity, environmental responsibility, community wellbeing and care for Country.

It was a powerful and fitting opening to a day focused on the future of the region.

ProspER NORTHERN RIVERS LAUNCH

A major milestone of the day was the official launch of ProspER Northern Rivers, the Regional Economic and Environmental Plan to 2040.

Launched by the Hon. Janelle Saffin MP, ProspER brought together government, business, industry and community leaders around a shared vision for the region’s future.

The launch acknowledged the extraordinary resilience of the Northern Rivers through floods, fires, the pandemic and ongoing economic change, while also reinforcing the need to move beyond recovery and towards long-term prosperity.

Jane Laverty, Regional Director of Business NSW Northern Rivers, outlined the extensive engagement that shaped the plan, with the themes of People, Planet and Place sitting at its foundation.

Presenting Partner Professor Ben Roche from Southern Cross University spoke to the importance of impact, highlighting the role of collaboration, research, innovation and local partnerships in shaping the region’s future.

Across the launch, one message came through strongly: the future of the Northern Rivers will be built through shared leadership, long-term thinking and collaboration over competition.

To find out more about ProspER Northern Rivers: prosper.northernriversnsw.com.au

JAMES O’LOGHLIN: INNOVATION IS A STATE OF MIND

Keynote speaker and MC James O’Loghlin set the tone for the day with his keynote, Innovation is a State of Mind.

James challenged delegates to see innovation not as something reserved for inventors or entrepreneurs, but as a practical discipline available to every business, organisation and leader.

Drawing on his experience working with inventors, entrepreneurs and businesses, he reminded the room that innovation often begins with a simple but powerful question: how could this be done better?

James explored the barriers that so often hold innovation back - lack of time, fear of failure, habitual thinking and assumptions that no longer serve us — while encouraging leaders to create space for reflection, experimentation and improvement.

His message was energising and timely: technology, including AI, only creates value when it is applied to real problems, real opportunities and real human needs.

It was the perfect opening keynote for a Summit focused on catalysts for change.

EVENTS AS A CATALYST 

The first major conversation of the day explored Events as a Catalyst, with a particular focus on the opportunity presented by the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Led by Rod McGeoch AO, who played a central role in securing the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, the session invited the Northern Rivers to think bigger about legacy, readiness and regional opportunity.

Rod shared powerful insights into the planning, partnerships and community mobilisation required to turn major events into lasting impact.

He challenged the region to consider how Brisbane 2032 could create opportunities well beyond the host city - from pre-Games training camps and athlete accommodation to international visitation, volunteer participation, tourism development and regional profile.

Rod was joined by Giaan Rooney OAM OLY, Nicole Reeve and Michael Thurston, who brought perspectives from sport, business, major events, tourism and destination development.

Together, the panel reinforced that legacy does not happen by accident. It requires early planning, regional collaboration, infrastructure readiness, destination marketing and the confidence to act before the opportunity arrives.

The conversation made clear that the greatest benefit will not come from a short-term visitor spike, but from the long-term investments, partnerships and positioning that help the Northern Rivers become part of the Brisbane 2032 story.

INFRASTRUCTURE AS A CATALYST 

The Infrastructure as a Catalyst panel shifted the conversation from what gets built to what becomes possible because of what gets built.

The discussion explored how strategic investment can unlock housing, productivity, workforce development, community wellbeing and long-term regional confidence.

Jack Williamson highlighted the role of knowledge infrastructure through Southern Cross University, showing how education, research, workforce capability and innovation partnerships can support both industry growth and regional resilience.

Damian Chapelle brought the conversation back to housing delivery and development feasibility, highlighting how roads, sewerage, utilities and enabling infrastructure remain critical barriers to unlocking supply and meeting regional need.

Kim Mallee explored how renewable energy infrastructure can create broader community benefit when local people are involved in planning, governance and investment decisions.

Dean Cooper shared the success of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail as a regionally significant project that connects communities, activates towns, supports local business, strengthens tourism and contributes to community wellbeing.

Together, the panel reinforced a central message of the Summit: infrastructure is not simply a cost. Done well, it is an investment in confidence, connection, capability and lasting regional value.

FUTURE READY REGIONS 

Urban futurist and entrepreneur Lucinda Hartley challenged the room to think differently about the future of regional places.

Her Future-Ready Regions session explored the accelerating pace of technological change, shifts in work patterns, housing affordability pressures and changing community expectations.

Lucinda argued that traditional planning models alone are no longer enough. Future-ready regions need long-term vision, but they also need the courage to experiment, learn, adapt and act.

Drawing on examples from Australia and around the world, she highlighted the importance of talent attraction, lifestyle, affordable living, innovation, community connection and human-centred design.

Her message landed strongly in the room: the Northern Rivers already has many of the qualities that future workers, businesses and communities are seeking.

The challenge is to recognise those strengths, invest in them, and create the systems, places and partnerships that allow the region to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

PRODUCTIVITY AS A CATALYST 

The Productivity as a Catalyst panel reframed productivity as something much more powerful than simply doing more with less.

Instead, the discussion explored how the Northern Rivers can create greater value from its people, ideas, systems, creativity, partnerships and regional strengths.

James Foster spoke about leadership, systems and the conditions that allow innovation to happen inside a growing regional business.

Luke Elias highlighted the strong connection between health, workforce wellbeing and performance, reminding delegates that healthy, connected and supported people are fundamental to productive communities and economies.

Simon Stahl shared practical examples from Casino Food Company, showing how investment in people, skills, housing, wellbeing and systems can strengthen workforce participation and business outcomes at scale.

Rosie Dennis brought the creative industries lens, highlighting the significant contribution of arts, culture and creativity to the Northern Rivers economy, and the need to reduce barriers so artists and creatives can thrive.

Together, the panel showed that productivity is not only an economic measure. It is about capability, connection, culture, innovation and the conditions that allow people, businesses and places to reach their potential

LEADERSHIP AS A CATALYST

One of the most powerful moments of the day came from Dr Ken Henry AC, whose keynote on Leadership as a Catalyst had the room completely engaged.

In a thought-provoking and deeply resonant address, Dr Henry challenged delegates to rethink the meaning of prosperity and the responsibility of leadership in shaping the future of the Northern Rivers.

He argued that genuine prosperity must extend beyond traditional economic measures to include wellbeing, environmental stewardship, community resilience and intergenerational responsibility.

Dr Henry spoke to the unique position of the Northern Rivers as a region capable of leading Australia’s transition toward a more sustainable and resilient future, while also making clear that this will require imagination, courage and long-term leadership.

His reflections on natural capital, climate resilience, public value and decision-making beyond short-term cycles created one of the most memorable conversations of the Summit.

The discussion that followed invited the room itself to become the panel, with regional leaders reflecting on what had landed, what challenges the Northern Rivers must face honestly, and what kind of leadership will be required to create lasting advantage.

It was a defining session of CATALYST - challenging, generous and deeply aligned with the purpose of ProspER Northern Rivers.

TIM JACK ADAMS: LEAD WELL BATTERY SESSION

Following the leadership discussion, Tim Jack Adams turned the focus inward with his Lead Well Battery Session.

After a full day exploring the future of the region, Tim reminded delegates that regional prosperity ultimately depends on the wellbeing, energy and capacity of the people doing the leading.

Through an interactive Battery Check, participants reflected on areas including purpose, relationships, health, sleep, mindset and connection.

The session revealed the strength of purpose and relationships in the room, while also highlighting the very real pressures carried by leaders across business, government, industry and community.

Tim’s message was practical and powerful: sustainable leadership requires more than strategy and ambition. It requires energy, resilience, connection and the capacity to keep showing up over time.

It was a fitting close to the day’s formal program, reminding us that thriving regions are built by thriving people.

ProspER NORTHERN RIVERS

The Summit closed by returning to the long-term vision at the heart of the day: ProspER Northern Rivers.

Jane Laverty reflected on the 18-month journey that led to the development of the plan, shaped through extensive engagement with business, industry, government, community leaders, young people and First Nations representatives.

ProspER represents a shared commitment to shaping the future of the Northern Rivers rather than leaving it to chance.

Its vision is for a connected and collaborative Northern Rivers where people, places, communities and enterprise prosper together to create a regenerative and resilient future for all.

Jane highlighted the plan’s principles, domains, recommendations and catalyst projects as tools to guide future decision-making, investment and advocacy across the region.

Most importantly, she reinforced that ProspER is not a report to sit on a shelf. It is a living framework and an invitation for regional leaders to continue working together, champion opportunities and turn ideas into action.

The Summit concluded with a powerful reflection on 2040, asking participants to imagine what they hope people will one day say about the region we chose to build.

CATALYST closed with a strong sense of momentum, optimism and shared responsibility - and a clear reminder that the future of the Northern Rivers will be shaped by the choices we make now.

To find out more about ProspER Northern Rivers: prosper.northernriversnsw.com.au

THANK YOU

Business NSW Northern Rivers extends sincere thanks to all speakers, panellists, partners and attendees who helped make CATALYST such a powerful and memorable Summit.

Thank you to James O’Loghlin, Oliver Costello, The Hon. Janelle Saffin MP, Ben Roche, Rod McGeoch, Giaan Rooney, Nicole Reeve, Michael Thurston, Jack Williamson Damian Chapelle, Kim Mallee, Dean Cooper, Lucinda Hartley, James Foster, Luke Elias, Rosie Dennis, Simon Stahl, Dr Ken Henry and Tim Jack Adams for their generosity, insight and leadership.

Thank you to our Strategic Partners - Southern Cross University, Clarence Property,  and TURSA for their ongoing support of the Regional Leaders program and our broader work across the region.

Thank you also to our event partners – Elements of Byron, Sunshine Sugar, AusIndustry, Newton Denny Chappelle, Northern NSW Local Health District, ENV Solutions and The Hinterland Collection for helping bring the summit to life.

Most importantly, thank you to our Regional Leaders and everyone who joined us in the room.  Our Regional Leaders members drive our thought leadership priorities and inspire our event program content.

The conversations started at this Summit are only the beginning. ProspER Northern Rivers now provides a shared roadmap, but its success will depend on the ongoing commitment of businesses, community organisations, industry leaders, educators, researchers, government and individuals across the region.

Together, we have the opportunity to shape a future where people, places, communities and enterprise truly prosper together.

Thank you to ourPresenting Partner, Southern Cross University, along with our event partners, Elements, ENV Solutions, Sunshine Sugar, NNSW LHD, Ausindustry, Newton Denny Chapelle, Hinterland Collection & Northern Rivers NSW Brand.

Todays event is part of our Regional Leaders program. We extend our thanks to the Strategic Partners who support this initiative, Clarence Property, Southern Cross University, and TURSA, along with every Regional Leader in the network.

The Regional Leaders program is powered by the businesses and people who continue to invest their time, insight, and leadership into strengthening the Northern Rivers region and its future.