Northern Rivers Economic Breakfast 2026

What a way to kick off our thought leadership events for 2026

On Thursday 19 March, Business NSW Northern Rivers, with Presenting Partner Clarence Property, hosted the fourth annual Northern Rivers Economic Breakfast at the Ballina RSL.

Building on the strength of past years, this Regional Leaders inaugural event attracted over 240 business leaders, students and government stakeholders for a morning of insights, ideas and conversation.  The Breakfast offered a unique opportunity to hear from highly regarded economic voices including fiance expert Alan Kohler, NAB Chief Economist Sally Auld, Healthy North Coast Director Luke Elias and Business NSW Head of Economics and Policy Nathan Wallwork. 

program highlights

Aknowledgment of Country

The event began by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which the Economic Breakfast was taking place, the Bundjalung people, paying respect to Elders past, present and emerging.   Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people attending were also acknowledged and warmly welcomed.

It was important to note in the context of this event especially that for tens of thousands of years, Bundjalung people have cared for this Country - managing land, water, food systems and trade networks in ways that sustained both people and place.

Long before modern economic frameworks, there was a deep understanding here that prosperity depends on balance - between community, environment and the resources that sustain us.

Welcome

Jane Laverty, Regional Director - Business NSW Northern Rivers Business NSW Regional Director acknowledged special guests including representatives from Local Councils and State Government and set the tone for an open, informative and productive morning.

Ministerial Address

The morning also opened with welcome video messages from The Hon. Chris Minns MP, NSW Premier and The Hon. Janelle Saffin MP Member for Lismore, Minister for Small Business, Minister for the North Coast and Minister for Recovery.

We have included a summary of each of our speaker presentations and a link to their onscreen presentations along with photos and video highlights for you to enjoy. 

Peter Fahey, Executive Chairman, Clarence Property

Peter Fahey gave the Presenting Partner Address, offering a deeply personal perspective, linking business decisions to long-standing connections with place.

Drawing on generations of family history in the Northern Rivers, he spoke to the role of local knowledge, relationships and trust in shaping investment. Clarence Property, built on these foundations, continues to invest in the region, with a strong base of local investors.

His message reinforced that regional businesses are not just economic actors, they are embedded in their communities, with a long-term commitment to place and people.

Peter has been involved in the property industry for more than 30 years. He has a wide range of property experience, in both capital cities and regional areas, including sales, leasing, management, valuation, financing and development.

Peter has been involved in property funds management since 1994 and was the founder of Clarence Property Corporation Limited and Westlawn Property Trust. He holds a Bachelor of Business (Retail Property Valuation and Administration).

Sally Auld, Chief Economist, NAB

Australia - soft landings can be hard

Sally Auld set the economic context, outlining a period of sustained pressure as inflation remains persistent and policy settings stay restrictive.

While Australia has technically achieved a “soft landing”, the path forward is more complex. Bringing inflation back within target will likely require below-trend growth, higher unemployment and interest rates remaining elevated for longer.

Despite near-term challenges, Australia’s medium-term outlook remains strong, underpinned by population growth, natural resources and proximity to Asia. The task now is managing the transition, particularly around productivity, housing and workforce constraints.

Alan Kohler AM

Alan Kohler provided a broader economic lens, focusing on the structural forces shaping Australia’s future.

Housing was central to his analysis, with current affordability challenges driven by decades of policy, population growth and changing workforce dynamics. The scale of the task ahead is significant, with ambitious housing targets highlighting both demand and urgency.

He also pointed to a series of long-term pressures, including ageing demographics, climate change, artificial intelligence and geopolitical instability, all contributing to a more complex and uncertain economic environment.

Download Alan Kohlers Slides

Alan Kohler AM is one of Australia’s most respected financial journalists and business commentators, with over five decades covering markets, the economy and business.

A former editor of the Australian Financial Review and The Age, and columnist for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, he has spent nearly 30 years with the ABC as business editor of 7.30, host of Inside Business, and now finance presenter on ABC News.

Founder of Eureka Report and Business Spectator, Alan speaks on finance, the economy and stock markets, giving audiences clarity, context and insight to navigate uncertainty and make informed business decisions. 

Download Sally Aulds Slides

Sally is the Chief Economist at NAB. Previously, she was JBWere’s Chief Investment Officer. Prior to this, Sally worked at JP Morgan where she was Managing Director, Chief Economist and Head of Economic and Markets Research, Australia and New Zealand. 

Sally has a Bachelor of Economics with First Class Honours and the University of Sydney. She holds a Master of Economics degree and has completed a Doctorate of Philosophy in Economics at Oxford University.  

She is currently Chair of the SCEGGS Darlinghurst Ltd. Board and a member of the Finance and Investments Committee for the Children’s Medical Research Institute. She is also a member of the the Grattan Institute’s Public Policy Committee and the AJBCC Board.
 

Luke Elias, Director of operations & engagement Healthy North Coast

Why data matters - a perspective from Health

Luke Elias shifted the focus to the intersection of health, workforce and economic performance.

He highlighted that while health demand may feel unpredictable, it is highly measurable and can be planned for using data. This creates an opportunity to move from reactive systems to more targeted, preventative investment.

A key takeaway was that employee health is not a social issue alone, it is a business one. Workforce wellbeing directly impacts productivity, participation and long-term economic outcomes.

Nathan Wallwork, Head of Economics & Policy, Business NSW

Current Business Conditions - Insights from the Q1 2026 Business Conditions Survey

Nathan Wallwork brought the discussion back to real-time business conditions, drawing on insights from the latest Business NSW survey data.

The message was consistent: confidence is down, costs are up.

Businesses across the Northern Rivers are navigating ongoing pressure from insurance, energy, taxes and regulatory burden, while continuing to manage workforce challenges. Despite this, most are holding steady on employment, taking a cautious approach as conditions evolve.

Clear priorities emerged for government action, particularly around reducing costs, improving planning and infrastructure, and supporting workforce and skills development.

Download Nathan Wallworks Slides

Nathan Wallwork is an economist and public policy specialist with substantial experience working alongside businesses, government and community organisations to solve the most difficult problems we face today.

Nathan is the Head of Economics and Policy at Business NSW. He leads the economics and policy team to drive strategic research, generate insights and develop policy for real-world impact. This includes managing the quarterly Business Conditions Survey - Business NSW's flagship research product. Before joining Business NSW in 2025, Nathan was a strategy consultant focused on public policy, with a career spanning Australia and the UK. Nathan grew up in regional South East Queensland and has a special love for the Northern Rivers region.

Download Luke Elias's Slides

Luke Elias commenced his health career as a physiotherapist and has worked extensively in clinical capacity, health management and administration roles in both the public and private sector over the past 25 years. He has held senior management and executive operational positions in metropolitan and regional acute and primary health care services across NSW.  He holds consumer advocate and patient representative roles with national and international organizations with a focus on management of cardiovascular health and rare diseases. Luke works as Director, Primary Health Programs & Partnerships with Healthy North Coast, delivering the Primary Health Network program to the 540,000 residents of the NSW North Coast. He is passionate about supporting highest quality care to meet the needs of vulnerable and priority populations.

A region leaning forward

While the challenges are real, the sentiment in the room was not pessimistic.

There was a shared understanding that while the path ahead may be complex, there is also significant opportunity for regions that are prepared to adapt, collaborate and invest in capability.

The strength of the Northern Rivers was evident in the room, in the quality of discussion, the willingness to engage honestly, and the focus on practical outcomes.

round table with alan kohler, luke elias & nathan wallwork

Following the breakfast, a small group of our Gold & Finance Sector Regional Leaders came together for a roundtable discussion led by Jane Laverty.

The session provided an opportunity to explore the themes raised during the morning in more depth, with a particular focus on economic conditions, housing, investment and the outlook for regional economies.

Thank you

Thank you to our speakers for their insight and candour, and to all who joined us for the morning.

Events like this are an important opportunity to bring together business, government and community to better understand what is happening on the ground and where to next.

And to leave you with one special request - If you havent already done so, please complete your Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) Survey before 31 March 2026. This helps us understand the challenges and opportunities local businesses face today, ensuring the voices of Northern Rivers and Tenterfield Shire businesses shape future decision-making.

Thank you to our event partners

Business NSW deeply values the partnerships that make events like this possible.

We extend our sincere thanks to our Presenting Partner, Clarence Property, and to our Event Partners, Northern Rivers Housing, Southern Cross University, TURSA, NAB, Healthy North Coast, Macro Group, HLB Mann Judd and TNR, Jempire Events & Ballina RSL along with all of our Regional Leaders. Your support, insight and commitment to this region are what bring these conversations to life.

A message from our presenting partner

At Clarence Property, we believe strong regional economies are built through thoughtful investment, collaboration and confident leadership.

 As a long-term contributor to regional communities, we are proud to partner with Business NSW Northern Rivers to present this Economic Breakfast and bring together leaders from across the region to share insights and perspectives on the opportunities shaping our economic future.

 By fostering connection, informed discussion and a shared vision for growth, events like this help strengthen the foundations of a resilient and prosperous Northern Rivers.

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