from the regional director

2024 has been an incredible year—perhaps ev


regional leader 2nd anniversary 

An important event on the calendar in February we celebrated the 2nd year anniversary of our Regional Leader program with our members and it was the perfect way to kick of our calendar of events for the year. With 21 new members to the program, lots of new faces there was lots of networking to be done and what we like to call "magic" happening.

It was a chance for us to look back on what we had achieved in the previous year including 23 events delivered, 5 interactions with Ministers in region and our advocacy work with campaigns like Housing Now!

This year, we celebrated at the state-of-the-art, award-winning PCYC Wagga Wagga facility, with a fantastic turnout and plenty of positive energy in the room. The evening wrapped up with a friendly game of Pickleball for those who were keen—another great example of the camaraderie and connection this group continues to foster.

It was a wonderful event filled with collaboration, reflection, and enthusiasm for the year ahead.

ceo connect | telstra

In February we launched a new event - CEO Connect  designed to connect executive-level leaders from across the region, aiming to strengthen relationships and enhance our local business ecosystem.
The CEO Connect was a tremendous success! Hosted by Telstra we heard from Shailin Sehgal, Group Executive of Global Network and Technology, who discussed the future of connectivity and investments in our region, along with important initiatives to safeguard businesses against cyber threats.
It was wonderful to see our Regional Leader businesses in attendance, along with a diverse group of new members and companies who actively shared and highlighted their business journeys.
The hospitality provided by DJ at The Bidgee and Vine was a highlight, creating the ideal atmosphere for the evening.


Sustainable communities program launch with the hon tara moriarty

In March our Regional Director Serena Hardwick headed to Griffith for a $15 million announcement by The Hon. Tara Moriarty.
The first round of funding available, under the Sustainable Communities Program has been made available to provide immediate support to boost our local economy, with eligibility being targeted at 9 Local Government Areas of Balranald, Berrigan, Carrathool, Edward River, Griffith, Hay, Leeton, Murray River and Murrumbidgee. 
Serena Hardwick said "We look forward to working with Government to ensure that the funding helps to build capability and capacity in our local business community.
Investment to assist businesses in the region increase productivity, foster innovation and commercialise their research and development will not only see benefit to our local economy but contribute to the broader state economy.
With a large skill and workforce gap, this is an opportunity for us to consider how we can, as business, foster a skilled future workforce and rewarding career pathways with this investment ."


snowy hydro 2.0 tour

In April we took another group of eager 


ceo connect | essential energy

On Wednesday, 22 May, we had the privilege of hosting the NSW Premier, the Hon. Chris Minns, at Tropical Fruit World/Plantation House for a Regional Leaders Lunch.

It was a fantastic opportunity for the Premier to share his vision and insights while engaging in a meaningful discussion with our leaders about the region's needs and priorities. We look forward to welcoming the Premier again in 2025.

Sometimes, opportunities like these arise with short notice, and we truly appreciate your understanding and support, even with late invitations—we simply can’t say no! 

abla workplace updates & local chamber business awards

In June, our efforts focused on supporting local businesses in navigating new workplace laws through a series of Workplace Updates.

We also hosted the first Sourdough Regeneration Connection Community events in Byron, partnered with Destination Byron on their Annual Symposium, and collaborated with Gabrielle Oriel for the Exporters Workshop.

In July, we worked closely with Local Chambers of Commerce across the region to prepare for the Local Business Excellence Awards. This included hosting four fantastic events: the Tweed Shire Business Awards, Business Lismore Awards, Richmond Valley Business Excellence Awards, and Ballina Shire Business Awards. These events celebrated excellence and recognized the dedication of leaders and their teams.

Congratulations to all the award winners and their teams for their remarkable achievements!


skills & workforce development forum

In August, Regional Leaders addressed critical challenges around attracting and retaining skilled workers and developing the workforce of the future. This led to the Skills and Workforce Development Forum, a highly impactful event showcasing the incredible efforts of local businesses.

Two engaging panels provided valuable insights, enhancing our understanding of the issues. A heartfelt thank you to Michael Hampson, Tim Cohen, Damian Chapelle, Kerry, Andrew Rose, Jeffrey Cook, Kerrie-Anne Maunder, Jennifer Mossfield, and Tursa for their contributions. Special thanks to Dr. Nigel Palmer from Business NSW for presenting his insightful report and to Janelle Saffin MP for delivering the opening address.

We look forward to continuing our focus on Skills and Workforce Development in 2025, as we remain committed to supporting the needs of businesses in the region. 

ai tech & innovation summit & regional business awards

September was a bumper month with two major highlights: the Northern Rivers Regional Business Awards and the Northern Rivers AI, Tech & Innovation Summit.

On Saturday, 21 September, we celebrated over 100 exceptional finalists—the best of the best—at the Northern Rivers Regional Business Awards, held at the Ballina RSL. The evening was expertly hosted by Bruce Mackenzie as MC, and the audience was captivated by a stunning performance from the String Sirens, making it a truly memorable night of recognition and celebration.

The Northern Rivers AI, Tech & Innovation Summit, held on Thursday, 26 September, was an EPIC event that took over 12 months to plan. It was developed in direct response to Regional Leaders identifying the transformative impact of AI and digitalisation on current and future business models. 

Our MC, Adam Spencer, kicked off the day with a dynamic presentation that had everyone on the edge of their seats. He then facilitated outstanding panel discussions and an engaging conversation with Victor Dominello. A massive thank you to all our contributors—16 incredible speakers in total—who made the event such a success! 

acci summit & state business awards

In October, Regional Leader representatives attended the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) Summit in Canberra, followed by dinner with the Prime Minister. The visit also included a meeting at Parliament House with Kevin Hogan, Member for Page.

To close out October, Team Northern Rivers headed to the State Business Awards, and we were thrilled to bring home five State Awards! Congratulations to Social Futures, Cumulus VFX/Finn Design, Michael Hampson/Norco, Byron Bay Chamber of Commerce, and Potager! 

emerging leaders bootcamp

In November, we delivered on one of our promises to Regional Leaders by launching the Northern Rivers Future Leaders Program for emerging leaders.The two-day Future Leaders Bootcamp showcased the remarkable talent in our region. 

This inspiring and innovative group fully embraced the program, engaging in both personal and professional development sessions while forming strong relationships and a shared commitment to the region’s prosperity. 

A heartfelt thank you to our speakers and Regional Leader mentors: Vaughan Macdonald, Cate McQuillan, Zack Rook, Kevin Franey and Jennifer Scott. 


housing right now forum

We love collaborating, so we were thrilled to partner with the Living Lab Northern Rivers to host and facilitate the Housing Right Now Forum on 8 November at Invercauld House. The level of engagement and contribution from everyone in attendance was phenomenal.

During the event, we presented the Housing Futures Northern Rivers Manifesto, developed by our Regional Leaders group. By the end of the day, participants identified and championed six key projects to take forward. 

Following the Forum, we were honored to be invited by Janelle Saffin MP to present the manifesto and the Forum projects at a roundtable discussion with Minister for Housing Rose Jackson in early December. 

sourdough regeneration connection

Another significant partnership project this year was the Sourdough Regeneration Connection Program, which featured a series of Community Connection Events in Byron, Clarence Valley, Lismore, and Tweed, as well as an Expert in Residence-led Accelerator Program.

The program included two cohorts with a total of 23 participants and was delivered by Business NSW for Byron Community College in partnership with Southern Cross University. 

A huge thank you to Saadi Allan, our Expert in Residence, and Anne Stoven from Byron Community College for trusting us with the delivery of this impactful program.