Don't Miss 'Festival After Dark'. The conversation doesn't stop when the sessions end!

Join us at the stunning, newly opened George Darby Hotel (Corner of King & Darby) to unwind, connect with speakers, and network with fellow delegates in a relaxed, stylish setting.

Join our MC, James O’Loghlin and the Hunter iF board to recap on the festival that was and gear up for the after dark festivities!

The Hunter Innovation Festival is thrilled to announce its inaugural Tee Shirt Art Prize, a fantastic opportunity for primary school students across the Hunter region to showcase their creativity and envision a brighter, more sustainable future.

Join us to see the inaugural winner unveiled!

Watch Hunter mavericks in action as they pitch their trailblazing ideas on the main stage at our 3-Minute Pew!Pew!Pew! showcase!

CEO and Co-Founder of Allegro Energy, Prof. Thomas Nann shares his radical thoughts on how breaking free from incrementalism will help solve the climate crisis.

Join us for a fascinating evening with James Cobon-Kerr, a machine learning research engineer who has worked on the front lines at Google DeepMind and Microsoft AI.

Changing the world requires capital. But the art of fundraising is often a mystery. Hear from the founders making history and the investors backing their vision as they take you behind-the-scenes of the deals making news.

Watch Hunter mavericks in action as they pitch their trailblazing ideas on the main stage at our 3-Minute Pew!Pew!Pew! showcase!

Tech founder Vu Tran demystifies defence, revealing why building our sovereign capability is no longer a choice—it's a critical national necessity.

Despite its environmental benefits, low carbon concrete adoption in the Hunter region faces significant hurdles. Join us in this hackathon to develop a concrete change to accelerate low carbon concrete adoption.

Now more than ever we understand the importance of sovereign aerospace capability and the innovations that benefit everyday people for years to come. Australia is ready to lead the way. Hear from the pioneers creating a new wave of technology that will benefit Australians for generations.

Join visionaries discussing Australia's manufacturing renaissance enabled by the Future Made in Australia and other policies. Learn how major investments are building our future right now.

Your Next Breakthrough is Just One Conversation Away.

The Hunter Innovation Festival introduces Office Hours—a globally-proven model designed to unlock potential, 20 minutes at a time.

Prof. Renee Goreham will be sharing her leading edge research that is breathing new life into cancer and infection screening.

Clean energy's future needs a battery. The Hunter is ready to be the world's power pack. Hear from the visionaries making history & say you were there.

Watch Hunter mavericks in action as they pitch their trailblazing ideas on the main stage at our 3-Minute Pew!Pew!Pew! showcase!

Australia stands at an economic crossroads. Professor Roy Green unpacks how with productivity flatlining and our economic complexity slipping, the old models are no longer enough. But within this challenge lies a once-in-a-generation opportunity.

Join us as we officially launch the Hunter iF Festival 2025. This opening session brings together key state and local government leaders to set the stage for two days of innovation. Hear directly from the policymakers and champions driving our region's economic future as they share their vision for a smarter, more prosperous Hunter.

Meet the next generation of startups solving our biggest problems.

Meet the partners investing into the innovation ecosystem and learn about how they can support you.

Looking for a space to connect with your new friends or need a space to send some emails? We’ve got you covered in our dedicated connection space.

Check out the incredible digital art created by the participant’s in Lake Macquarie Council’s TechCreate Girls Program.

The TechCreate Girls Program is an empowering 10 week afterschool program for high school aged girls. This innovative program introduces STEM via creative disciplines, allowing participants to explore and develop a wide range of skills.