🚀 Igniting the Spark
Putting a Dent in the Universe from the Hunter
By Zara Crichton
There is a profound shift happening right now. Last Friday, at the I2N Hub Honeysuckle in Newcastle, we didn't just host a lunch; we caught a glimpse of the future.
As the official warm-up for the 2026 Hunter Innovation Festival & Roadshow, we brought together the "Hero Innovators" who are fundamentally changing how we live, work, and build.
David Ward, Deputy Lord Mayor Charlotte McCabe, Jeff Smith, Prof Thomas Nann, Mayor Jeff Drayton, Prof Behdad Moghtaderi, Mick Carr, Natalia Cowley, Paloma Siles, Zara Crichton & Claire Quigley (B2F - L2R)
But to do something truly revolutionary, you can’t do it alone. You need visionaries in government who understand the assignment. I want to extend my deepest, most sincere thanks to the incredible civic leaders; Deputy Lord Mayor Charlotte McCabe (Newcastle), Mayor Jeff Drayton (Muswellbrook), and General Managers Jeff Smith (Maitland) and Natalia Cowley (Cessnock). Their presence last week proved that our local government isn't just supporting innovation; you are actively partnering with our innovators to build it.
The Hunter region is the only place in Australia where health, industrial modernisation, and energy physically intersect. It’s a great canvas.
When you look at the founders who took the stage with our civic leaders, the insights they shared were nothing short of magical:
Maitland’s Strategic Edge (Allegro Energy): Professor Thomas Nann sat down with GM Jeff Smith, and shared exactly why Thornton is the ultimate launchpad. It's not just about building revolutionary water-based batteries; it's about the geographical sweet spot. Thomas noted that being halfway to Muswellbrook and close to Newcastle allows them to seamlessly draw talent from the east (Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens) and the west (Upper Hunter). As they scale, they are creating an entirely new workforce, shifting from engineering tools to training people to swap battery components and calibrate advanced sensors.
Cessnock’s Global Grit (Grub Lab): Mick Carr joined GM Natalia Cowley to share a story of pure, unrelenting resilience. Mick was brutally honest about the start-up grind: missing payroll eight times and risking everything. But that grit pays off. After pitching the NRL for 12 straight months, an incredible serendipitous moment at Universal led to a monumental pivot: "Do you want Minions and Jurassic?" Two weeks later, they signed the deal. Mick also highlighted Cessnock's secret weapon for building a global tech company: the lifestyle. While it might be hard to attract talent away from the city initially, with the bigger backyards and better cost of living, it’s "easy to keep" them.
Muswellbrook’s Circular Brilliance (Sydney Rum Distillery): David Ward and Mayor Jeff Drayton discussed a vision that is simply brilliant. Seeing an Australian alcohol industry dominated by just two players, David saw a massive opportunity to build a globally competitive rum brand using local Muswellbrook infrastructure. But the real genius is the circular economy. They are taking 5,000 tonnes of molasses and transforming the by-product into highly fertile material to reforest proposed mines. It’s about building a brand architecture that intrinsically uplifts and integrates with the community.
Newcastle’s Lifesaving Tech (Hydro Harvester): Laureate Professor Behdad Moghtaderi and Deputy Lord Mayor Charlotte McCabe showcased technology with a profound human impact. They are literally pulling water from thin air. Behdad shared the scalable reality of their vision: from 50 to 80-litre units for residential homes, to massive 1,000-litre systems deployed to remote Indigenous communities, and critical temporary relief units for emergency bushfire zones. During the Q&A, it was rightly noted that tapping into the "engine room" of the University of Newcastle is what makes this staggering level of R&D possible.
Marnei Davey - Festival Director
As one of our speakers beautifully put it during the Q&A, we need to foster an environment where anyone can look at these examples and realise they can start a business today.
I am incredibly grateful to our anchor sponsors, Kobalt.io and Franke Hyland IP, and the phenomenal team at I2N for giving us the platform to make this magic happen.
We are calling for global talent, and we are calling for global investment. The spark has been ignited for the 2026 Hunter Innovation Festival & Roadshow. Will you join us?
Let's go make a dent in the universe!
