Beyond the hard hat

Jennie McGhie & Jye Hollier

Product is paramount. But a product is nothing without the people who have the passion to build it. On 30 January 2026, the Hunter iF community gathered at I2N Honeysuckle for our first Innovators Lunch of 2026. The energy in that room was just incredible as we glimpsed into a future where we don't just work; we create.

The theme was “Beyond the Hard Hat.”

For years, people looked at this region and saw only smoke and steel. But the data doesn't lie. We are proving that the Hunter is no longer just an industrial powerhouse; it is a knowledge-producing engine. For the first time, knowledge-based roles outnumber traditional goods-generating jobs in our region.

Here is how we are redesigning the future of work together:

1. The End of the "Regional Discount"

Linda Apostolidis & Melinda Sietsma

Linda Apostolidis and Melinda Sietsma from NTP Talent shared some staggering data that every leader needs to hear. Hunter salaries are reaching parity with Sydney. The "regional discount" is dead. We are now competing on a global stage for elite engineering and tech talent. If you want world-class people, you have to play in the world-class league.

But here’s something that warmed my heart: there was interest for Employee Share Option Schemes (ESOP) among the younger participants. This is profound. It means the next generation doesn't just want a job, they want skin in the game. They don't just want to work for a company; they want to own a piece of the future they are building.

2. Culture is the Ultimate Retention Tool

Jay Tennant & Bret Barton

We heard from two truly amazing young innovators: Jye Hollier from Australian Electric Vehicle Specialists and the amazing Jay Tennant from Allegro Energy.

Jay and Jye are the living embodiment of this shift. They aren't interested in old-school corporate hierarchies. Jay shared a secret that every manager should write on their mirror:

"My managers actually listen to me... it’s amazing to see your ideas come to life."

That’s the secret sauce. Jye and Jay both emphasised that they loved their job because of the respect. They described a culture where leadership listens to graduates, encourages learning on the job, and most importantly, lets them see their innovations go straight into production. That’s how you make a dent in the universe. While salary is the entry fee (69% motivator), a pleasant atmosphere and strong management are the anchors that keep talent from drifting away.

3. Rebranding the Mission: Innovation Briefs

Siobhan Curran & Andrea Hoymann

We realised we have a "Branding Gap." The world often sees the Hunter through an "old industrial" lens. We need to tear that lens apart. We need to stop talking about "factory jobs" and start talking about "sovereign capability," "mission-driven careers," and "innovation briefs." We are shifting the focus from the "what" to the "why." Interestingly, the data shows that salary packaging (81%) has overtaken remote work as the most sought-after benefit due to current cost-of-living pressures. We held a workshop to craft "Killer Hooks," and a huge shout out to Andrea Hoymann for the hook of the day: "Calling Dynamic BDMs to Shape the Future of Energy."

4. It Takes a Tribe to Build the Future

This wasn't a solo performance; it was a symphony of the best minds in the region. A huge thank you to the speakers and contributors who led such a provocative discussion: Melinda Sietsma, Nathaniel Bavinton, Linda Apostolidis, Jye Hollier, Jay Tennant, Jennie McGhie, Claire Quigley, Zara Crichton GAICD, and Bret Barton.

We are also thrilled to welcome Franke Hyland IP as an anchor partner for the 2026 Hunter iF innovators Lunch Series, it was great to have IP specialists Peter Franke and David Myers in the room to help us protect the magic we’re creating.

And of course, my deep thanks to the innovators that made the magic happen behind the scenes: Edwin Higginson, Thomas Nann, Rohan Borah, Siobhan Curran, Richard Berry, and Kellyn Patterson. ---

One more thing...

The Hunter is undergoing its biggest industrial shift in a generation. We have the lifestyle, the grit, and now, the data to back it up and Hunter iF is committed to ensuring this region becomes a global beacon for innovation.

Lock it in: Our mission to ignite innovation continues every month. Block out 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM on the last Friday of every month for the HiF Innovators Lunch Series.

Don't just watch the future happen.

Thought Leadership Presented on the Day: