Key Takeaways from July’s Innovators Lunch
"Collaboration isn’t just a buzzword, it’s the engine driving the Hunter’s industrial future."
Our recent Innovators Lunch, hosted by Hunter iF and the Hunter Manufacturing Awards, brought together a powerhouse panel to dissect the Future Made in Australia policy and its ripple effects for our region.
Here’s what stood out:
The Hunter’s Bright Future: With cutting-edge projects like Allegro Energy’s battery tech and The Melt’s sustainable manufacturing, the region is set to lead in renewables, advanced materials, and automation.
Collaboration is Key: Panelists Thomas Nann (Allegro Energy), Jeremy Brett (Morgan Engineering), and Baidy Barton (The Melt) emphasised that big corporations + startups = unstoppable innovation. Think R&D partnerships, supply chain integration, and grant collaborations.
Supply Chain Resilience: Post-COVID lessons are clear: local manufacturing capability isn’t optional. From machine parts to grid-scale batteries, the Hunter’s ecosystem is building sovereign strength.
The future isn’t just coming; we’re building it together.
Special Thanks To:
Moderator: Steph Loadsman (Hunter Manufacturing Awards)
Panelists: Thomas Nann (Allegro Energy), Jeremy Brett (Morgan Engineering), Baidy Barton (The Melt)
Partners & Sponsors: The Business Centre, Hunter Manufacturing Awards (HMA), I2N, Hyperweb