Scaling Safely
Hunter iF and Kobalt.io Partner to Secure Regional Innovation
Hunter iF Ltd is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Kobalt.io for the 2026 Innovators Lunch Series. Kobalt.io joins an esteemed group of anchor partners, including the University of Newcastle, Franke Hyland, and NTP Talent, to foster a secure and resilient innovation ecosystem in the Hunter.
Peter Hewett | GM APAC | Kobalt.io
As the region’s premier monthly gathering for founders, industry leaders, and change-makers, the Innovators Lunch Series provides a platform for high-impact networking and knowledge sharing. With the addition of Kobalt.io, the series gains a global leader in cybersecurity specifically designed for small and medium-sized businesses.
“Our mission is to build a vibrant community around innovation, and that requires a foundation of digital trust,” said Zara Crichton, CEO of Hunter iF. “Kobalt.io’s expertise in making cybersecurity ‘tractable’ for growing companies is exactly what our ecosystem needs as our members look to scale and compete on a global stage.”
Zara Crichton | CEO | Hunter iF
Kobalt.io manages all aspects of cybersecurity and compliance programs for cloud-native businesses, acting as an extension of their clients' teams so they can focus on growth.
“Kobalt.io’s mission is to build consumable, scalable technology-enabled services that help make the challenge of cybersecurity tractable to small and mid-sized businesses,” said Peter Hewett , GM APAC at Kobalt.io. “At Kobalt we see information security as a business enabler allowing our clients to win new business, and go after bigger clients. Kobalt.io brings right-sized, high-quality services to innovative companies to help them meet their security and compliance needs, so they can focus on growing their business.”
This partnership arrives at a pivotal time as the community prepares for the Hunter Innovation Festival on 13 October 2026. Kobalt.io will play a key role in the lead-up to the festival, providing insights into digital resilience and secure scaling during the monthly lunches.
About the Innovators Lunch series
The Hunter iF Innovator Lunches take place on the last Friday of every month in Newcastle. These sessions serve as the heartbeat of the local innovation scene, offering the community a chance to connect, share insights, and address the region’s "burning platforms" of change.
For more information on the lunch series or to secure tickets for the next event, visit https://www.hunterif.com.au/innovatorlunch
About Kobalt.io
Kobalt.io is a rapidly growing cybersecurity firm that manages security and compliance programs for SMBs. From 24/7 monitoring to privacy management, Kobalt.io provides "right-sized" services that cover cloud, SaaS, and traditional environments, ensuring businesses can scale securely.
Website:https://kobalt.io/
