Tuning into Hunter engineering success
Get ready to tune in: we are fired up to announce that NTP Talent has officially joined us as the Podcast Partner for the upcoming Hunter Innovation Festival and Regional Roadshow!
As a region bursting with cutting-edge ideas and transformational projects, having the right platforms to share our stories is vital. This partnership allows us to do exactly that; capturing the brilliant insights, breakthroughs, and discussions from the festival and sharing them far and wide.
Spotlight on "Engineering Success"
A major focus of our collaboration will be highlighting NTP Talent's new podcast, focusing on engineering success in the region. We will be tying into their brilliant Engineering in the Hunter Podcast.
The Podcast is about people building, powering and reshaping the Hunter. The Hunter is being rebuilt. A grid expanding beyond coal, foundries retooling for the energy transition, and extended defence manufacturing. Engineering in the Hunter is a monthly conversation that goes inside those projects with the people actually delivering them. Hosted by Melinda Sietsma, with James MacDonald who have been involved in the local recruitment market, building teams for more than a decade. Every episode: what’s being built, what it takes, and who builds it. New episodes monthly.
Whether you're an industry veteran, an aspiring engineer, or simply passionate about local innovation, this partnership guarantees that the festival's best moments and brightest minds will be accessible wherever you get your podcasts.
A Taste of What’s to Come: Aerospace in the Hunter
John Fry | MD of Kongsberg
James MacDonald | MD of NTP Talent
If you want a sneak peek at the caliber of conversations NTP Talent be bringing to you, look no further than last year’s 2025 Festival speakers.
We're excited to share this 2026 episode of the Engineering in the Hunter podcast: John Fry (Managing Director, Kongsberg Australia) talks with James MacDonald on NTP Talent's Engineering in the Hunter about a major aerospace milestone for our region.
Here are a few highlights from their discussion on aerospace:
A Historic Investment: A look into Kongsberg’s decision to choose Newcastle's Williamtown over 40 other locations for its very first missile factory outside of Norway, backed by an $850 million Commonwealth commitment.
Regional Growth and Jobs: The project is set to create around 100 direct factory jobs, with approximately 85% of the build spend flowing directly into Hunter businesses. It also establishes a strong talent pipeline, connecting the University of Newcastle and local TAFEs directly to work on the world stage.
You can listen to this fascinating episode right now on NTP Talent's website to get prepped for the team’s appearance at the 2026 festival!
Your Data-Driven Advantage: The NTP Talent Market Insights & Salary Guide
The rising cost of living has rewritten the rules of hiring and retention. People are staying put, and it’s not because workplaces got better. When leaving feels risky, people wait. Beneath the low turnover, most professionals are already planning their next move, they’re just waiting for the ground to feel steadier before they do.
Misread this and you’ll either overpay to solve a problem you don’t actually have, or you’ll risk losing the people you think are settled.
The 2026-27 NTP Talent Market Insights & Salary Guide is built on our 2026 Technology & Engineering Community Survey of hiring managers and professionals across Newcastle, the Hunter and Sydney. Because we survey both sides of the table, we can show you when what employers are planning and what employees want don’t match. And this year, they don’t match in some expensive ways.
We’ve overlaid our findings with national research from SEEK and the Tech Council of Australia, and regional data for the Hunter from the Committee for the Hunter and the University of Newcastle.
Whether you’re a CTO budgeting for a new software team, a leader benchmarking engineering salaries, or a professional weighing up your next move, this guide gives you the hard numbers as well as the context behind them. Get your copy here.
