Where "Genius" Meets Grit
There is a particular energy you feel when you walk into a workspace that just works. It’s a hum of productivity, sure, but it’s also the palpable vibe of problem-solving in real-time.
I felt that exact energy this week when I visited the team at Brain Industries International in Carrington.
Walking through their massive site on Young Street, you are immediately struck by the scale of what is happening here. This isn’t just a workshop; it is an innovation hub disguised as a manufacturing plant. And honestly? It is exactly the kind of transformation story that makes the Hunter region so exciting right now.
Gillian Summers and the team at Brain Industries International
Meeting the Minds Behind the Machine
It was a privilege to spend time with Gillian Summers and Tony Lobb, the founders who have steered this ship from a local startup to a global exporter.
What I love about this duo (married 28 years!) is the powerful balance they strike. You have Gillian, with her sharp strategic background, from Qantas to regional development, driving the business vision. Then you have Tony, whose technical genius is practically woven into the DNA of the shop floor.
Seeing Tony in his element, it is no surprise he took home the Excellence in Manufacturing Leadership title at the 2025 Hunter Manufacturing Awards. He isn’t leading from a glass office; he’s right there with the team, mentoring the next generation of engineers and boilermakers. That is what true leadership looks like in our sector—hands-on, accessible, and deeply skilled.
Innovation in Action
We talk a lot at Hunter iF about "innovation ecosystems," and Brain Industries is a living, breathing example of that concept.
They aren't just making pumps; they are rewriting the rules of fluid dynamics. I watched as the team worked on their signature Airloader and Mudskipper pumps—technology designed to move the "impossible." From deep mining sludge to fragile marine environments, they are solving problems that stump the rest of the world, right here in the Hunter.
The sheer diversity of their output is staggering. One minute you’re looking at heavy-duty mining equipment, the next you’re discussing specialised polyurethane moulding…. all.6,000 moulds! It is a reminder that "manufacturing" in the Hunter isn't a monolith, it's agile, it's tech-driven, and it's world-class.
A Win for the Whole Region
It was fantastic to congratulate the team in person on being named Hunter Manufacturer of the Year (Under 50 Employees) for 2025. You can see the pride in the faces of the 30 staff members on site. That award isn't just a trophy on a shelf; it’s validation of their hard work, their resilience, and their commitment to keeping production on Australian soil.
Leaving the site, I felt incredibly optimistic. When we have local legends like Brain Industries "pumping the impossible," the future of our region’s economy looks very bright indeed.
A huge thank you to Gillian, Tony, and the whole crew for opening your doors. If you haven't checked out what they are doing yet, you need to visit their website.
This is Hunter innovation at its finest.
Zara Crichton
CEO, Hunter iF
