Kylie is a regenerative farmer, storyteller, and creative force who went from 10 backyard hens in Ireland to building an award-winning regenerative farm supplying Michelin-star chefs and exporting eggs to Dubai. 

Claire Chaikin-Bryan is the Fab Lab Lead at Lake Macquarie City Council.  She is a qualified Town Planner, Civil and Environmental Engineer and Fab Academy Instructor with a background in smart cities, construction, visual arts, digital engineering, coding and electronics.

Yves Nzuzi-Khuabi is a project delivery leader with 18+ years’ experience driving large-scale transformation across energy, utilities, and technology. He is the Founder of EV Ecosystem Technologies, developing innovative platforms in the electric vehicle and hydrogen sectors.

Guido Toepfer is supporting the sustainability transformation as Entrepreneur, Investor, Advisor, and Mentor because sustainability is good for business, too.

Kara Sullivan is the Founder of Guts Creative, an award-winning branding agency based in Newcastle. We help David’s beat Goliath. No guts, no glory.

With over 20 years leading transformation across ICT, SaaS, and emerging technologies, Diana specialises in scaling organisations through strategic advisory, operational excellence, and purpose-led leadership. She connects people, products, and platforms to unlock sustainable growth and measurable ROI locally and globally.

Darryl Brock is a dual-trades professional (motor mechanic and boilermaker/pressure welder) and director of several ventures driving innovation in sustainability and safety. He leads Australian Hydrogen Conversions (achieving 53% fuel and emissions reduction on heavy vehicles), Toronto Vapour Blasting (carbon capture and recycling), and is the inventor of the BrockLoc Aquatic Safety Device.

Oliver is the Co-Founder and Technical Lead Engineer at Grolia. Grolia makes it easy and exciting to grow fresh food. Their first product is Flush, an automated mushroom grower giving access to rare gourmet varieties at home.

Rachel Sperinck, Auslan interpreter and founder of PAH! App, is on a mission to ensure the Deaf Community never has to choose between access and opportunity. Quick, easy, empowering… PAH! allows users to book interpreters in minutes instead of days.

Alex is the CEO and Co-Founder of JasperNode. JasperNode is an AI software developed here at Hunter Region. It enables manufacturing staff to communicate with machines using plain English, helping companies overcome skill shortages and boost innovation on the factory floor.

Melissa Rebbeck is the Business Development lead at Metamorf Engineering and the Chair of the Australia and NZ Biochar Industry Group (ANZBIG).

A specialist medical doctor, Liz has created an accessible, co-designed healthcare hub. Elevating equity whilst providing excellence in care.

Tanja Ghahraman is passionate about innovation, sustainability, and building connections that accelerate renewable energy and spark positive change.

Dr Nathaniel Bavinton is an Associate Director at Urbis, and an urban sociologist and city strategist with 20 years’ experience researching, planning and implementing urban and social innovation. Nathaniel serves as Deputy Chair of Hunter iF, where he guides strategy and the ecosystem data initiative.