Mini Keynote · 3:00 – 3:45pm · Learn stage
What will it take for the Hunter to become Australia's premium industrial innovation ecosystem?
In this tightly curated session, four leaders each deliver a short, focused keynote on their vision for the region's next chapter:
Gillian Summers (Brain Industries) on how the Hunter has reinvented itself before — from the end of BHP steelmaking to today — and why resilience comes from solving real problems, buying and building locally where it makes sense, and refusing to wait to be rescued.
Victor Dominello on what intelligent, citizen-centred public services and digital infrastructure (drawing on the ideas in Government 3.0) can unlock for regional economies in the age of AI.
Zara Crichton (Hunter iF) on building connected regional innovation ecosystems and linking the Hunter into national and international networks, so people and organisations can move from learning to building, collaborating and scaling globally.
Alice Thompson (Committee for the Hunter) on taking a precinct and place-based approach that complements broader industry and innovation policy, programs and strategies — helping turn national ambition into local delivery.
Four perspectives. One shared ambition. A clear-eyed look at how the Hunter can build on its strengths to deliver the sovereign industrial capability Australia needs.
Speakers: Gillian Summers, Managing Director, Moda Marine · Zara Crichton, CEO, Hunter iF · Alice Thompson, CEO, Committee for the Hunter · Kyle Loades