newave is a sustainable cosmetics start up, founded by Tiffany and Hugh Perrottet. newave's clean formulations mean no petroleum-based ingredients and packaging is made from certified compostable polymer (not petroleum-based plastics).

Duncan Burck is the CEO and Founder of projectJanus. projectJanus is a tech solution that is helping industry and government unlock unrealised value from their sponsored and supported education outreach programs.

Cheryl Pollock is the CEO and Founder of ChezLeon. ChezLeon is an Australian health tech company pioneering DP-Tx, a patented differential pressure activated technology integrated into wearable garments.  Designed to support lymphatic drainage and reduce swelling, their garments service post-surgical recovery, injury, scaring and perfusion.  

Marni Armani is the CEO and Founder of KanKosh. KanKosh is a global B2B matchmaking platform for the mining and energy industries, connecting projects with investors, partners, and suppliers.

Alex Sharikov is the CEO and Co-Founder of JasperX.

JasperX 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.

Fiona Sutherland is the Founder of Fibre Boats. Fibre Boats is an Australian company dedicated to designing and building innovative, sustainable waterborne transport solutions. By integrating hydrofoil technology to lift the hull above water, we significantly reduce drag and friction—cutting energy consumption by up to 80% compared to traditional vessels. This approach redefines what’s possible in marine mobility, offering faster, more efficient, and environmentally responsible alternatives.

Jess Hodge is the CEO and Co-Founder of Resourceful Living, an Australian based recycled plastic manufacturer.

Jess is a leader in the recycling and remanufacture of plastic. She embraced the task of turning discarded plastics into high-performance, aesthetically pleasing furniture and building materials. Through tireless innovation and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of material science, Jess and the Resourceful Living team developed a superior, sustainable material that empowers architects and designers to create projects without compromise.

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

ANZBIG has a roadmap that aims to produce approximately $7 billion dollars per annum of biochar, remove 30 million metric tonnes annually of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent equal to $3.5 Billion dollars in carbon revenue, produce 300 million Gj of energy worth $16.5 Million dollars per annum, provide at least $3 billion pa in Agricultural productivity gains by using biochar, including recycling and increasing soil carbon, reducing N oxide and methane emissions with at least $32 Million pa in additional water savings.

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.

Storm is the Founder of ByStorm Beauty.

The beauty industry has spent decades innovating everything except accessibility — and ByStorm Beauty is changing that. ByStorm Beauty is a simple, scalable solution to an obvious problem no one bothered to fix: making beauty work for people with disabilities.

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.