Discover why the Best is in the West

Western Sydney is the fastest-growing and most diverse region in NSW.

Join us for lunch on Friday, 6th September, for the exciting ‘Best in the West’. Launch Pad and key stakeholders will come together to showcase the thriving innovation ecosystem in Western Sydney.

Yes, you heard right... BEST in the West! With so much potential in Western Sydney, come and see how you can get involved and not miss out on all this potential!

As the startup incubator at the #1 University in the world*, Launch Pad aims to challenge what the rest think of the West and demonstrate why this region is home to the very best in innovation and entrepreneurship.
Whether you're a startup founder, entrepreneur, or someone passionate about the future of this dynamic region, this event is your gateway to unparalleled opportunities.

Event Agenda

Lunch & Learn: Uncover the Hidden Gems of Western Sydney

Start your afternoon with a delicious lunch while hearing from an interactive panel from some of Western Sydney's most influential stakeholders. Discover the opportunities, challenges, and future potential that makes Western Sydney THE place to be.

Hear firsthand from representatives of:

Startup Hubs: Learn how Western Sydney’s leading incubator is empowering startups to scale.
Councils: Discover the city’s strategic vision for fostering innovation and supporting business growth.
Startups: Get inspired by success stories from the startups that are putting Western Sydney on the map.

Best in the West Scavenger Hunt

Engage in an interactive scavenger hunt designed to take you on a journey through Western Sydney's innovation landscape. This activity will help you discover key resources, connect with fellow innovators, and uncover the hidden opportunities that Western Sydney has to offer.

Pitch & Partner: A Collaborative Ask & Offer Session

Conclude the event with our unique "Pitch & Partner" session, where startups take the stage to pitch their ideas and make a specific ask to the audience. Other startups who can fulfill that ask will then have the chance to pitch their own ideas, creating a collaborative loop of opportunities and partnerships.

Don’t miss this chance to connect, collaborate, and explore the boundless potential of Western Sydney!

*Western Sydney University placed 1st overall worldwide for the third consecutive year for its social, ecological and economic impact in the latest Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings.

Meet the Speakers

Ashlee Gardner

Ashlee is the Smart City and Innovation Manager at City of Parramatta. In her role, she leads the delivery of Council’s 10-year ‘Smart City and Innovation Strategy’ which sets a vision for Parramatta to be a sustainable, thriving and connected hub for ideas and innovation. Starting her career in public and preventative health with a passion for improving the wellbeing of Western Sydney, Ashlee brings a ‘people first’ lens to the role and is committed to making sure technology and innovation are always deployed in a way that benefits the community.

Dr Belinda Chapman

Dr Belinda Chapman is the co-founder and Director of Quantal Bioscience, a meta-business focused on doing good big things with tiny microbes, across the food, agriculture and education sectors. Belinda has more than 25 years’ experience as a research microbiologist, has greatly enjoyed the nearly 9-year slow-burn start-up adventure that is Quantal Bioscience, and is looking forward to a big 10th year ahead!

Mabel Joe

Mabel Joe is currently the Senior Coordinator, Communications & Activations at Launch Pad, Western Sydney University. Launch Pad is a startup incubator supporting startups and founders through events and programs and also aims to inspire students in entrepreneurship. In this role, Mabel oversees all marketing and communications, manages events and programs, and activation activities for the various Launch Pad spaces across Western Sydney (Parramatta, Werrington, Bankstown, and Fairfield) as well as internationally, including the newest Launch Pad space at Western Sydney University campus in Surabaya, Indonesia.

Prior to this, Mabel worked as an event manager for 14 years at Special Olympics, handling corporate fundraising events, and at KCC, managing large-scale conferences. Her career began as a furniture designer at Haworth, an international furniture company, after completing a degree in Industrial Design at UTS. Passionate about community building, Mabel is dedicated to fostering a supportive environment for innovation and entrepreneurship in Western Sydney.

Linda Kim

Linda Kim, the Founder & CEO of SPAZII, is a social entrepreneur on a mission to empower local cafes and restaurants. Through SPAZII, a space and catering booking platform, Linda is helping underdog eateries turn vacant spaces into valuable opportunities. By disrupting traditional marketplaces in the hospitality industry, she's giving small businesses the boost they need to thrive.

About Spark Festival

Spark Festival has a mandate to coordinate and promote startup-focused events that spark engagement into and across the startup ecosystem.

Spark Festival 2024 is proudly supported by the City of Sydney, and has been made possible by support from the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources, ACS Labs and Harbour City Labs, Herbert Smith Freehills, Stone and Chalk, Atlassian Foundation, Startup Daily, Net Nada and Startup/Angels.

By registering for this event, you grant full rights to use the images from any photography/video footage for publicity and education purposes. This may include (but is not limited to), the right to use them in their printed and online publicity, coursework presentations, social media and press releases. If you do not wish to be photographed, please inform an event organiser.