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Driving Innovation in Your Region

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Do you want to develop innovation in your region?  

Over the past few months, there has been an optimistic shift towards the recovery from the disruptions caused by the pandemic. There is a growing recognition that all organisations across NSW have a part to play in nurturing a resilient innovation ecosystem. Sectors that have traditionally not been active contributors to the innovation dialogue are now eager to engage and explore ways they can help and be part of the solution to driving our state’s recovery. 

Sydney School of Entrepreneurship (SSE) has had the great privilege to bring together key ecosystem builders across government, education and industry and would like to thread these conversations into a broader activity to amplify this new discourse.  

SSE is proud to facilitate this 45-minute webinar to hear from City of Newcastle CouncilSydney Startup Hub and Startup Status as they discuss how ecosystems can support fostering innovation and how to encourage innovation in your region. 

Learn how these innovation supporters are tackling problems faced in their ecosystems such as:

  • How to encourage those outside the 'innovation bubble’ to join the ecosystem  
  • How to increase the speed of innovation through local collaborations within the ecosystem  
  • How a strong innovation ecosystem can help reduce youth unemployment and providing locals with career pathways 
  • We would love to have you as a valuable part of championing a stronger collaboration across the state to collectively grow the innovation capacity of our regions. 

Register now to secure your complimentary ticket.

About the Panellists 

SSE's Innovation Program Lead, Daniel Smith, will be joined by:

Michelle Long, Sydney Startup Hub 


Michelle Long is the Associate Director of the Sydney Startup Hub, one of the largest innovation spaces of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Accommodating up to 2,000 people across 11 floors, the Sydney Startup Hub provides startups with access to mentoring, networking and investment and brings together leading incubators, accelerators and innovation programs in one central location.   

In this role, Michelle provides high-level advice relating to the Hub and its operations. She manages key stakeholders and tenants, and designs and implements programs which are aimed to strengthen and support the ecosystem and make NSW the most effective place to grow a startup.   

Prior to this, Michelle held leading operational roles with the ABC, including as the National Manager for Business Partnerships and Corporate Social Responsibility. Michelle is an expert at improving organisational performance through implementing strategic business processes and targeted workplace strategies.   

Michelle holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Canberra.

Chad Renando, Startup Status

Chad Renando is mapping and measuring the impact of entrepreneurs across Australia. As part of this research, Chad helps governments, universities, corporations, innovation hubs, and entrepreneur programs measure the long-term impact of their innovation investment and help regions connect entrepreneurial activity to community resilience. Chad is also a professional facilitator, speaker, coach, and researcher, keen to help us all understand how we make a positive impact on society. Chad comes from a diverse background in fast growth manufacturing and digital firms, and is currently a Research Fellow (Innovation Ecosystems) with the Rural Economies Centre of Excellence at USQ, a Research Fellow with the Australian Centre for Entrepreneurship Research at QUT, Director of the not for profit Startup Status, and Managing Director-Australia with the Global Entrepreneurship Network. 

Brandon McIntosh, City of Newcastle

Brandon McIntosh is the Innovation Ecosystem Facilitator at the City of Newcastle. 

Through helping to grow and establish innovation ecosystems, Brandon supports the development and growth of startups, entrepreneurs, innovative small-to-medium enterprises, and smart citizens in the City of Newcastle.  

Brandon believes that through creating the right mix of economic conditions, people and opportunity can be brought together to create growth . Like any ecosystem, an entrepreneurial ecosystem requires a fertile environment to sustain growth and prosperity, and Brandon achieves this through fostering collaboration and connection within the community, allowing them to thrive in the ecosystem. 


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