Recipe for Resilience: Co-Designing a Thriving Hunter Region for 2036

This workshop is open to professionals, businesses, researchers, local government, educators, community leaders wanting to help shape the future of the Hunter Region.

You will be allocated to a micro community to decide on a collective direction, identification and creation of shared values and goals and igniting the first action towards a more resilient Hunter.

The workshop is a co-designed partnership between Circular Economy Living Lab, AdaptNSW and Regen Labs, bringing together systems thinking, community collaboration and practical action to support a more resilient and future-ready Hunter Region.

Who Should Attend

• Businesses and social enterprises

• Professionals

• Researchers and educators

• Local government and agencies

• Community organisations and leaders

• Emerging changemakers

A resilient Hunter Region is not created by one organisation, sector or community group. It is created by many different people contributing different ingredients at different times.

This workshop uses the idea of a recipe to explore the ingredients needed for a thriving and future-ready region, including people, materials, skills, values, leadership, partnerships, creativity, infrastructure, local knowledge and action.

Just as every ingredient contributes something unique to a recipe, every participant brings valuable perspectives, experiences and capabilities. The workshop is designed to identify these strengths, understand what is missing and connect people around a shared vision for the future.

By bringing together motivated leaders and emerging changemakers from diverse sectors, we aim to create new connections, strengthen regional leadership and establish action oriented micro-communities capable of tackling challenges and creating opportunities together.

The goal is not simply to imagine a resilient Hunter Region, but to form what the Hunter is currently doing to create resilience as its foundation and continue building from it.

The Hunter Region is experiencing significant environmental, economic, social and industry transition.

While there are already many passionate individuals, organisations and initiatives doing valuable work, these efforts are often disconnected, siloed or lacking opportunities for collaboration and collective momentum.

Creating a resilient future requires more than individual projects it requires connected people, shared direction, diverse leadership and ongoing collaboration across sectors and communities.

We need spaces (infrastructure and virtual) that help:

• Connect aligned people and ideas

• Identify shared values and regional priorities

• Build stronger local networks and leadership capacity

• Encourage cross-sector collaboration and innovation

• Support Hunter Region community-led action and resilience

• Create practical pathways for long-term positive change

• Identify areas where support is required and how it should be delivered.

The Workshop

Using the idea of a “recipe”, the workshop will explore the ingredients needed for a resilient Hunter Region including people, organisations, values, skills, creativity, partnerships and action.

Hosted at The Place Charlestown, this interactive session will bring together participants from across the Hunter to:

• Explore what resilience means for the Hunter Region

• Identify shared values, vision and regional strengths

• Map current opportunities, challenges and community needs

• Explore future directions and priorities for the region

• Identify skills, networks and support required for long-term resilience

• Connect participants with aligned interests, goals and passions

• Support the formation of ongoing “micro-communities” which are collaborative action groups

• Strengthen relationships across investment, economy, sustainability, social, education, research, business, local government and community sectors

• Spark practical ideas, partnerships and future initiatives

No prior experience is required.

The workshop is designed to be collaborative, accessible and welcoming to people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, which is required for a resilient Hunter Region.

Micro-communities will be formed during the workshop through the identification of participating individuals vision for the Hunter and will be supported through facilitated introductions to connect to aligned participants.

Participants will be encouraged to identify simple next steps, nominate champions and continue conversations beyond the workshop.

Where there is sufficient interest, ongoing support and communication channels including follow-up gatherings may be established to help maintain momentum and support collective action by Circular Economy Living Lab and partners.

Refreshments, tea and coffee will be available during registration and networking. Vegan catering will be labeled.

Yes, however registrations are required as places are limited to 30 attendees.

Just yourself, your ideas (what do you need for a resilient and sustainable Hunter Region) and an open mindset.

Materials for activities will be provided.