In partnership with Spark Festival, Charles Sturt University, ACS Labs and Investment NSW, join us for discovery, ideas and connection to the NSW regional ecosystem.

Meet minds, share ideas and skills, and see emerging innovations in the local innovation and the NSW startup ecosystem. Whether you’re curious about innovation and technology, or a seasoned expert, this event is designed to foster engagement and collaboration across the thriving tech-enabled communities that call regional NSW home.

You’ll love this if you:

Like to hear fascinating new ideas (and perhaps even find your own)
Want to meet innovators, founders and professionals in the local community
Network and hear from key leaders in the NSW ecosystem about how to be supported in your own ideas and ventures whether you are a founder, startup, SME or in corporate

Part of a regional event series:

12 Nov Wagga Wagga
13 Nov Dubbo
14 Nov Bathurst

Special Guests:

Claire Bull: Director of Sustainability & Innovation at Extolla, Angel Investor & Mentor, Mentor in Residence at ACS Labs, the Co-National Lead for Tech Australia Advocates

Claire is absolutely supercharging the Aussie startup ecosystem wherever she is in her varied roles, and she’s bringing that same drive tothis event. Starting her career in B2B marketing, she found her way to COO at Frank Green, partnered with Microsoft and Governments to launch tech businesses in APAC and now helps startup founders succeed as part of the ACS Labs community.Claire is passionate about helping Aussie founders expand their business into new markets and growing the Tech sector in Australia. She is currently the Co-national Lead for Tech Advocates Australia and is the Director of Sustainability and Innovation at Extolla. We're thrilled to have Claire joining us in Wagga, Dubbo and Bathurst.

Jo Palmer: Director of Innovation Programs at Charles Sturt University and 2019 Australian Rural Woman of the Year

Jo Palmer is passionate about connecting, educating and empowering rural businesses so they can access the skills and experience they need to grow. She is also passionate about inspiring a new generation of regional entrepreneurs and as the Director of Innovation Programs at Charles Sturt University, she has made it her mission to illuminate the innovation and entrepreneurship already occurring in regional NSW to inspire others who might pursue this path.

Kristy Withers: Founder, Incy Interiors

Kristy Withers is a serial entrepreneur, speaker, mentor, and small business advocate with over 13 years of experience. After founding and growing Incy Interiors into Australia's top children's furniture brand, she now focuses on empowering other small business owners through her Support Small Squad initiative. Her passion for supporting aspiring entrepreneurs has led her to mentor over 50 students and develop programs to equip individuals with essential business skills. Through her multifaceted approach, Kristy aims to inspire, educate, and uplift others on their entrepreneurial journeys.

Hamish Keith: Owner and Managing Director, Wilga Station, Founder of Elevate Bathurst

Leaving the family farm to pursue a career in events and hospitality which led him to live and work in New York and run celebrity events including the Time 100 dinner, Hamish returned to Bathurst to restore his parents' property, Wilga Station to become what is now an award winning leader in Aussie tourism and sustainability-innovation in the sector. Hamish and his wife Mez who has a background in banking, NGOs like Charity Water and event the United Nations, have become advocates for the Bathurst region, as active member of the NSW tourism industry, he’s the founder of an association called “Elevate Bathurst”, and now own three hospitality businesses all bringing well deserved attention to the area.

Mick Callan: Director of Habitat Innovation and Management

Director and Principal Ornithologist with Habitat Innovation and Management, Mick is considered an emerging leader in Australian ornithology and recognised as an expert in hollow dependent fauna. With a background working in both State and Local Government, Mick developed a range of innovative, award-winning projects that deliver best management practice outcomes for threatened fauna and ecological communities.

More speakers are being announced.

This event is proudly supported by Investment NSW, and Spark Festival has been made possible by support from the City of Sydney, the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources, Herbert Smith Freehills, the Atlassian Foundation and Pledge 1%, ACS Labs and Harbour City Labs, Stone & Chalk, Startup Daily, Net Nada, UTS Graduate Research School, TURO and Decidr.

About Charles Sturt University

Innovation is key to addressing future challenges. At Charles Sturt University, our diverse programs foster innovation across various industries like food production, climate change, healthcare, and cybersecurity. Whether you seek to understand innovation processes, develop skills, validate ideas, solve community issues, or implement solutions, Innovate at Charles Sturt offers workshops, bootcamps, hackathons, masterclasses, conferences, and demo days to support your journey.

More about Charles Sturt University

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.