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A full house of local business owners, creatives, council and tourism personnel joined forces to brain storm how creative collaboration can boost tourism, business engagement and employment in Moree on Thursday 10th April 2025.
We were absolutely thrilled to have Edwina Sharrock visit Moree to deliver an inspiring, hands-on, and game-changing workshop to 14 attendees on Saturday, 29th March 2025.
The UNE SMART Region Incubator (UNE SRI) was delighted to be part of the Narrabri New Energy Expo, designed and delivered by Geni Energy Founder Sally Hunter. This community-focused event brought together local industry leaders, innovators, and high school students to explore cutting-edge opportunities in the energy sector.
Attendees learnt how to develop a strong visual brand identity (how to choose colours, fonts, and images that reflect their business’s unique personality), create captivating logos and branding elements, design eye-catching social media graphics to engage their audience, produce attractive marketing materials to promote their business.
Sam Cathcart (SJN Rural) delivered a free 2-hour workshop to help equip small rural businesses with the knowledge and tools to successfully identify, apply for, and manage government grants specifically designed for rural businesses.
Pitch2Grow participants were given the chance for a support meet up breakfast on 18th March 2025 to network, clarify and questions or concerns about the Pitch2Grow 2025, motivate to work on their pitch, learn more about the upcoming workshop with expert pitch mentor Edwina Sharrock and to go over what to expect and include in their pitch and pitch deck.
Pitch2Grow participants were welcomed to the program with an introductory workshop facilitated by Sheree Cayirylys (Regional Connector in Moree), Kerrianne Ryan (2024 Pitch2Grow winner and founder of Horse Led Learning), and Tyler Macey (2024 Pitch2Grow participant and owner of the Social Co House co-working space).
Regional business owners refined their brand strategy in a hands-on masterclass with Paul Chappell, walking away with clarity, direction, and actionable insights.
On Wednesday, 12th February, we held our first Masterclass for the year in Tamworth - Copywriting for Entrepreneurs.
At a time of endless hype about AI-generated content, UNE SRI’s latest Masterclass took a different route. Set to a 1960s Mad Men-inspired soundtrack, this workshop focused less on Chat GPT prompts and more on setting pen to paper.
Last Saturday morning saw five aspiring entrepreneurs gather for an intensive business planning workshop through the UNE SMART Region Incubator HATCH program.
The four-hour session, focused on the Lean Canvas methodology, helped participants transform their initial business ideas into structured, actionable plans.
On Wednesday, December 4th, Tamworth founders gathered at UNE Tamworth to celebrate the festive season and an amazing 2024.
UNE SRI Moree celebrated our wins and the wins of local businesses and organisations over breakfast and coffee by Annie at the Social Co House on 3rd December.
Thank you to all who have supported the UNE SRI and Social Co House in Moree in 2024. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
As 2024 draws to a close, we reflect on the year that has been—and the incredible inspiration we’ve drawn from our founders. Their steadfast dedication to their missions has fuelled our determination for us to remain mission-driven. We too have aligned with the New England North West community to set ambitious goals for the future: advancing net-zero agriculture, fostering a connected innovation community, and creating transformative opportunities for our region.
On Friday, 15 November, the University of New England (UNE) celebrated National Agriculture Day by hosting What Does It Take to Make a Net Zero Steak?
This Futures Series event brought together leading voices from research, industry, and innovation to explore how Australian agriculture can achieve net-zero emissions
The New England North West branch of the Royal Society of NSW was officially launched on Monday 25 November, celebrating the contributions of women in STEM and the transformative power of diversity in science.
The event brought together researchers, innovators, and trailblazers from across the region to inspire collaboration and innovation.
Behind the immense challenge of decarbonising global economies lies another: how do we eat without further destabilising the stable climate that supports agriculture?
The Digital Media & Visual Storytelling workshop, hosted by UNE SRI, was a hit among local creatives and business owners, filling up a month in advance due to high demand. Additional spaces were made available to accommodate more participants, eager to enhance their skills in the digital space.
Last week, the UNE SMART Region Incubator hosted an informative session titled Navigating Food Safety Standards for Food Producers and Retailers. The event was designed to equip both new and established food producers and retailers with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the complex landscape of food safety regulations.
The UNE SMART Region Incubator hosted The Business Case for Community Solar Projects on 27 September 2024 at NOVA in Armidale. The event brought together industry leaders, including David Heine, Emma Stilts, and Gerald Arends, to discuss community-led renewable energy solutions, with a focus on local economic development.
Tamworth small business owners who manage their websites were given insights by Nic Hinwood of KEO on how to improve their websites performance.
Twenty local business owners recently gathered for an exceptional and practical workshop, "Xero In: Mastering Your Business Management," organised by UNE SRI. The event aimed at helping businesses streamline their financial processes using Xero, a leading accounting software.
In recent months, schools across New England North West took part in a unique educational journey aimed at addressing some of the biggest challenges in modern agriculture.
The program culminated in the AgTech Youth Innovation Summit, held at UNE SMART Farm, where students gathered to showcase their solutions, collaborate with industry experts, and explore real-world applications for their ideas using modern technology.
Business owners were treated to 2 part AI4Me: Zero to hero workshops in Tamworth. They discovered how to transform their team into AI-powered heroes with practical tools, thought-provoking insights, and actionable strategies.
On Wednesday, October 3, a small group of Tamworth founders gathered at Deva Chocolate Cafe for a founders-only Fireside Chat with our local mentor, Wade O’Shea.
This informal event provided the group with a great opportunity to connect with each other and Wade, who is a recent addition to the UNE SRI mentor line-up.
The UNE SMART Region Incubator (UNE SRI) recently held two highly impactful events as part of the SPARK New England Festival, featuring the renowned startup mentor, Alan Jones.
These events were integral components of UNE SRI's Masterclass Series and Future Series, drawing a vibrant mix of local entrepreneurs, innovators, and industry professionals eager to gain insights from one of Australia's leading figures in the startup ecosystem.
Titled IMPACT—A Celebration of Unconventional Thinking, the event was a special occasion marking seven years of UNE SRI's contributions to the economic development of New England and North West NSW. This celebration coincided with the 70th anniversary of the University of New England.
The StepChange program, supported by the NSW Government's Accelerating Regional Innovation Fund (ARIF), has recently finished a series of in-depth workshops, masterclasses, and mentoring sessions aimed at fostering business development in regional New South Wales.
Over the past several months, business owners in Armidale, Tamworth, and other New England North West (NENW) locations have had the opportunity to break free from the daily grind and focus on strategic growth initiatives with one of our Expert’s in Residence, Ian Mason.
We are delighted to announce that SimpliMove, one of our UNE SRI Founders. has been named a Joint Winner in the Technology in Health category at the 2024 Primary Care Quality and Innovation Awards. Organised by the Hunter New England and Central Coast PHN, this event recognises outstanding contributions to healthcare through innovative technological solutions.
From a PhD and Master’s degree from UNE, to an award-winning startup; Stoktake. With guidance from UNE SRI, Dr Phillip Zada’s app is begining to transform livestock management.
A small group of local business owners gathered in Glen Innes on the 26th June for a hands-on SMART Session led by Edwina Sharrock, founder and former CEO of Birth Beat.
The workshop provided practical insights into the key principles of scaling a business while addressing the unique challenges and opportunities faced by regional entrepreneurs.