A night for celebrating the unconventional.

We are thrilled to share the highlights from the recent launch of our annual publication, IMPACT - Founder Stories, which took place at The Welder's Dog Brewery in Armidale on Wednesday, 7 August.

This year's publication features the inspiring journeys of twelve of our SRI founders, offering a glimpse into the remarkable stories from our 70-plus-strong community of founders.

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.

More than 120 entrepreneurs, colleagues, and friends of the SRI gathered to acknowledge the profound impact of the SRI founders and their startups on the region. It was an evening that truly showcased the power of necessity-driven innovation in regional areas.

The event began with a warm Welcome to Country by Uncle Steve Widders, followed by insightful addresses from Gary Morgan, our MC and UNE SRI Expert in Residence, Bill Mitchell, Founder of the 2024 Australian Agritech of the Year, Optiweigh, Lou Conway, Director of UNE SRI, and Chris Moran, Vice-Chancellor of UNE. Each speaker emphasised the significance of unconventional thinking and the crucial role of startups in shaping the future of the region.

As we look to the future, UNE SRI and UNE reaffirm our commitment to empowering the next generation of founders and continuing to drive growth and innovation across regional NSW.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at IMPACT and helped make it an evening to remember!