On Friday, 13th September 2024, Busselton’s Hilton Garden Inn came alive with thought leaders, innovators, and investors as they gathered for the highly anticipated Regional Innovation Summit.
The event, hosted by Innovation Cluster, offered over 100 guests a day of insightful discussions and innovative ideas across cutting edge themes essential for shaping a sustainable and forward-thinking future in the regions including Future Food, Productive Oceans, and the Journey to Net Zero.
Keynote speakers and industry panels from across Australia and overseas spoke about pioneering advancements in alternative proteins and adopting regenerative farming practices to unlocking the potential of our unique coastlines.
Susie O’Neill, Head of Industry Engagement at Food Frontier, highlighted the environmental challenges of current food production.
She emphasized the critical role of alternative proteins and plant-based food innovation in addressing the global food system’s impact on the environment and climate change, advocating for a shift to sustainable practices.
The Summit’s agenda also featured sustainability startup pitches, investor perspectives, and interactive feedback forums, all culminating in a networking sundowner with panoramic views over the Busselton foreshore.
The Regional Innovation Summit underscored the significant steps we must take collectively to drive meaningful impact and served as a critical platform for founders, industry leaders, and government stakeholders to collaborate, ensuring that regional Australia is at the forefront of global efforts to build an environmentally responsible and economically sustainable future.
Julia Reisser, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of ULUU, highlighted the company’s commitment to sustainability with their groundbreaking biomaterial ULUU which is made from seaweed and designed to address climate change by capturing and storing carbon within the products it creates.
Reisser explains, “What we are doing is developing an alternative to plastic. As a modern society, we can’t live without plastic, and what we are working hard towards is to develop a material that delivers those things that we can’t live without anymore. We need polymers, while not using fossil fuels, and a solution that is truly biodegradable and biocompatible with our bodies and the planet.”
Regional Innovation Summit Key Takeaways:
Speaking at the Summit, Sandra Draper, Director of Innovation at the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation, emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in driving Western Australia’s growth.
“Events like this Summit are very important for Western Australia as they bring together a nexus of industry, government, academia, and the promotion of conversation and opportunities,” Draper said. “Innovation Cluster delivers many initiatives across WA, with a focus on regional WA, supporting agtech and sustainability. The Government requires industry partners to work with, and this is a significant landmark in building the innovation ecosystem and developing capability more broadly in Western Australia.”
The Summit is part of the CONNECT Sustainable Industries Program, supported by the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation through the New Industries Fund – X-Tend WA Program, with event sponsorship from West Tech Fest, City of Busselton, South West Angels, South West Development Commission, and Creative Tech Village.
