Regions Rising National Summit

RAI’s National Summit program addressed the key pillars of its ‘Regionalisation Ambition’: a framework to “Rebalance the Nation”, telling the stories of regional challenges and success stories, and providing attendees with knowledge to help them drive change in their communities and businesses.

Last week’s RAI Summit was kicked off by amazing addresses from Christian Zahra Am, Chairman of the Regional Australia Institute (RAI), and its CEO Liz Ritchie, followed by The Hon. Kristy McBain MP.

These three addresses covered the importance of developing regional and rural Australia to be as equipped with the same opportunities and services as those found in any of Australia’s major city centres.

Great discussion ensued in all the following keynote addresses and panels, with topics covered including regional connectivity to the internet and telecommunication networks, improving economic and career outcomes and opportunities available in regional and rural Australia, as well as using tech in bridging the services gap between regional and metropolitan Australia.

Day 1 also brought with it avid discussion in the form of smaller interactive “breakout rooms”, the topics covered in these sessions included ‘Home-Grown Housing Solutions’, ‘The Building Blocks of Education – Getting the Foundations Right’, ‘Taking Care of People First’ (sustainable regional care services) and a discussion led by Southern NSW Innovation Hub CEO, Cindy Cassidy, titled ‘Rural Communities: The Focus of $520m Future Drought Fund’. All these discussions showcased a large array of perspectives and initiatives aimed at improving the resilience and strength of Australia’s regional communities.

The sentiment of the ‘Rural Communities: The Focus of $520m Future Drought Fund’ was captured in one line spoken by the Hon. John McVeigh when he said: “Governments don’t want to be reactive with funding in times of drought, but proactive to prepare the industry for drought conditions and improve general farm resilience.”

Day 2 saw much of the conversation focus on transport accessibility and energy security.

QantasLink CEO, Rachel Yangoyan, discussed additional transport routes being implemented and commented on regional transport accessibility.

The panel discussing regional power infrastructure and accessibility (‘Power Struggle’) brought in a varied array of stakeholders from the energy sector, including Samantha McCulloch (CEO, Australian Energy Producers), Dan Cass (Director, Rewiring Australia), Katherine The (Executive Chair, Spektrum Mining), Michael Frangos (CEO, Indigenous Energy Australia), Dr Simon Wright (Senior Research Fellow, Energy and Circularity – Charles Sturt University), and Kristy Walters (Director, Haystacks Solar Garden).

These panellists discussed renewable-energy transition and the pivotal role that regional communities could play in this. There was also great discussion brought forward by Paul Rosair (Executive Officer, Regional Capitals Alliance WA and Kimberley Regional Group of Councils) and Andrew Brien (CEO, City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Founding Member of the regional Capitals Alliance WA) on the opportunities available in Australia’s north and west. The power of proper, and thought-out collaboration between aligned geographic or industry partners regardless of state or LGA borders was addressed by Leanne Rosewall (Regional Director, RDV and RDA Loddon Mallee, Department of Jobs, Skills, Industries and Regions) and Glenn Stewart (Manager, Robinvale Euston Workforce Network and Member of the Cross-Border Tristate Industry Taskforce).

Whether one was fixed on the knowledgeable speakers giving insight into the sentiment surrounding regional development and prosperity or out having discussions on the trade floor with event sponsors, people walked away from the summit with new information and a refreshed vigour regarding regional Australia’s future development and direction.

– Bow Souter, Innovation Broker (Agrifutures position), Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption & Innovation Hub