Setting the agenda…

Liz Ritchie, CEO of the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) provides the big-picture, evidence-based view of the social, economic and policy trends transforming regional Australia. Liz will discuss how leaders across local government, business, and community can position themselves to respond; she shares insights from RAI’s research and policy work, including opportunities to lead in a changing national landscape

The “Future Made in Australia” session will explore how Australia’s manufacturing, energy and regional industries are evolving in response to the energy transition and new government priorities for sovereign capability. The session aims to highlight how regional cities are already leading this change — through innovation, investment and collaboration across sectors.

Innovations in circular economy are reshaping Australia’s regions. Hear from national and local leaders on rethinking the way we produce, reuse, and revalue materials, and how these new industries can drive economic opportunity and sustainability.

This session will explore the critical role regional freight and logistics play in driving economic growth and connecting regional producers to national and international markets. It will examine infrastructure, intermodal connectivity, port access, and emerging supply chain challenges and opportunities.

Designed for logistics providers, exporters, policymakers, and community, the discussion will highlight how efficient and resilient regional freight networks underpin competitiveness, trade diversification, and long-term regional prosperity.

Ben Finkle from the Australian Regional Artificial Intelligence Network (ARAIN) will demystify how modern AI fits into everyday work and help participants spot high-value opportunities in their own workflows. Using regionally relevant case studies, including agriculture and forestry, the session will assume a baseline familiarity and move beyond the basics into real tasks like analysis, scenario thinking, spreadsheets, presentations, and clearer internal communication.

Cathy McGowan AO, former independent Federal Member for Indi (2013–2019) and one of Australia’s most respected advocates for community-led leadership, will present the evening keynote.

During her time in politics, Cathy became widely known for championing grassroots engagement and local decision-making, demonstrating how organised regional communities can influence national policy. She continues to work with communities across Australia to strengthen local leadership capability and strategic influence.

Cathy will explore why strong regional leadership will determine whether communities simply host investment, or genuinely secure long-term economic and social benefit. It is about taking control of our future and ensuring change happens with our regions, not to them.

Australia’s regions are increasingly leading the next phase of advanced manufacturing, from high-precision engineering and automation to clean technologies and food production. This session explores what it takes to become a regional manufacturing powerhouse, including the role of skills, infrastructure, technology adoption and collaboration between industry, education and government.

The discussion will also address real-world challenges such as workforce shortages, rising costs and global competition, and how regional businesses can connect into major projects and new investment. The focus is on practical pathways to build resilient supply chains, strengthen local capability and secure long-term growth for manufacturing in regional economies.

Bernard Salt AM is an Australian demographer, author, columnist and social commentator widely regarded for his insights into how demographic and social trends shape society, business and the economy. He has written multiple best-selling books and been a regular columnist for The Weekend Australian for more than 20 years, where he interprets long-term population, lifestyle and consumer shifts for a broad audience.

In this session Bernard will unpack ABS projections showing Australia’s working-age population tilting toward regional and peri-urban areas as capital cities age. He’ll translate what this means for the Riverina Murray region: family housing and services demand, skills and hybrid work, and how to convert this shift into productivity gains across manufacturing, agriculture and renewables.

The Murray-Darling Basin is in the midst of a significant water war. North vs south, irrigators vs environment, governments vs communities. It is a significant social, economic and environmental issue which requires us to all work together to save our inland rivers.

The session will explore how innovation in water use, technology and governance can help bridge this divide and create more sustainable outcomes for both communities and ecosystems.

From precision irrigation and real-time monitoring, to water trading reform, environmental works and collaborative basin planning, the discussion will focus on practical solutions that support productive agriculture while restoring river health. It will highlight examples where cooperation is already delivering results and examine how regions can lead the way in building trust, resilience and long-term water security in the face of climate variability and growing demand.

This session will explore one of the most significant economic opportunities of our time: securing the energy foundations that enable Australian businesses and industries to grow. With demand rising every year—fuelled by AI, advanced manufacturing and our ever-increasing need for digital connectivity—energy has become the number one constraint on future investment, no matter the size of the business.

This session steps away from politics and debate to focus on what truly matters for regional prosperity: how we build resilient, reliable energy systems that unlock long-term economic potential.

ustralia’s regions are being asked to deliver more than ever — from energy and advanced manufacturing to defence capability, logistics and digital transformation. None of this is possible without a workforce that is skilled, adaptable and available where growth is occurring.

This session will explore how regions can move beyond short-term labour shortages to build sustainable workforce systems that support long-term economic development. It will examine the role of education and training providers, industry, government and communities in aligning skills pipelines with real demand — including the importance of place-based education, migration pathways, and stronger transitions from learning to employment.

Focusing on opportunity rather than constraint, the discussion will highlight how regions that get workforce right can unlock investment, lift productivity and create inclusive, resilient local economies — positioning people as the critical infrastructure behind Australia’s future growth.

Australia’s sovereign capability is increasingly critical to our national security, economic resilience and long-term prosperity. This session will explore how Australia’s defence needs are evolving, why strong domestic supply chains matter more than ever, and the essential role regional Australia plays in building and sustaining this capability. From advanced manufacturing and critical minerals to logistics, engineering and workforce development, regions are central to ensuring Australia can design, produce and maintain key defence assets at home.

The discussion will also examine how defence and government can better engage with regional industry to unlock local expertise, diversify suppliers and strengthen sovereign capability across the country. Drawing on strategic policy perspectives and real-world industry experience, the session will highlight practical pathways for regional businesses to participate in defence supply chains and contribute to a more secure, self-reliant Australia.