• Charles Sturt University sponsors the dynamic 2023 Luminosity Youth Summit in Port Macquarie for the 11^th year
• Luminosity Youth Summit is a national two-day forum for young people aged 15 to 25 to foster their purpose and well-being, and explore ideas for success, creativity, excellence and entrepreneurship
• The event includes masterclasses, live performances, local presenters and 25 other thought leaders from various fields around the globe

Charles Sturt University returns as the Foundation Sponsor of the Luminosity Youth Summit in Port Macquarie, a dynamic two-day national forum to encourage young people to explore ‘dangerous ideas for success’.

Charles Sturt is a leading Port Macquarie institution and has been Foundation Sponsor for 11 years since the summit’s inception in 2012.

The 2023 Luminosity Youth Summit is on Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 July.

The University’s support for the event demonstrates its commitment to developing and supporting events which assist young people across the nation to create a world worth living in.

The University’s long-term partnership with the Luminosity Youth Summit is led by Charles Sturt Director of External Engagement (Port Macquarie) Ms Kate Wood-Foye (pictured, left).

Ms Wood-Foye is the co-founder and Chair of the not-for-profit Luminosity Youth Summit and curates the event with a team of 20 volunteers, providing the leadership, connection and development opportunity for students from all over the country in regional Port Macquarie.

She said the Luminosity Youth Summit 2023 is full of energy and vibrancy. The event ignites creativity, excellence and entrepreneurship and fosters purpose and wellbeing among young people aged 15 to 25 years. More than 3000 young people have experienced the summit with another 450 expected to join the summit in 2023.

“Charles Sturt University is delighted to return as a Foundation Sponsor of Luminosity Youth Summit 2023 in Port Macquarie and is proud to also sponsor a selection of Summit Scholarships,” Ms Wood-Foye said.

“The University is keen to provide this unique opportunity to link regional communities to the talents of students, lecturers, researchers and industry partners who will be guest speakers and facilitators at the event, among 25 other thought leaders from various fields around the globe.”

Ms Wood-Foye said Charles Sturt has a long commitment to supporting its regional communities through sponsorship, industry partnerships and in-kind assistance and support of high impact events.

“It is so important to bring an event of such high energy and vibrancy to regional communities and provide leadership opportunities not usually afforded to young people who live outside metropolitan areas,” she said.

Presenting Partner Mid North Coast Local Health District has announced its support of the event for a further three years after a decade of involvement with the popular summit.

Chief Executive Mr Stewart Dowrick said Luminosity was about engaging and challenging young people to set goals for the future.

“The young people who attend Luminosity each year will be our future leaders and we look forward to welcoming many of those people into the health sector in the years to come,” Mr Dowrick said.

More than 60 regional organisations have come together to support scholarships for young regional people aged 15 to 25 to attend, including university, high school students and other regional youth from across the country.

The event includes more than 25 speakers, masterclasses, live performances, daily morning tea, lunch, open night mic, and a Luminosity goodie bag.

Some of the presenters include:

• Ms Tanya Hennessy, Charles Sturt alumna and comedian
• Ms Sophie Delezio, miracle survivor
• Ms Ellie Cole, OAM, Australia’s most decorated female paralympian
• Mr Hunter Mitchell, conservation warrior, founder of Raise the Baby Rhino with Hunter (flying in from South Africa)
• Ms Kate Wood-Foye, Director of External Engagement; Luminosity Co-Founder and Chair
• Adjunct Associate Professor Corey Tutt, OAM – CEO and founder of Deadly Science
• Mr Stewart Dowrick, Luminosity Presenting Partner and Chief Executive MNCLHD
• Ms Bianca Adkins, co-founder of the Lemonade Crew
• Mr Ben Cudmore, co-founder of Self Seen
• International basketball players and coaches – Mr André Wolford, Mr Andrew McPhail and Mr Robert Linton
• Ms Teresa Cochrane, Charles Sturt First Nations (Honours) environmental science researcher and former Wauchope Highschool graduate
• Ms Taylah Debreceny – emerging National Weightlifting Champion, third-year physiotherapy student, Elite Sport and Performer Program
• Dr Brett Szmajda – former St Joseph’s Regional and MacKillop College graduate, now the Executive Manager of the National Artificial Intelligence Agency, CSIRO
• Paramedicine Lecturers Mr Jacob Grevell, Ms Samantha Sheridan and Ms Hannah Stack will be delivering a hands-on paramedic workshop on Day Two, ‘A Day in the life of a paramedic’ with simulated ambulance and manikins
• Mr Andrew Rohde of global IT company Axiom Connected Australia will facilitate a student panel about artificial intelligence (AI) and will also deliver a workshop with a ‘Hack-a-thon’ style masterclass
• Charles Sturt will host a delegate expo information stand during the summit with the student recruitment ambassadors and marketing team
• A dedicated First Nations stand will provide scholarships for First Nations and other regional students.

The University joins more than 70 generous businesses and other leading organisations with supporting scholarships and services to deliver the summit.

These include Presenting Partner Mid North Coast Local Health District, fellow Charles Sturt Foundation Partners Regional Australia Bank, Rydges Port Macquarie, Headspace, Charles Sturt University First Nations, Business NSW, Telstra, Mid Coast Council, Axiom Connected, TAFE NSW, Legacy, Port Macquarie Sunrise Rotary, Kempsey Macleay Valley Country University Centre, Belle Property, University of Newcastle, Hastings Business Network, and Business Port Macquarie.