• Charles Sturt to launch its Innovation Hub – an initiative designed to support regional innovators and businesses – at Port Macquarie campus
• Opening event for new Innovation Hub on Tuesday 23 March will feature hour-long information session by award-winning television host Mr Todd Sampson
• Innovation Hub is part of Charles Sturt’s Stage Two Development in Port Macquarie which received funding from NSW Government

An award-winning television presenter and documentary-maker will be in Port Macquarie next month to officially launch a new centre at Charles Sturt University aimed at supporting regional innovators and entrepreneurs.

The University joined forces with the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to host Mr Todd Sampson – co-host of the television show Gruen and writer and presenter of Redesign My Brain, BodyHack, and Life on the Line – for the opening event of its new on-campus 'Innovation Hub'.

The Innovation Hub is an initiative designed to offer support to businesses and start-ups in regional NSW by hosting a range of programs and events.

It has been running for more than three years at Charles Sturt in Wagga Wagga and on Tuesday 23 March, the University will host a special event to officially launch the Innovation Hub at its Port Macquarie campus.

During the opening event, Mr Sampson will present the one-hour information session, ‘Unleash the Power of Your Brain’, and host a 30-minute question and answer session.

He will share techniques that enable business owners to break through their perceived limitations, overcome fear and learn how to unleash their inner innovator and creativity to apply to their business.

Charles Sturt Director of External Engagement for Port Macquarie Ms Kate Wood-Foye said the University is excited to bring Todd Sampson to Port Macquarie to mark the opening of its new Innovation Hub.

“Our new Innovation Hub facility and opening event is a fantastic way for local innovators, start-up founders, business owners and professionals to connect with each other to share and evolve their ideas and businesses,” Ms Wood-Foye said.

“Our first event is a valuable opportunity to hear from a world class innovator who will be sharing his insights on how to rebuild personal levels of resilience – which is an important topic for our business community after a year of navigating the impacts of COVID-19.

“We hope our new Innovation Hub will become the regional epicentre of innovation for the Mid North Coast region by offering a range of valuable events, programs and opportunities for regional innovators.”

The new Innovation Hub is a component of the Stage Two development at Charles Sturt in Port Macquarie and was made possible thanks to $15 million from the NSW Government’s Growing Local Economies Fund.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW the Hon. John Barilaro said the new Innovation Hub will support and inspire regional entrepreneurs and business owners for years to come.

“The NSW Liberals & Nationals are building a safer, stronger regional NSW and this is exactly the type of facility that the Growing Local Economies programs was designed to provide for regional NSW,” Mr Barilaro said.

“The Innovation Hub will help create jobs, by bringing together the best and brightest minds in regional NSW to help bolster business and start-ups in our regions.”

Member for Port Macquarie the Hon. Leslie Williams said, “Having Charles Sturt University right here in our backyard is a wonderful opportunity for not only local students, but also national and international students to further their education.

“The expansion of Charles Sturt University over recent years has been extraordinary and I very much welcome the opening of the Innovation Hub.”

The talk by Mr Todd Sampson at the opening event forms part of the Innovation Hubs’ ‘Resilience and Innovation Venture’, which is a series of events to help bolster businesses and start-ups in regional NSW to enable them to innovate and bounce back from the global pandemic.

Attendees will be able to take a tour of the new Innovation Hub before the information session starts and will also receive canapes and a drink upon arrival.

Tickets for the event are $55 per person and are available to purchase online via the Try Booking website. Tickets can only be purchased online.

Doors for the event on Tuesday 23 March open at 5.30pm.

The event will be held at the Charles Sturt Theatre (building 802), 7 Major Innes Road Port Macquarie. Attendees are advised to use the Ellis Parade entry and park in carpark one.

The small business workshop series held at the Innovation Hub is supported by the NSW Bushfire Community Resilience and Economic Recovery Fund.

For more information about this event, please email innovate@csu.edu.au.