THE business community came together last week for a Business Leaders Lunch to hear from Dr Sarah Parsons the Pro Vice Chancellor and Project Leader of the IF project at Newcastle University.

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Dr Parsons challenged businesses to collaborate, innovate and use a model where together Port Stephens can create a hub of shared learning which will create a greater competitive advantage for the region.

She challenged the community to assist young people to build their businesses here in Port Stephens, start them locally and grow them globally.

Dr Parsons said, “All the pieces of the puzzle are here, we just need to be more attractive.”

She believes that connected collaboration is the way of the future, and we now need to create a future for Port Stephens.

Ms Parsons said, “Communities everywhere are doing it and those that do it well will create talent pipelines for youth and use their local universities as an engine room for regional growth.”

The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects are experiencing a 75% increase in jobs and yet on 16% of our youth are studying STEM.

The model which Dr Parsons believes will work for our region centres on leadership, collaboration and connectivity with the key factors of ideas, culture and infrastructure, market access, talent, financial capital and crowd support being a strong framework to work from.

Port Stephens Councillor Jaimie Abbott told News Of The Area, “It was fascinating to learn about how cities such as Canberra have revamped themselves through smart marketing campaigns.

“It really got many of us thinking about some of the future possibilities for Port Stephens when it comes to innovation and technology.

“It was thought provoking,” she said.

“So many business representatives who were there told me they too, were inspired to think about the role they can play in future processes to progress Port Stephens,” Cr Abbott said.

By Marian SAMPSON