The sun sets on HIF 2019 and dawns on potential
Christina Gerakiteys
The Hunter Innovation Festival set out to connect people and shine a light on collaborations that are forming all over our region.
Starting with the first-time collaboration between the Hunter Innovation Festival and Hunter iF, the festival gained momentum and a fresh and exuberant energy. Hunter iF is on a mission to harness the Hunter Region’s immense potential to help create a more innovative future. The Hunter Innovation Festival has been on a mission for the last 13 years to highlight and encourage innovation in the region. Alignment is always a great way to start a collaboration.
Over 40 diverse events attracted diverse audiences, some attendees regulars at the festival, others joining us for the first time, all curious about a bright and vibrant future for our region.
And the feedback has been positive. We have enjoyed comments such as, “Loved how different all the events were, from art (heart open) to big data, to women in innovation, to start-ups in the Hunter and how we could be proudly Newcastle” and “I loved the people and the vibrant attitude of attendees, presenters and organisers”.
We set out with the intention to impact everyone who came to the festival in big ways and small. We set out to excite and unite people from all walks of life. We set out to make this year’s festival the best we could make it, as we do every year.
The power of many has proved itself again. When people unite and collaborate for the common good, spectacular things happen. Some of the events were attended by hundreds others by 15 or 20. The size of the event wasn’t what mattered.
What mattered was the connection and the opportunity to learn, to create and to connect.
Thank you to those who supported the festival this year. See you in 2020.
Christina Gerakiteys
Christina Gerakiteys is the Founder of UtopiaX and CEO of SingularityU Australia Summit. She is a change catalyst and instigator of Moonshot Ideation. Christina opens hearts and minds, inspiring impossible to possible.
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