Tuesday 13 May from 5.30pm  Flinders Lane | Manhattan Room

Opening Welcome Event:

Kick off the Summit at our exclusive CFNQ Welcome Event. An unmissable start to your Summit experience! Connect with fellow attendees, special guests and city leaders as you enjoy great conversation, networking, and entertainment.

Exclusively for Summit Pass holders only.

Summit Registrations Open

Wed 14 may 7:30am  |  Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Yarning on Country –
Land, Sea & Sky Business:

Designed to bring together our diverse North Queensland community and delegates of the Circular Futures NQ Innovation and Sustainability Summit. Yarning on Country – Land, Sea & Sky Business is a networking event designed to have a yarn, connect across sectors and meet some of the summit’s special guests.

The room will play host to a range of like minded entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers, Indigenous leaders, government, and regional organisations who are all playing a role in shaping a circular and sustainable future.

Kickstart your connections with a coffee from Coffee Presto. Proudly local and sustainable, they serve more than just coffee — they brew with impact, aligning with the very spirit of innovation and purpose that drives our community.

Wed 14 may 9:00am  |  Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Welcome to Country:

With Hayden Saltner from Wulgurukaba Walkabouts  

Wed 14 may  | Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Opening Remarks:

Cassandra Cazzulino | Smart Precinct NQ | CEO

Wed 14 may  | Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Ministerial Address:

Hon. Andrew Powell | Minister for the Environment and Tourism | Minister for Science and Innovation

Wed 14 may  | Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Keynote: Nicole Garofano

Head of Circular Economy Development | Planet Ark

Wed 14 may  | Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

BlockTexx:  

Co-Founder Graham Ross shares how BlockTexx is on an urgent mission to stop textiles and clothing going into landfill. Awarded The ‘Oscars of innovation’ – InnovationAus 2024 Awards for Excellence, BlockTexx re-manufactures textile waste back into the world’s new products – Fibre to fibre, fibre to agriculture, fibre to products.

Wed 14 may  | Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Boody Underwear: 

Rebecca Innes, Product Lead at Boody – Australia and New Zealand’s first B Corp certified underwear brand – will bring her global experience to Townsville to share Boody’s journey in sustainable fashion and circular innovation, including end-of-life solutions.

Disruption for Good:
On the Couch Q&A

Your opportunity to connect with BlockTexx and Boody Underwear

Wed 14 may  | Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Remote OP Shop Project:

Tanya Egerton Founder and 2024 Rural Women’s National Winner will share the story of the the Remote Op Shop Project, and Circulanation and how her organisation is Building an inclusive economy.

Wed 14 may  | Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Australian Bedding Stewardship Council:

Director of Innovation – Tracey Pryor will share how her extensive experience across diverse roles, product categories and supply chains has shaped a systems-based approach to problem solving and innovation. Tracey will highlight how sharing, networking and collaboration drives activity leading to positive outcomes for the Australian Bedding Stewardship Council and their collaborators.

The Power of Partnerships:
On the Couch Q&A

Join Tracey Prior and Tanya Egerton as they talk about their exciting shared initiative and answer your questions.

Wed 14 may  | Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

1,000,000 Coffees Challenge:

Hear from Andrew Crosling from Coles, Co-Founder of Atlas Soils Jason Lange and Isla representing Townsville’s youth, talk about closing the loop through community Led activation through the 1,000,000 Coffees Challenge – a city-wide initiative proving that small actions, done together, create real impact.

Wed 14 may  | Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Nat Cook:

Join 5-time Olympian Natalie Cook OAM as she delivers her inspiring story of resilience, self-belief and the power of partnerships.

Wed 14 may  | Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Small Business, Big Impact!:

Unlocking the Power of small business in a Circular Economy with Small Business Commissioner Dominique Lamb hosted by Smart Precinct NQ CEO Cassandra Cazzulino

Wed 14 may  | Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

ReThinking Impact: Startups x University Partnerships for Cutting Edge Circular Impact:

Moderator John Chandler | Regional Manager | AusIndustry, Luke Deacon | Senior Facilitator | CSIRO RUIC & Co-Founder Infinite Bioworks, Darryl Lyons | Co-Founder | Rainstick, Arnold Mangott | Research Development & Partnership Advisor | JCU, Irene Portelli | We Made It Better for the Planet

Wed 14 may  | Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Unlocking Logistics for Regional Australia:

Facilitated by Hayley Page from NQROC with insights from special guests.

Wed 14 may  | Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

The Role Local Government Plays in Circular Economy:

With Amani Kowero, General Manager of Townsville City Council Resource Recovery Infrastructure and Operations

Wed 14 may  | Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Using Procurement to Build Resilient and Sustainable Supply Chains:

With Elisabeth Lette, Regional Director – QLD and NT, ArcBlue Procurement Specialists.

Wed 14 may  | Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

On the Couch Q&A:

With Frank Dinneen, Small Business Procurement Advisor – Q – 2032 Games, Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business.

WED 14 may  |  Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Enhancing Sovereign Capability for Global Resilience:

With Ken Bellamy, VRM BioLogik

Wednesday 14 May from 5.30pm | TapHouse

Afterparty Networking:

Close out Summit Day 1 at Tap House with relaxed networking, flowing conversations, and a vibrant atmosphere. Kick back, connect, and enjoy Townsville’s hospitality as you reflect on the day’s highlights. 

Exclusively for Summit Pass ticket holders.

THURS 15 may 7:30am  |  Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Founders of the North:

Founders of the North is a networking event designed to celebrate and connect local founders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers who are shaping the future of our region. 

It’s more than just a meet-up – it’s your chance to connect with the people behind the ideas, spark new collaborations, and be inspired by the energy that fuels Northern Australia’s innovation ecosystem. Represent your business or idea, build relationships, and open doors that only happen when your in the room. 

Kickstart your connections with a coffee from Coffee Presto. Proudly local and sustainable, they serve more than just coffee — they brew with impact, aligning with the very spirit of innovation and purpose that drives our community.

THURS 15 may 9:00am  |  Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Championing a Future Regenerative City:

With Nyree Bolton, Manager, City Growth, Townsville City Council

THURS 15 may  |  Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Achieving a Regenerative City – Vision & Action Through Systems for Change:

With Greg Bruce, Chief Sustainability Officer, Townsville City Council

THURS 15 may  |  Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Transforming Regional Agri-Manufacturing Through Innovation:

The Power of Hemp and Regenerative Agriculture with Wandarra CEO Steve Tiley

Thurs 15 may  | Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Reef Credits and the Sustainable Blue Economy RegenAqua:

Harnessing Macroalgae for clean water, healthy soils, and a thriving reef with Pacific Bio’s Sustainability Officer, Ally Vardy-Willsher

THURS 15 may  | Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

The Great Barrier Reef Economic Zone:

A strategy for regional resilience and circularity with Dr Keith Noble from insideout architects and Jelenko Dragisic, Founder, Roadmender and Global Resilience Collaborative.

THURS 15 may  | Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Funding for the Future:

With Georgia Barkell | Managing Partner | Sprint Ventures and Daren Marks | Managing Partner | Black Mountain Capital.

THURS 15 may  |  Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Unleashing Innovation Through the Draft New Queensland’s Waste Strategy:

With Cara McNicol | Director Policy and Legislation, Office of Circular Economy

THURS 15 may  |  Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Innovative Soil Erosion and Sediment Control:

Sustainability Manager, Dallas Frazier from Fulton Hogan Construction shares how they’re incorporating sustainability standards and circular economic outcomes in complex civil infrastructure projects. On-Country Soil Erosion and Sediment Control training offers safe, inclusive, and experiential learning through integrated knowledge sets that bridge air, water, soil, vegetation, and people.

Thurs 15 may  | Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Reef Authorities Greenstar Fitout Project:

Learn about Reef Authorities Greenstar Fitout Project with Patrick Lally, Assistant Director of Sustainability and Sascha Thyer, Director Business Operations at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

Thurs 15 may  | Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Micro Grids; Passive Housing & Low Impact Green Energy:

Insights into sustainable development through microgrids with Irene Portelli Founder of We Made it Better for the Planet and Chair of Circular Economy FNQ and Mohan Jacobs, Lee Smallwood, Jarred Muller.

Thurs 15 may  | Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Transforming Circular Systems for a Sustainable Future through AI and IOT:

With Professor Ian Atkinson from James Cook University, Simon Igloi from LiXiA and hosted by Jason Lange.

THURS 15 may  |  Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

The Ambition to Restore Reefs – Engineering a Future for Coral:

With Stephen Rodan, Director, CHARM, as he shares a new method and apparatus for coral husbandry called CHARM with the ambition to grow coral at economies of scale.

THURS 15 may  |  Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Resilient Technologies Through Tropical Marine Simulation:

With Melanie Olsen, Research Team Leader, Technology Transformation, the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

THURS 15 may  |  Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Introduction to Circular Economy Industry- Research Project:

Panel with Dr Lydia Canovas and CE Project recipients.

THURS 15 may  |  Smart Precinct NQ | 143 Walker Street

Collective Social Learning Workshop: What Can Be, What Could Be: Collective Actions for a Regenerative Future

Thursday 15 May 5.30-8pm | Flinders Lane | Manhattan Room

Innovation Pitch Showcase

Join us for a high-energy pitch showcase where innovative ideas and bold solutions take centre stage. The Innovation Pitch Showcase brings together some of the region’s most forward-thinking founders as they present sustainable, scalable innovations designed to solve real-world challenges.

Watch and champion entrepreneurs as they pitch their ventures to a panel of industry experts and investors, and the wider community. Whether you’re an investor, a fellow innovator, or simply passionate about the future of sustainable business, this showcase offers inspiration, networking, and a glimpse into the next big thing.

5.30 Welcome & Networking

5.45pm Keynote Innovation Architects
Philippe Ceulen | Director, Programs | Innovation Architects

Investor & Innovation Panel Q&A
Featuring Georgia Barkell | Managing Partner | Sprint Ventures, Daren Marks | Managing Partner | BlackMountain Capital, Philippe Ceulen Director, Programs | Innovation Architects

20+ Innovators Pitching!

Networking