Hello all,
Due to a combination of holidays and family commitments numbers were down a little for this week’s meeting.
Our guest speaker was Shaun Miller, Manager of economic development & investment at Warrnambool city council. Shaun gave us a brief history on the regions ability to withstand economic downturns because of its diverse business structure. Then went further to state that as patents had lapsed our regions innovation had been poor, therefore Warrnambool needed an innovation ecosystem. Something that allows entrepreneurs and start-ups to collaborate and connect to enable their businesses to grow.
This solution needs a physical centre where ‘best practice’ can be shared through mentors and corporate partners. But a regional network is also needed to conquer the Great South Coast geographical enormity. A platform for start-ups to leverage stakeholders for commercialisation.
Without support start-ups fall over.
Support is critical to any entrepreneur’s success, and these support networks are notably absent in most standard regional business communities. The tyranny of distance, weak telecommunications, a lack of experience are all working against entrepreneurs in regional areas.
The New UNEARTHED program will facilitate a collaborative alliance, bringing together the right people, organisations, spaces and virtual tools in our location to create a cohesive start-up ecosystem that is more accessible to more people.
- Create density from sparsity – bring together regional communities, unlocking power and support in numbers.
- Share the costs of marketing the program, attracting mentors, connecting with investors and others.
- Have a tested template for success.
- Collaborate with local stakeholders.
- Leverage existing regional programs.
- Share knowledge and support across ecosystems.
- Establish self-sustaining ecosystems and broadcast yours to the World.
Key Outcomes
The long-term aim of the program is for the Great South Coast to create an “innovation hotbed”.
The following have been determined as the key measurable outcomes which depict success:
- Enabling jobs. New jobs and new industries.
- Harnessing more of what we have. An abundant investment approach to the natural resources, assets, businesses, opportunities and ideas within the Region.
- Measurable growth. Concentration of investment attraction within the Region.
- Retaining and attracting talent. Enabling of opportunities for young people and skilled experts to remain in/come to the Region.
Export growth. Exponential increase in export growth nationally and internationally.
Chris Preston had some fun during the fines session by showing photographs from a club meeting at Figsellers in 2003, including a group photograph of the 2003 Christmas meeting.
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On Sunday we sponsored and supported the Annual Parkinson’s Walk event held at the foreshore. Seven members assisted with the setup, packup and cooking whilst those from the support group, and members of the public, went for a walk. Keep your eyes out for the Warrnambool Standard in coming days, I am led to believe there were record numbers in attendance.
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Next Week’s Meeting
Our meeting on August 29th will be a Joint Meeting with RC of Warrnambool for the Father of The Year event.Held at the City Memorial Bowls Club 7amMonday 27th – Community Service @ Soup KitchenFriday 31st – Community Service Meals on WheelsWednesday 29th – Joint Meeting with RC Warrnambool – Father of Year EventCity Memorial Bowls Club 7amPlease, continue to “Be the Inspiration” in everything you do for our community.
President Steve