In October, the Hunter JO hosted an inspiring and insightful event, bringing together leaders in the Australian circular economy space to share their knowledge and learnings after attending the World Circular Economy Forum 2023.

Attended by around 80 representatives from across government, industry, business and academic sectors this event explored key circular economy initiatives and learnings from across the globe, with the aim of informing our own circular economy journey here in the Hunter.

At this event, Cr Kay Fraser, Mayor of Lake Macquarie City Council and Chair of the Hunter JO Circular Economy Subcommittee, officially launched our Hunter Circular Hub.

The event featured presentations and a panel discussion with three keynote speakers; Nicole Garofano (Planet Ark’s ACE Hub), Eloise Lobsey (Hunter Joint Organisation), and Annie Jiang (Go Circular), exploring innovative circular solutions on an international scale.

This event was a great opportunity to share insights and ideas for advancing the local circular economy for our region. Thank you to our event sponsors Hunter Innovation Festival, The Business Centre, NSW Energy & Resources Knowledge Hub and the University of Newcastle, for their support and dedication in making this event happen.

The Hunter Circular Hub represents the culmination of the region’s efforts in transitioning to a circular economy and is centred on facilitating involvement, drawing people from the broader ecosystem to participate in the circular economy.

The website maps the Hunter’s progress in this transformation and connects projects and initiatives being led by key stakeholders across the region. It aims to serve as a source of inspiration and knowledge, providing a guide for other industries and regions to follow suit.

The Hub’s circular directory connects and enables collaboration through a database of local businesses, groups and other organisations that make up our region’s circular ecosystem. The website also connects people with local success stories, upcoming events, and important news and resources to enable uptake of circular principles.