Last week, the highly anticipated 2024 WA Innovation Leaders Congress took place at The Hub, Bentley Technology Park, marking another pivotal year in building Western Australia's innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. Hosted by Meshpoints and supported by Lotterywest and Spacecubed, the event brought together over 120 industry leaders, government representatives, and local innovators. The day was packed with meaningful networking, valuable insights, and actionable discussions aimed at advancing WA's innovation ecosystem.
The morning kicked off with a warm Welcome to Country, presented by Aaliyah Nestoridis, followed by an introduction from the Spacecubed Chair, Dr. Marcus Tan, who set the tone for the day by celebrating the continued growth of WA's ecosystem. Spacecubed’s Head of Impact, Nate Sturcke, followed with a reflection on the progress made in the past year, highlighting the collaborative projects that are continuing to transform our innovation landscape. Other notable presentations also included an address by Minister Stephen Dawson, who emphasised the government's commitment to fostering innovation in Western Australia and outlined key initiatives aimed at supporting the growth of the state's innovation ecosystem.
Throughout the day, attendees were inspired by impactful stories from grant recipients, including Innovation Unit, Brightwater Care Group, and Perth Biodesign. They shared how Meshpoints grant funding, supported by Lotterywest, enabled them to implement their projects and positively impact the local innovation ecosystem.
Another highlight of the day was a virtual presentation by Julia Spicer, former Chief Entrepreneur of Queensland, who expanded on global trends and local opportunities. This set the stage for interactive breakout sessions, where participants collaborated in small groups to explore key opportunities for our ecosystem. The day concluded with a panel from this year’s Community Collective cohort, followed by workshops that sparked fresh ideas and concrete plans for the year ahead.
During this year’s congress, we were most excited to announce the official launch of the new WA Ecosystem Builders initiative. This Meshpoints-led program is designed to empower individuals who play a vital role in fostering and connecting the ecosystem — those who act as champions, conveners, and advocates for innovation and entrepreneurship across WA.
The Ecosystem Builders initiative will support five selected changemakers with a $20,000 annual stipend, enabling them to work closely with the Meshpoints team to advance key ecosystem projects, drive new initiatives, and act as ambassadors within their communities. This is an exciting step forward in creating a thriving, collaborative environment for innovators throughout WA.
To learn more about the new Ecosystem Builders initiative, download the information brochure here, or to apply directly, click here! Applications close on October 31, 2024.
Join Meshpoints partner network of 150+ individuals for free and access a vibrant community dedicated to strengthening WA's innovation ecosystem. Learn more and sign-up here!