Greater Whitsunday Alliance

19/06/2026

ZEROIN | No AI experience needed.

Curious about AI but not sure where to start?
You’re not alone.

ZeroIn: AI for Farm Business has been designed for people who may be completely new to AI, as well as those already experimenting with tools like ChatGPT and wanting to use them more effectively.

This workshop is practical, grounded and non-technical.
You don’t need to know the right terminology.
You don’t need a tech background.
You don’t need to have used AI before.
You just need to bring your own business context and an open mind.

Together, we’ll explore how AI may support real farm business tasks like admin, compliance, communication, workflow efficiency and decision-making.
Producers in the Isaac and Whitusnday regions can resgister and attend online.

Free workshop. Practical tools. Real business relevance.
RSVP: https://events.humanitix.com/zeroin-ai-for-farm-business

Canegrowers Mackay
Mackay Sugar
Sugar Research Australia
Bowen Gumlu Growers
Bowen Collinsville Enterprise - BCE
Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce
Isaac Business Chamber
Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry

18/06/2026

PRIORITIES + PIPELINE | What does the Queensland Budget mean for Greater Whitsunday?

GW3 invites business, industry and community leaders to join us for Priorities & Pipeline, a Queensland Budget luncheon in Mackay on Tuesday 1 July.

Hear directly from the Honourable Jarrod Bleijie MP, Deputy Premier of Queensland, alongside our region’s local Members of Parliament, about the priorities, projects and investment settings shaping regional delivery and growth.

This is an opportunity to be part of the conversation about our region’s future, from infrastructure and industry to investment and long-term economic opportunity.

📅 Tuesday 1 July
📍 Mackay Turf Club
⏰ Doors open 11.30am for a 12pm start

Seats are limited. Book your place at the table.

https://greaterwhitsundayalliance.com.au/event/priorities-and-pipeline/

Amanda Camm MP
Glen Kelly MP
Nigel Dalton MP

Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce
Isaac Business Chamber
Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Mackay Regional Council
Isaac Regional Council
Whitsunday Regional Council
Resources Centre of Excellence
Resource Industry Network
C-Res
Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsundays
Greater Whitsunday Communities
Greater Whitsunday Innovation

17/06/2026

BENCHMARKING SURVEY 2026 | What can you do in 5 minutes?

☕ Make a coffee
📱 Scroll on your phone
✅ Complete a survey that helps local businesses

The Decarbonisation Accelerated Benchmarking Survey is quick and important. In just 5 minutes, help shape our understanding of regional decarbonisation and the support local businesses need.

Plus, you’ll go in the draw to win a $650+ sustainability prize package.

👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Z9NPXHS


Mackay Regional Council
Isaac Regional Council
Whitsunday Regional Council
Local Buying Foundation
Resources Centre of Excellence
Resource Industry Network

17/06/2026

ZEROIN | How much time is admin taking from your farm business?

AI is rapidly changing how businesses operate — but for many farm businesses, the biggest opportunity isn’t robotics or automation.

It’s the everyday work that takes up time behind the scenes.

Emails. Compliance paperwork. Reporting. Customer communication. Organising information. Planning workflows. Keeping the business moving.
ZeroIn: AI for Farm Business is a free, practical three-hour workshop designed for the people managing the administrative and operational side of farm businesses.

Delivered by Tracy Sheen - The Digital Guide , the session is human-led, non-technical and focused on real-world farm business use.
No coding.
No jargon.
No previous AI experience needed.
Participants will leave with more confidence, clearer understanding and a practical 30-day AI action plan tailored to their own business.

📍 Resources Centre of Excellence , Paget
📅 Tuesday 14 July 2026
⏰ 9am–12pm AEST
🥗 Networking lunch included
🎟️ Free event
RSVP: https://events.humanitix.com/zeroin-ai-for-farm-business

Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce
Isaac Business Chamber
Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Canegrowers Mackay
Mackay Sugar
Bowen Gumlu Growers
Greater Whitsunday Innovation
Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsundays

16/06/2026

📢 LOCK IT IN | JOIN GW3 AT QME 2026!

GW3 is bringing two sessions to the QME Conference Program this year!

📍 Mackay Showgrounds
📅 22 July, 2026
⌚ 12:35pm – 2:00pm

We’ll be focusing on what local businesses need to:
✅ Build their workforce
✅ Stay competitive
✅ Grow into new opportunities

REGISTER HERE: https://events.humanitix.com/qme-and-gw3-conference-sessions

(NOTE: These sessions are free to attend, however you MUST register to attend QME separately. Go to: https://www.queenslandminingexpo.com.au/


Queensland Mining & Engineering Exhibition (QME)
Resource Industry Network
Resources Centre of Excellence
Mackay Regional Council
Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce
Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Manufacturing Queensland
Greater Whitsunday Innovation
Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsundays
Isaac Business Chamber
Whitsunday Regional Council
Isaac Regional Council

16/06/2026

TAKE PART | Benchmarking Survey 2026
Where is our region really at when it comes to decarbonisation? We need your help to find out.

The Decarbonisation Accelerated Benchmarking Survey helps identify what local businesses need – so the right support, programs and opportunities can be delivered.

⏰ Survey takes about 5 minutes. Plus, complete it and go in the draw to win a $650+ sustainability prize package.

👉 Complete the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Z9NPXHS




Resource Industry Network
Resources Centre of Excellence
Local Buying Foundation
Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce
Isaac Business Chamber
Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Greater Whitsunday Innovation
Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsundays

15/06/2026

ZEROIN | Practical AI for the business side of farming

Running a farm business means much more than what happens in the paddock.

For many producers, some of the biggest time pressures come from the work behind the scenes. Emails. Compliance paperwork. Reporting. Customer communication. Organising information. Planning workflows. Keeping the business moving while still managing day-to-day operations.

That’s where AI can help.

ZeroIn: AI for Farm Business is a free, practical three-hour workshop designed for farmers, producers and the people managing the administrative and operational side of farm businesses.

This is not about replacing people or jumping straight to robotics and automation. It’s about understanding how AI can support the everyday business tasks that take time, create pressure and slow down productivity.

Delivered by Tracy Sheen - The Digital Guide , the session is human-led, non-technical and focused on real-world farm business use.

Participants will leave with more confidence, a clearer understanding of AI, and a practical 30-day AI action plan tailored to their own business.

Producers in the Isaac and Whitusnday region's can resgister and attend online.

📍 Resources Centre of Excellence , Paget
📅 Tuesday 14 July 2026
⏰ 9am–12pm AEST
🥗 Networking lunch included
🎟️ Free event
RSVP: https://events.humanitix.com/zeroin-ai-for-farm-business

Mackay Sugar
Canegrowers Mackay
Sugar Research Australia
Bowen Gumlu Growers
Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsundays
Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsundays

11/06/2026

NOW OPEN | 📢 The 2026 Decarbonisation Accelerated Benchmarking Survey is OPEN.

Got 5 minutes this weekend?

That’s all it takes to help shape how local businesses are supported on their decarbonisation journey. The annual Benchmarking Survey provides valuable insight into emerging needs, challenges and opportunities as decarbonisation becomes central to long‑term regional growth.

💡 Plus – complete the survey and you could WIN:
✔ $500 sustainability advisory package with local ESG Service Provider Broadstrokes
✔ 2x tickets to the Decarbonisation Accelerated Continuing the Conversation event in September


👉 Complete the survey on behalf of your business this weekend: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Z9NPXHS

Local Buying Foundation
Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce
Isaac Business Chamber
Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsundays
Greater Whitsunday Innovation
Resource Industry Network
Resources Centre of Excellence

Greater Whitsunday Alliance (GW3) are the future focused super-connectors that drive sustainable economic growth for the Greater Whitsunday region. Established in 2017, the organisation continues to advocate, attract, inform and collaborate to create opportunities and find greater possibilities for....

10/06/2026

OUR REGION'S VOICE | Have you secured your ticket for Priorities & Pipeline?

GW3 is hosting Priorities & Pipeline on Wednesday 1 July at the Mackay Turf Club, bringing business and community leaders together to hear directly from Government about what the Queensland Budget means for the Greater Whitsunday region.

The event will feature a keynote address from The Honourable Jarrod Bleijie MP, Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations.

As GW3 CEO Kylie Porter said:

“It is important our business and community leaders have the opportunity to hear directly from Government about what the Budget means for our region.”

Hosted in partnership with local MPs:

• The Hon. Amanda Camm MP, Minister for Families, Seniors and Disability Services and Minister for Child Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence
• Glen Kelly MP, Member for Mirani
• Nigel Dalton MP, Member for Mackay

This is an important opportunity to connect, ask questions and understand the priorities, pipeline and opportunities shaping our region’s future.

✅ Tickets are available now via the event page on the GW3 website:
https://greaterwhitsundayalliance.com.au/.../priorities.../

YP - Young Professionals Mackay
Canegrowers Mackay
Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce
Mackay Sugar
Greater Whitsunday Innovation
Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsundays
Resources Centre of Excellence
C-Res
Tourism Whitsundays
Visit Mackay Isaac, Queensland, Australia
Whitsunday Regional Council
Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Isaac Regional Council
Isaac Business Chamber
Bowen Gumlu Growers
Bowen Collinsville Enterprise - BCE
Resource Industry Network
Greater Whitsunday Communities
Greater Whitsunday Council of Mayors

GW3 NEWSROOM | GW3 invites Business and Community to hear directly from Deputy Premier on QLD Budget.

GW3 is hosting Priorities & Pipeline on Wednesday 1 July at the Mackay Turf Club, featuring a keynote address from The Honourable Jarrod Bleijie MP, Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations.

As GW3 CEO Kylie Porter said:

“It is important our business and community leaders have the opportunity to hear directly from Government about what the Budget means for our region.”

Hosted in partnership with local MPs:
• The Hon. Amanda Camm MP Minister for Families, Seniors and Disability Services and Minister for Child Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence
• Glen Kelly MP Member for Mirani
• Nigel Dalton MP Member for Mackay

✅ Tickets are available now via the event page on the GW3 website: https://greaterwhitsundayalliance.com.au/event/priorities-and-pipeline/

Read more here: https://greaterwhitsundayalliance.com.au/gw3-invites-business-and-community-to-hear-directly-from-deputy-premier-on-qld-budget/
Event details
🗓 Wednesday 1 July
🕦 11:30am - 2:30pm (doors open 11:30am)
📌 Mackay Turf Club, 9 Peak Downs Highway, Ooralea
🍽 Two-course lunch included
👔 Dress code: Business attire



Queensland Government
Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce
Isaac Business Chamber
Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsundays
Mackay Regional Council
Isaac Regional Council
Whitsunday Regional Council
Greater Whitsunday Innovation
Greater Whitsunday Communities
YP - Young Professionals Mackay
Canegrowers Mackay
Bowen Gumlu Growers
Bowen Collinsville Enterprise - BCE

07/06/2026

ESG MASTERCLASS | Still time to join us for the second masterclass

Missed the first ESG Masterclass? Here’s a quick recap of what businesses experienced in session one.

The ESG Masterclass and Mentoring Series is helping local SMEs understand what ESG means for their business and how to turn it into practical action.

The next masterclass is on:

📅 Tuesday 23 June
📍 Mackay

There is still time to register and join the series.

Find out more and secure your place by emailing Georgia Lavers at [email protected]

YP - Young Professionals Mackay
Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce
Isaac Business Chamber
Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Resources Centre of Excellence
Local Buying Foundation
Resource Industry Network
Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsundays