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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 12pm

Smart Precinct NQ

Name: Smart Precinct NQ
Address: 143 Walker Street, Townsville, QLD, 4810, AU
Telephone: +611300467119

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Smart Precinct NQ

Smart Precinct NQ is making Townsville a great place to start and grow a business.

We support entrepreneurs and businesses in Townsville and North Queensland to execute their ideas, grow, become globally competitive and achieve success.

18/06/2026

Meet the founders taking the stage at The Power of Her Story:

As part of our celebration of the Accelerating NQ Female Founders Cohort 2, four founders will share the businesses they've been building, the challenges they're solving, and what's next on their entrepreneurial journey.

Featuring pitches from:

• Mel Clair, Brain Injury Online – Expanding access to brain injury rehabilitation through innovative digital tools, telehealth and community-based support.

• Lisa Newland, Step Out Academy – Transforming parks, heritage sites and visitor attractions into engaging, curriculum-aligned learning experiences through technology.

• Sky Hunt, Green Sky Optimal – Turning surplus farm produce into nutrient-rich freeze-dried ingredients, reducing food waste while improving access to whole-food nutrition.

• Tara Rossow, Look Hear Australia – Creating Quick Cue, a wearable visual communication tool designed to make inclusion easier in workplaces, schools, events and community settings.

Join us as we celebrate these founders and the achievements of the Accelerating NQ Female Founders Cohort 2, alongside an inspiring founder conversation with Susan Toft and Nicole Nixon.

📅 Wednesday 24 June | 5:15pm–8:00pm
📍 Flinders Lane, Townsville
🎟️ Tickets: https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0-5xG0

17/06/2026

One final opportunity to come together.

As Smart Precinct NQ prepares to close its doors, The Power of Her Story will be our final event and a chance to bring together the founders, mentors, partners, supporters and champions who have helped shape North Queensland's innovation ecosystem over the past six and a half years.

We'll celebrate the achievements of the graduating Accelerating NQ Female Founders Cohort 2, hear founder pitches from emerging entrepreneurs, and gain insights from accomplished business leaders Susan Toft and Nicole Nixon.

Featuring pitches from:
🚀 Melanie Clair – Brain Injury Online
🚀 Tara Rossow – Quick Cue
🚀 Sky Hunt – Green Sky Optimal
🚀 Lisa Newland – Step Out Academy

More than anything, this evening is about celebrating the people, partnerships, businesses and momentum that have been created through this ecosystem - and recognising those who will continue to drive innovation across our region.

Whether you've been part of the SPNQ journey for years or are looking to connect with the innovation community for the first time, we'd love to welcome you.

📅 Wednesday 24 June | 5:15pm–8:00pm
📍 Flinders Lane, Townsville
🎟️ $20 per person (includes light refreshments)
Register: https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0ZStQ0

Proudly supported by the Queensland Government, with thanks to Flinders Lane and Townsville City Council.

15/06/2026

North Queensland innovation was in the spotlight this weekend.

We were proud to see the Founder Pitch Showcase featured in Saturday's Townsville Bulletin, celebrating the founders, ideas and connections that continue to shape our region's innovation story.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making the Showcase such a memorable and impactful evening.

The journey isn't over just yet. Join us on Wednesday 24 June for The Power of Her Story - our final event celebrating the remarkable women founders of the Accelerating NQ Female Founders Program. The evening will feature 4 founder pitches, networking and an inspiring conversation with Susan Toft and Nicole Nixon.

Tickets >> https://bit.ly/4fM7Cnq

10/06/2026

🚍 Reef City Innovation Tour

The day after the Founder Pitch Showcase, we explored innovation in action across North Queensland.

From biotechnology and advanced manufacturing to drone technology and environmental sensing, the tour showcased just some of the businesses helping shape our region's future.

Thank you to , , and .group for opening their doors (Zooming in across timezones!) and sharing their stories.

💡 One thing became clear: world-class innovation isn't something we need to import. It's already happening right here in North Queensland.

08/06/2026

Join us for a special edition of The Power of Her Story as we celebrate the achievements of the Accelerating NQ Female Founders Cohort 2.

Over the past nine months, these remarkable founders have been building businesses, growing their capabilities and pursuing their entrepreneurial ambitions. Now it's time to celebrate their progress, hear their stories, and discover what's next.

The evening will feature an inspiring founder conversation with accomplished Australian entrepreneurs Susan Toft and Nicole Nixon, sharing insights on innovation, leadership, resilience, and the realities of building and scaling successful businesses.

You'll also hear live pitches from Cohort 2 founders:
🎤 Melanie Clair – Brain Injury Online
🎤 Tara Rossow – Quick Cue
🎤 Sky Hunt – Green Sky Optimal
🎤 Lisa Newland – Step Out Academy

Whether you're building a business, leading a team, supporting innovation, mentoring founders, or simply looking to connect with the local business community, this event is for you.

💡 Founder conversation with Susan Toft and Nicole Nixon
🎤 Live founder pitches
🤝 Networking with founders, mentors, partners and the broader innovation community
🥂 Light refreshments included

📅 Wednesday 24 June | 5.15–8.00pm
📍 Manhattan Room, Flinders Lane
🎟️ $20 per person
🔗 Register now: https://bit.ly/49K3rVg

Proudly supported by the Queensland Government, with thanks to Flinders Lane and Townsville City Council.

04/06/2026

The photos are here 📸

The Founder Pitch Showcase was about the pitches... and so much more. It was a night of conversations, connections, encouragement and a shared belief in the potential of North Queensland innovation.

From networking and audience contributions to panel insights and community support, these photos capture the people and moments that made the evening so special.

Thank you to everyone who attended, shared ideas, offered connections and helped create an environment where innovation could thrive.

This event was powered by Smart Precinct NQ, supported by the Queensland Government through the Regional Enablers Program, and delivered in partnership with James Cook University and Townsville City Council.

📸 View the full gallery here: https://bit.ly/3S3obRL

Thanks to Roslyn Budd Photography

03/06/2026

What an incredible night.

More than 150 people came together at James Cook University's Engineering & Innovation Place for the Founder Pitch Showcase - a celebration of innovation, entrepreneurship and the strength of North Queensland's innovation ecosystem.

From bold ideas and courageous pitches to meaningful conversations, new connections and practical support, the evening showcased what's possible when a community comes together to help founders move forward.

A huge congratulations to all 15 founders who stepped onto the stage and shared their ventures with the room. The energy, generosity and support from our audience, panel and wider ecosystem was something special.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening such a success.

This event was powered by Smart Precinct NQ, supported by the Queensland Government through the Regional Enablers Program, and delivered in partnership with JCU: James Cook University, and Townsville City Council.

🎥 Watch the highlights below.

Thanks to Hello Blue Productions

20/05/2026

🎤 Meet the Pitch Showcase Line-Up 🚀

After an incredible response from founders across North Queensland, the final 15 innovators stepping onto the stage on Thursday 28 May have been selected.

These founders have spent the past couple of weeks inside our Founder Pitch Capability Program - refining their pitches, sharpening their message and building momentum ahead of the showcase.

Now they need the ecosystem in the room.

Whether you’re from business, industry, investment, government, research, a fellow founder - or simply passionate about innovation in North Queensland - we’d love to have you there supporting these founders.

✨ Meet the line-up:

Anne McClure - Vesta Workwear
Bec Gravelle - Set to Succeed
Candy Maclaughlin - Skybury Farms
Deb Robson - Dear Me App
Elle Russell - NightCafe
Josh Pirrone - Pirrone Brothers
Kyle Page - NAFA
Lionel Hebbard - Infinite Bioworks
Mehdi Khatamifar - JCU Research
Paul Mead - GeoNadir
Rowena Burley - Townsville Loves Defence
Sarah Chapman - STEM Changemakers
Shakira Todd - Wildlife Surrounds
Shawn Anderson - PLEASEDONATE Australia
Zaf Smith - Virtual Shift

🎟️ Tickets are limited >> https://spnq.org/events/

📍 JCU Engineering & Innovation Place
📅 Thursday 28 May
🕠 5:30pm arrival | 6:30pm start
🎟️ $25 >> https://spnq.org/events/

18/05/2026

Something pretty incredible is happening in North Queensland’s startup ecosystem 🚀

We’ve been blown away by the energy, ambition and momentum emerging from founders across the region.

We received 41 applications for the Founder Pitch Showcase >> 23 founders shortlisted into our Founder Pitch Capability Program >> 15 Founders getting ready to pitch!

Over the past couple of weeks, they’ve been diving into investment readiness, pitch preparation workshops and one-on-one coaching with Aaron Birkby from Tribe Global Ventures - refining their message, sharpening their pitch and building momentum ahead of the showcase.

Now, Aaron and the SPNQ team are finalising the 15 founders who’ll take the stage on Thursday 28 May...

And honestly? The quality of ideas coming through this process has been next level.

Founder announcements coming soon 👀

If you want to support regional founders, hear bold ideas and be part of an incredible night of innovation, conversation and connection - grab your ticket now.

🎟️ Tickets are limited >> https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0SzP20

📍 JCU Engineering & Innovation Place
📅 Thursday 28 May
🕠 5:30pm arrival | 6:30pm start
🎟️ $25 >> https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0SzP20

15/05/2026

We’re incredibly excited to welcome an outstanding panel lineup to the Founder Pitch Showcase on Thursday 28 May.

These are people who have built brands, scaled businesses, supported founders, led research and backed innovation across Australia and internationally - and they’ll be in the room sharing insights, feedback and perspective with North Queensland founders.

Joining the panel:

✨ Professor Jenny Seddon - Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, James Cook University
✨ Shelley Grainger - General Manager, Smart Precinct NQ
✨ Dan Small - Chief Customer Officer, Boody
✨ Aaron Birkby - CEO & Co-Founder, Tribe Global Ventures

And guiding the evening as MC is the incredible Amy Savage - a passionate advocate for regional growth, innovation and meaningful connection.

Let's bring the best of our ecosystem together to support these founders, create conversations, opportunities and connections that help founders move forward - tickets are limited.

📍 JCU Engineering & Innovation Place
📅 Thursday 28 May
🕠 5:30pm arrival | 6:30pm start
🎟️ $25 >> https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0SbJG0

This event is powered by Smart Precinct NQ, proudly supported by the Queensland Government as part of the Regional Enablers Program, in partnership with James Cook University, thanks to the support of Townsville City Council.

Address

143 Walker Street
Townsville, QLD
4810

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 12pm

Telephone

+611300467119

Website

http://www.spnq.org/

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