What’s next requires a different way of thinking.

The UNE SRI Mini MBA: Practical leadership for people building what's next.

An in-person program delivered across the New England North West

Whether you're running a business, managing a team, leading a community organisation or shaping the future of your industry, you're expected to navigate change, embrace new technology and manage people - very often without the insight and tools needed in an ever-changing world.

The UNE SMART Region Incubator Mini MBA is a practical leadership experience designed specifically for regional business owners, professionals, researchers, community leaders and emerging leaders who want to think differently, lead confidently and create greater impact.

Built around real challenges and scenarios, not textbooks, you'll learn alongside a cohort of people asking many of the same questions you are.

Because good ideas grow best in good company.

Ready to take the next step?

The first Mini MBA cohort will bring together a small group of business owners, managers, professionals and community leaders from across the New England North West.

Commencing in Tamworth 22 September 2026 (Tuesday) and Armidale 24 September 2026 (Thursday). 

If it sounds like something you could use right now, leave your details below and we'll be in touch to start your application.

Your investment

  • Early Bird: $750 (Early bird pricing ends 4th September 2026)

  • Standard: $1,000

  • Team Bundle: $2,000
    Bring three people from your organisation for the price of two.

Your investment includes the full face-to-face Mini MBA program, practical tools and frameworks, cohort learning and networking, and a recognised credential with credit towards further UNE MBA study.

Join us for the UNE SRI Mini MBA and you’ll leave with:

  • Practical tools you can use straight away: frameworks to make better decisions, improve the way you work and navigate uncertainty with greater confidence.

  • Stronger commercial thinking so you can understand your customers, identify opportunities, test ideas and build more sustainable ways to grow.

  • Greater confidence as a leader, particularly valuable if you've learnt leadership on the job and want to strengthen the skills behind your experience.

  • A trusted regional network as you learn alongside business owners, managers, professionals and community leaders who understand the realities of working and leading here.

  • Learning grounded in our region - practical thinking applied through the lens of the opportunities, challenges and change facing the New England North West.

  • A recognised pathway:  gain a credential that recognises your commercial learning, with credit towards further UNE MBA study.

Mini MBA Curriculum

  • Learn how to apply practical psychology and behavioural science to better understand and influence the people around your organisation.

    You'll learn how to:

    • Apply empathy, behavioural science and contextual understanding to complex workplace challenges.

    • Better understand what motivates customers, employees, investors and stakeholders to act.

    • Lead teams more effectively and influence behaviour towards positive business outcomes.

  • Get clearer about exactly who you're trying to reach—and what really matters to them.

    You'll learn how to:

    • Use practical customer research methods and tools to better understand your target market.

    • Cut through market noise and identify the high-value audiences your business should focus on.

    • Reduce uncertainty by understanding not just who your customers are, but the motivations behind their decisions.

  • Learn how to find the problems customers genuinely want solved—and the opportunities worth pursuing.

    You'll learn how to:

    • Use practical customer-discovery techniques to uncover unspoken needs and pain points.

    • Ask better questions without leading customers towards the answers you want to hear.

    • Identify and validate high-value opportunities your market actually wants and is willing to pay for.

  • Turn information into insight and test what you think you know before investing in what comes next.

    You'll learn how to:

    • Use practical tools, including AI, to analyse customer information and uncover useful insights.

    • Stress-test assumptions before committing significant time, money or resources.

    • Map the customers, partners and stakeholders who can influence your success and use those insights to de-risk growth opportunities.

  • Explore what it takes to turn a good idea into a business model that works in the real world.

    You'll learn how to:

    • Explore proven business model strategies and frameworks.

    • Evaluate whether your product, service or offer is desirable for customers, feasible to deliver and financially viable.

    • Build towards a profitable, sustainable and scalable business model for your business, organisation or venture.

  • Learn how to work with the people you serve to create better products, services and solutions.

    You'll learn how to:

    • Collaborate with customers, community members and industry partners to co-create new solutions.

    • Connect emerging trends and new knowledge with genuine market and community needs.

    • Turn collaboration and customer insight into products and services that create a competitive advantage.

  • Build the financial understanding to make confident decisions about growth.

    You'll learn how to:

    • Apply essential financial management strategies to strengthen the financial health of your business.

    • Better manage cash flow and the resources required to grow.

    • Understand and plan for the financial runway needed to scale sustainably and profitably.

  • Capstone Showcase: Final Business Presentations and Pitching

    Bring everything together and put your thinking to the test.

    You'll:

    • Present your completed business model, strategy or growth plan to a panel.

    • Receive practical, real-world feedback to strengthen your thinking and next steps.

    • Complete the program and secure official credit towards your UNE MBA pathway.

Ready to take the next step?

The first Mini MBA cohort will bring together a small group of business owners, managers, professionals and community leaders from across the New England North West.

Commencing in Tamworth 22 September 2026 (Tuesday) and Armidale 24 September 2026 (Thursday). 

If it sounds like something you could use right now, leave your details and we'll be in touch to start your application.

Frequently asked questions

  • The Mini MBA is an accelerated, practical business leadership and management program designed for the New England North West.

    It brings together practical business skills, leadership thinking and a strong regional peer network, without the time commitment of a traditional degree.

  • It's designed for people who are already leading, managing, building or creating, whether that's a business, team, organisation, project or community initiative.

    That might include small business owners, managers, professionals, tradespeople, graziers, founders, researchers and community leaders. You don't need to have "manager" in your job title to belong in the room.

  • No. There are no university prerequisites to participate.

    The program is designed to make practical management and leadership learning accessible to people with different educational and professional backgrounds, including those whose expertise has been built through years of hands-on experience.

  • The Mini MBA can complement expertise gained in another field, such as science, arts, education, agriculture or health, by adding practical commercial, management and leadership skills you can apply to your work.

  • The Mini MBA runs over eight weeks, with a two hour, face to face session each week, supported by a comprehensive online learning suite.

    The in person sessions are where you'll explore ideas, apply what you're learning and connect with your cohort, while the online resources give you additional reading, tools and content to explore in your own time.

  • We know work and life don't always go to plan.

    While we encourage you to attend the face to face sessions wherever possible, you'll also have access to the program's online learning suite, so missing a session doesn't mean missing the learning.

  • Yes. You'll have access to a full suite of online resources to complement the face to face program, including additional content, reading and learning materials.

    This gives you the flexibility to go deeper into topics that are particularly relevant to you, revisit the learning throughout the program and keep up if you can't make a session.

    The online component supports the experience, but what makes this program different is the opportunity to learn, discuss and work through real challenges alongside other regional leaders.

    Because good ideas grow best in good company.

  • That's the idea. The program focuses on practical tools, frameworks and ways of thinking that can be applied to real workplace challenges, from managing people and understanding customers to testing new opportunities, strengthening your business model and making better decisions.

  • Early Bird places are available for $750, with the standard program price at $1,000.

    Organisations can also access a $2,000 Team Bundle, with three places for the price of two.

  • Register your interest via our sign-up form using your name and email and we'll send you further information about the program and your application to apply for the founding cohort.