UNE SRI celebrates two years at NOVA

UNE SRI and the extended NOVA community gathered to celebrate - two years at NOVA, Faces of Back Stories 2023, and the SRI’s connected, and interconnected community.

“It has been two years since NOVA opened,” said one of NOVA’s valued community members, historian John Atchison.

“Since then it has increasingly become known as, not only the home of the SRI and a comfortable co-working space, but a place for ideas and innovation, valuable programs and events, and a welcoming space for business and the whole community.”

The event on 1 December gathered some of that community to celebrate 2023 and the launch of Faces of Back Stories 2023 by Dr Nathan Wise, Associate Dean – Teaching and Learning, HASSE at University of New England.

Faces of Back Stories is a photographic project that spotlights the faces behind the businesses from the event series, Back Stories of Innovation.

“This year is the second for Back Stories of innovation, a free lunchtime event that invites the community to NOVA to hear from innovative local businesses, within the framework of historical New England innovation,” Mr Atchison said.

“It reminds us to look behind and keep perspective. This year we also added a research lens to the series - and were reminded again of this region’s long history of innovation!”

Topics for Back Stories of Innovation 2023 were: ‘Advanced Manufacturing in New England’, ‘Innovating for a Healthy New England’, ‘Innovating for Sustainable Protein Making’, ‘Innovating Education and Educating for Innovation’, and ‘Circular Economy Innovations & Solutions for NENW’.

Photographer Daniel Elliott connected with each of the speakers from this year’s series and captured a portrait of each of them at work. These portraits have been added to a physical exhibition at NOVA, and a digital exhibition which is online HERE.

This event was proudly delivered in association with Armidale Regional Council.