The UNE SMART Region Incubator nurtures innovation and supports businesses to grow.

Imagine working within a community of other business a few months, years or decades on from where you are now.

The UNE SRI is a friendly, focused and connected community built to support aspiring regional businesses.
We help build and grow your business with mentors, researchers, events and corporate and community partners. Founders come to the UNE SRI to work hard, build smart, fail well and pivot fast.

What we offer

Leverage Program

LEVERAGE is a 12-month program for entrepreneurs to grow their business. It simplifies strategy, creates engaged teams, improves execution, and increases cash flow through experiential learning. Learn more.

Hatch

HATCH provides you with confidence and support to get your business up and running. Using Lean Canvas principles, you’ll test your ideas and identify your path-to-market, and articulate the must-do steps along the way. Learn more.

Experts in Residence

One-on-one monthly access to a team of experts who have deep domain knowledge in areas critical to startup growth. Tap into the best know-how around how to commercialise your product or service, build your tech, access global markets, lift your customer engagement, bust problems and seek investment. Learn More.

Armidale
Tamworth
Moree
Narrabri

Do you value the energy of an office in a shared work space for you and your team? Join us in one of our four dynamic regional locations; Armidale, Tamworth, Moree and Narrabri. UNE SRI locations feature high-speed internet, meeting rooms with the latest AV technology, podcasting and video facilities, private and collaborative spaces, and shared kitchen and bathroom facilities.

Our team

Lou Conway Director — **Lou Conway**
Director

Emma Grant
Regional Connector, Tamworth

**Matthew Peterson**
Regional Connector, Armidale

Jessica Bradbery
Regional Connector (Communications)

**Sheree Cayirylys**
Regional Connector, Moree

Alexandra Cook
Regional Connector, Armidale

Experts in residence

Experts in residence are individuals who offer expertise and guidance in business, strategy, sustainability, funding and more to the UNE SRI start-up community

Meet Our Experts

**Mandy Walker**
Focus First Business Coaching

Edwina Sharrock, OAM

Birth Beat Founder & CEO, Non-Executive Director & Investor

**Ian Mason**
Humble, and Rainbow Bridge Education

Researchers in residence

Researchers in residence are UNE PhD candidates researching entrepreneurship and innovation related topics, supporting founders on how to access academic research.

Matthew Wysel Researcher in Residence — **Matthew Wysel**
Researcher in residence
PhD research on the topic of datanomics - the creation, and management, of value from data.

**Zia Knorles**
Researcher in residence
PhD research on the topic of regional founders accessing finance to grow their business - covering finance of any type, (grants, loans, equity, credit, crowdfunding etc).

**Ed Lefley**
Researcher in residence
PhD research on the topic of university, industry and government coauthorship and collaboration in NSW.

**Leanne Nisbet**
Researcher in residence
PhD research on the topic of technology-enabled health care in geographically dispersed communities.

Innovator in residence

The SRI innovator in residence has experience and expertise in not only innovation, but start-ups, growing business and research commercialisation. An innovator in residence understands the challenges and the thrill of making a business work and how important the contribution of each business is to growing the innovation ecosystem, particularly in a rural based business community.

Research + innovation

MAKING AN IMPACT GLOBALLY

The University of New England operates at the intersection of learning, research and innovation with an international reputation for fostering partnerships that facilitates positive change. At UNE SRI, we link the world-class research and expertise at UNE with our founders across the New England North West. It’s what sets us apart. Excited about the possibilities? Get in touch.