2023 Sustainability Demo Day: Moreton Bay pioneering positive change

What happens when you join forces with industry powerhouses and business owners on a mission to help solve global challenges?

The result is an awe-inspiring afternoon of thoughtful pitches, life-changing feedback, and genuine collaboration and connections.

The inaugural Moreton Bay Sustainability Demo Day was held at Eatons Hill Hotel in September, bringing together an exceptional lineup of businesses, social enterprises and initiatives committed to creating positive environmental and social impacts.

Phoenix Laser Cleaning and Restoration took out the coveted judges-choice prize.

City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery says it was great to see the region’s innovative spirit on display with projects showcasing sustainability and social responsibility in the community.

"The passion and ingenuity displayed by our participants at the inaugural Moreton Bay Sustainability Demo Day gives us reason to celebrate as we look forward to a bigger, bolder, brighter and more sustainable future in Moreton Bay,” he says.

“The projects and initiatives demonstrated a strong commitment to positive change and stewardship over the land and community we call home.”

Moreton Bay Region Industry & Tourism (MBRIT) CEO Tash Wheeler says that led by MC Mark Gustowski, with a proven track record of scaling startups and supporting sustainable businesses, a panel of distinguished judges lent their expertise to evaluate the showcased projects.

“What truly stood out about this event was the pervasive spirit of collaboration, felt by everyone present, especially our esteemed panel of judges,” she says.

“The wealth of talent, experience and networks from our judges and guests in the room was nothing short of life-changing, and these industry powerhouses were giving of their time, insights, suggestions, and connections.”

Meet the judges

Meet the pitchers

The nine demonstrators were selected as finalists from 26 applications received via an expression of interest process.

• Phoenix Laser Cleaning & Restoration

• Farmer Stays

• rePodder

• Mini Farm Project

• Waste Less Australia

• Lifesize Plans

• Bin Bypass

• Green Street

• Google (Wildcard)

Many credited their refined pitches to the support and advice offered by world-leading facilitator Jacqueline Nagle during a half-day demo day preparation workshop.

The Moreton Bay Sustainability Demo Day is part of a suite of innovative programs delivered via Innovate Moreton Bay, as part of City of Moreton Bay's commitment to the Regional Economic Development Strategy (REDS), which includes the objective of becoming a top 10 regional innovation hub.

Something Digital a grand success

The Something Digital Conference 2023, held in the Fortitude Valley precinct, emerged as a symbol of innovation and a celebration of Brisbane's digital prowess.

Spearheaded by City of Moreton Bay and with support from Innovate Moreton Bay, a diverse delegation from Moreton Bay marked their presence at the two-day event, emphasising the region's commitment to digital evolution and its ambition to be recognised as a global nexus for digital innovation.

Recognising the invaluable prospects of the conference, Council offered subsidised tickets to participants.

This is the second time Council has helped create a Team Moreton Bay style delegation to big events, with more to come in 2024.

The theme of 'Interconnections' at #SD23 set the stage for a deep dive into the relationship between humans and machines.

It encouraged attendees to envision a world where empathy and creativity blend with efficiency and speed and showcased a future bringing a seamless dance between cutting-edge technology and human innovation.

Ethics in the age of AI, the challenges of digital rights, the power of quantum, building trust, smart design, making better decisions (faster), and the role of robotics vin daily lives were among the topics discussed.