Dr Oliver Knox leads the Bundaberg based Horticulture group at CQU. Oliver has developed and delivered sustainable soils management frameworks, world firsts in compostable textile standards, but is probably best known for asking Australians to do one thing, to soil their undies! This accessible activity, which makes the microscopic life in the soil visible by making a pair of pants invisible, saw Oliver awarded the 2022 General Jeffery Soil Health Award and serves as a reminder that sometimes the best tech is not necessarily high-tech.

Dr Simon Tannock is co-founder and Director of Bundaberg-based AlgaEnviro, an environmental technology company developing biological approaches to water-quality management and aquatic ecosystem restoration.

With more than 20 years’ experience working with microalgae, Simon led the development of Diatomix and SiLution, technologies designed to support beneficial biological processes and improve the ecological functioning of degraded waterbodies. AlgaEnviro’s work now spans projects across Australia and internationally, with Simon’s current focus extending beyond harmful algal bloom management to understanding how biological nutrient pathways can be restored to create healthier and more resilient aquatic ecosystems.

Tim is the founder of Earth Returns Group and several other enterprises, in the ecological and agricultural sectors. Tim Graduated in Ag Science back in 1990 (he says dinosaurs were still grazing in Sydney back then) and has worked across all sectors of ag in Australia and in several places internationally. Tim’s work with Earth Returns draws together all that he has learned, with the intention of making farming and grazing more profitable by producing more ecological and social improvement (not offsets!) from well managed operations. Earth Returns is well on the way to doing that and creating the Living Economy.

Josh Rimmington is the Founder and Managing Director of JR Marketing Group, a multi-disciplinary marketing agency based in Hervey Bay, regional Queensland.

Josh has completed Digital Transformation studies through Stanford Graduate School of Business, with a particular interest in how AI and emerging technology can help regional businesses improve productivity, innovate and compete beyond their postcode.

He is a two-time Amazon #1 bestselling business author, host of the 2 Minute Marketing Podcast and Parenting + Business Podcast, and an experienced conference and business speaker.

Josh’s presentations combine real-world business experience, practical examples and a no-jargon approach to technology, marketing and business growth.

Rubyberry from Childers produces Miracle Fruit Cubes, which have a unique ability to temporarily change how we perceive taste. While they are a fun culinary experience for some by making sour food sweet, they can be a game-changer for people such as those undergoing chemotherapy who struggle with a persistent metallic taste (dysgeusia), a side effect that often leads to a loss of appetite.

Chris along with his partner, Karen, have a fascinating story about how they discovered the incredible qualities of Miracle Fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum), through to establishing their farm and commercial operation in Childers. They have been featured on Landline, SBS and 7 News to name a few.

Daniel Kimberley brings more than 25 years of experience across coral aquaculture, fisheries and maritime operations, with a career spanning public aquariums, aquaculture training, commercial fisheries and complex marine operations throughout Queensland and Northern Australia.
As the founding director of Monsoon Aquatics, Daniel has played a key role in developing the business from an ornamental marine livestock collection operation into an integrated enterprise combining responsible wild collection, commercial coral aquaculture, research and reef restoration.

Daniel is passionate about bringing industry, science, and regulators together to develop practical solutions for the future of coral aquaculture and marine conservation.

Sasha Job is a lecturer in neurological physiotherapy at CQUniversity, PhD candidate, and founder of the Universal Beach Accessibility Hub (U-BEACH). Through research, community partnerships and innovative service models, she works to improve access to physical activity, recreation and wellbeing opportunities for people with disability.

Her work focuses on translating evidence into practical solutions that create more inclusive communities. U-BEACH has received national recognition for its impact on accessibility, participation and community engagement.

This presentation will discuss the development of an intelligent UAV-based system for precision weed management in agriculture. It will include the entire process; beginning with aerial imaging & surveying, AI-based weed detection and mapping, and subsequent mission planning and targeted spraying using an autonomous UAV. The presentation will also look at the practical development and field testing of the system, some of the challenges encountered when integrating these different technologies, and how they can be addressed. In a broader sense, it will explore how intelligent farming with the aid of UAVs can be used to make weed management more precise and efficient, while reducing unnecessary chemical application; in addition to looking at some of our future ideas for this pipeline.

Mark Cartner is Director of Walkabout Training, an Outdoor Trainer and Assessor, graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program, and former Queensland Police Service Detective and School-Based Police Officer.

For more than 2 decades, Mark has worked with young people facing disengagement, educational barriers, child protection involvement and justice system contact. Through Walkabout Training he has developed pathways that combine experiential learning, outdoor leadership, accredited vocational training and Indigenous knowledge to reconnect young people with education, employment and community.

His work has been recognised through partnerships with schools, universities, outdoor education providers and community organisations, with programs demonstrating measurable improvements in engagement, wellbeing and pathways into employment.

Associate Professor Benjamin Taylor is a Chartered Professional Engineer with more than 20 years of experience spanning industry and higher education. As Head of College for Engineering and Aviation at CQUniversity, he leads multidisciplinary teams delivering engineering and aviation programs across Australia and internationally. His work focuses on strengthening regional communities through innovative education pathways, workforce development, and industry engagement.

Associate Professor Shameen Jinadasa is an academic in civil and humanitarian engineering at CQUniversity Australia, based at the Bundaberg campus. He leads the university’s Humanitarian Engineering discipline and coordinates engineering student mobility. His teaching and research span humanitarian engineering, water and wastewater management, environmental sustainability and disaster resilience. He has experience with nature-based systems, including constructed wetlands and phytocapping, supporting clean technology approaches to treatment and pollution management.