About Hunter DiGiT

Our Approach

Incorporated in 2012, the Hunter Digital Innovation Growth Industry Taskforce is a not-for-profit member organisation committed to  establish the Hunter Region as a leading digital economy with a global reputation, by 2020.

Our Objectives

Online Participation: Encourage adoption of internet based technologies.
Broadband Infrastructure: Attract commercial or government funded projects to provide world-class broadband infrastructure.
Digital Literacy and Skills: Encourage investment in technology education to equip the region’s transition to a digital economy.
Social Inclusion: Increase digital literacy & broadband access for low income & disadvantaged groups.
Digital Industry: Support the growth of creative, digital and cultural sectors.
Reputation: Promote the regions digital and creative industry sectors and position the region as a place where talented people and start-ups want to live.
Investment: Develop support networks to enable start-ups to access funds for growth

Meet the Team

Brendan Brooks
President

Brendan has been active in the world of website development and eBusiness in the Hunter Region for over a dozen years working in his own business, HyperWeb Communications, across the Hunter Region and working with many business associations and small to medium enterprise. He has also managed a career in business advisory services with the Hunter Region BEC and in Local Government various Economic Development roles with Port Stephens Council for 8 years before taking on his business fulltime. He also had a stint as a Fitter & Turner apprentice at BHP & Tubemakers Structural (how Novocastrian!). He has a Master in Business & Technology from the UNSW Australian Graduate School of Business. Born in Maitland, raised in Kurri Kurri, living in Newcastle, Brendan is a product of, and passionate advocate for, the Hunter Region in all its diversity of lifestyle and opportunity.

Gordon Whitehead
Vice-President

Gordon is Chief Executive Office of The Lunaticks Society of Newcastle, a non profit organisation that represents business professionals interested in new ideas and technologies in a digital age. It was established in 2010 and has over 100 members. Gordon has worked as a digital marketing strategist for over ten years. He specialises in online and mobile strategy, online customer behaviour, online analytics, online product development, social media, search engine and conversion rate optimisation, and online content production. He founded The Lunaticks Society of Newcastle and Newcastle Coffee Mornings. His personal marketing blog appears in the US AdAge ‘Power 150 Marketing Blogs’ list and regularly contributes to the highly successful Age of Conversation series of social media books. Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute (FAMI), Certified Practicing Marketer (CPM) and earned a Masters of Marketing degree from the University of Newcastle.

Craig Wilson
Member

Craig Wilson a leading social media and online marketing consultant with a passion for effective inbound marketing. He is managing director of Sticky, a digital agency based in Newcastle., Australia that has evolved to encompass Sticky Advertising, Get Sticky Inbound Marketing, NLYZER (a website analytics and SEO service), URBAN INSIDER (an online magazine) and Insider Jobs. He contributes to Marketing Magazine and Digital Ministry and is often called on by media to comment on industry news. Craig is regularly invited to speak on media issues, especially social and digital media, at various events around Australia. He was a speaker / panelist at the 2009 and 2010 Australasian Media and Broadcasting Congress and has addressed conferences for some of Australia’s leading organisations on topics ranging from Search Engine Optimisation, the changing media and marketing landscape and inbound marketing.


Chad Griffith
Secretary

Chad is a Councillor at Lake Macquarie City Council and the Campaign Director for Jill Hall MP. He is passionate about working with the community to make the Hunter Region great, and helping the community with their challenges.  Chad’s passion is to make life better for locals, that’s why he is involved with Hunter DiGiT. Chad is also manages the Lake Macquarie Running Festival

Chris Gander
Public Officer

Chris is the Digital Marketing Manager at Turnbull Hill Lawyers, a local law firm which sees digital technology and media being an integral part of their business strategy moving forward. Since completing his Information Science degree at The University of Newcastle in 2004, Chris has lectured digital media courses at the University and spent 6 years working in a variety of digital marketing roles in Sydney. In 2012 Chris moved back to Newcastle to continue his career in digital and joined Hunter DiGiT because he believes that the Hunter can become a leading digital regional economy with a global reputation by 2020 and wants to be an integral part of the team that sees that mission accomplished. He is currently completing a Masters of Marketing and is passionate about helping businesses use digital technology and media in creative ways to help achieve their objectives.

Steph Hinds
Treasurer

Steph is the Co-founder of Growthwise and The Lunaticks Society of Newcastle. She is a highly motivated, creative and energetic go-getter with a passion for all things digital. If you hear about new technology, like Xero, designed to help propel businesses into the future, chances are Steph doesn’t just know about, she’s probably already using it. She concentrates on helping techies & tradespeople, especially startups, navigate the maze that business actually is. She helps them think, learn, grow and kick arse!


Kim Britton
Member

Hunter Valley Research Foundation (HVRF) is Australia’s longest-serving non-profit regional research organisation, delivering high quality, independent research findings since 1956. Their economic and social research and associated activities are conducted in the Hunter, Upper Hunter and Central Coast regions. Kim, who has been with HVRF since 2004, understands the importance of the digital economy to the Hunter and is committed to ensuring the region is equipt to fully participate.

Simon Deeming
Member

Simon is Director of Research at the Hunter Valley Research Foundation (HVRF), an independent, non-profit regional research organisation. HVRF delivers high quality economic and social research to help Hunter people make better decisions about their businesses and communities. Simon came to HVRF in 2007 from his role as National Research Manager of Stockland’s Development Division. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons), with a double major in Economics and Economic Geography, from Macquarie University and a Masters in Property Development from the University of Technology, Sydney.

Evelyn King
Member

Evelyn has a background in education, P.R. cultural tourism, project management, placemaking and economic development. She is currently working on projects related to linkages between creative industries and the emerging digital economy as it relates to industry and jobs growth. Key partners are Newcastle Now, the Industry Development Centre (Hunter) and the University. She is in conversation with other Newcastle companies in regards to establishing an industry cluster to explore commercial opportunities in the field.


Tracy McKelligott
Member

Tracy is the Managing Director of Eclipse Media, Events and PR; a boutique Public Relations and Event Management company. Eclipse also encompasses the well-known Hunter institution – Helen Duncan Promotions. Eclipse’s reputation for major events and pr is second to none. Some of the groups most recent high profile clients have included The Hunter Sports Groups’ acquisition of the Newcastle Knights and subsequent marketing and PR for the team, the LA Galaxy (with David Beckham as part of the travelling squad) versus Newcastle Jets Exhibition Match, the International Stroke Consortium Conference and the Coeliac NSW ACT Gluten Free Expo in Sydney. Tracy’s background is as diverse as Eclipse; having spent her formative years with one of Australia’s foremost PR Practitioners in Prue MacSween, followed by Prime Television as the Northern NSW Marketing Manager. Tracy is a Member of the PRIA, the MEA and Festivals and Events Association.  She is also a self confessed Twitter addict!

Laurence Schuberth
Member

Laurence is the Head of Digital Media and Online Integration at NBN Television. He has worked in the media industry for over 20 years and has extensive experience as a composer. He has written for artists as diverse as Daryl Braithwaite & Australian Military Band and produced tracks for some of Australia’s most known brands. Writing music for pictures is his passion, “music is what feeling sound like” is his fav quote. He is also a classically trained pianist and arguably the most ‘musically talented’ of all Hunter DiGiT members.

James Vidler
Member

James is the Associate Director of IT Services at The University of Newcastle. He has also previously worked for Regional Development Australia on a project that was aimed at presenting the Hunter and Central Coast as priority regions for the roll out of the National Broadband Network. James believes that the Hunter region has huge potential to be a leading digital economy by 2020 and sees the University playing a key role in achieving Hunter DiGiT’s vision.


Martin McKenzie
Member

Martin is the Assistant Regional Manager for AusIndustry in the Hunter, Central Coast and North Coast regions. AusIndustry is a specialist program delivery division within the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education. AusIndustry delivers a diverse range of business programs worth about $2 billion each year. AusIndustry has a long-standing relationship with Australian business with more than 15 years’ experience in dealing with business and business issues.

Andy Howard
Member

Andy is the Head of Digital at The Village of Useful, a local ‘digitally focused’ advertising agency born and bred in the heart of Newcastle. Andy is one of the Hunter’s leading digital experts. He has lead digital campaigns and projects for clients including CountryLink, Royal Bank of Scotland, Sydney Airport and Harley-Davidson. He has also worked at digital agencies across the globe, including Sydney, London Edinburgh and Seattle, but is proud to call Newcastle home.

Amy Hurrell
Member

Amy is the Marketing & Business Development Manager at Baker Love Lawyers. She has more than 15 years’ experience in communications in the private and government sectors, including for Random House Australia, Hachette Australia, and Screen Queensland. She is a board member of the Wallsend Town Business Association, and a member of The Lunaticks Society of Newcastle. A technology lover, she sees digital growth in the Hunter region as a priority for the wider business and creative communities.