Community at the heart of regional growth

Regional development took centre stage at the University of Southern Queensland’s latest UniSQ Thought Leadership Series event, The Future of Regional Development: Building Resilient Regions, last Thursday evening.

Almost 100 community leaders, industry partners and students gathered at the UniSQ Toowoomba campus to hear from a panel of prominent voices in regional development, agribusiness and sustainability.

The panel featured:
• Dr John McVeigh – Chancellor of UniSQ and Executive Director of Toowoomba Surat Basin Enterprise, offering insights from the frontlines of regional transformation.
• Georgie Somerset AM – Agricultural advocate and Chair of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland), championing the voice of rural communities.
• Mac Drysdale – Visionary agribusiness innovator, leading the charge on sustainable farming practices.

Moderated by Professor Ben Lyons – Director of the Southern Queensland Northern NSW Drought and Innovation Hub – the discussion highlighted the opportunities and challenges facing regional communities, from workforce development and infrastructure to energy and climate resilience.

Chancellor McVeigh said regional Australia was at a pivotal moment, with the right policy settings and targeted investment essential to unlock its full potential.

“There is enormous potential in regional Australia, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, energy, and advanced manufacturing,” he said.

“With the right policies and investment in infrastructure, we can enhance regional connectivity and attract more businesses to these areas.”

“Education and research institutions like UniSQ play a critical role in ensuring we have the skilled workforce to support this growth.”

The theme of people-powered development was repeated throughout the evening.

Georgie Somerset called for deeper investment in human capability to tackle the problems confronting regional Australia, while Mac Drysdale emphasised that real progress comes through collaboration.

Following the panel discussion, attendees continued the conversation over refreshments, reinforcing that regional growth is not just about infrastructure – it’s about purpose, people, and a shared vision for a resilient future.