The Hunter’s energy future will depend as much on data as it does on electrons. That’s the message from the Committee for the Hunter’s new report, Connected & Competitive: Digital Foundations for the Hunter’s Digital Future, launched this week in Newcastle. The report calls for greater investment in digital infrastructure, skills and inclusion to help the region adapt to a rapidly changing energy and industrial landscape.
The Committee notes that regional growth now relies on three main factors — human capital, competitive advantage, and connectivity — with digital access central to each. For a region in the midst of an energy transition, digital systems are becoming the backbone of new industries, from renewable generation and grid management to recycling, hydrogen production, and battery manufacturing.
As the report states, “Connectivity isn’t just about roads and rail; it’s also about digital access, which is now foundational to a region’s growth.” In the context of energy diversification, this means everything from data-driven asset management and digital twins in construction, to remote operations, monitoring and predictive maintenance for renewable and storage facilities.
Findings from the Australian Digital Inclusion Index (2023) show that regional areas still trail metropolitan centres in access, affordability and digital skills. The Committee warns that without a strong digital base, parts of the Hunter could be excluded from the very industries that promise long-term employment and economic growth.
The report reviews the Hunter’s digital performance, infrastructure and workforce readiness, identifying how digital capability can drive innovation in clean energy, advanced manufacturing and sustainable transport. It features examples of local businesses using technology to expand their services and create new products across health, tourism, and the low-carbon economy.
A panel discussion at the launch event yesterday was moderated by Committee CEO Alice Thompson and brought together Dr Mark Wallis (Nukaizen/Skript), Glenn Caldwell (Destination Sydney Surrounds North), Simon Currie (Energy Estate) and representatives from Hunter New England Local Health District. The session explored how the Hunter can use digital innovation to attract investment, improve regional resilience, and enable smarter infrastructure for the energy transition.
The Committee’s message is clear: connectivity will determine competitiveness.
Contributors to the report include Dr Mark Wallis (Nukaizen/Skript), Chris Mitchell (Hunter New England Local Health District), Glenn Caldwell (Destination Sydney Surrounds North), Ria O’Donnell (Custom Learning Design) and Dr Kirill Glavatskiy (University of Newcastle), with additional input from Energy Estate, Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association, KPMG and Telstra.
For the Hunter’s energy and resource sector, the report reinforces that digital capability isn’t a support function — it’s the foundation for diversification. Reliable connectivity and data literacy will shape how efficiently the region can build, operate and connect the industries driving its next phase of growth.
