It’s been a busy and rewarding few weeks of advocacy, connection and collaboration for Be.Bendigo – strengthening relationships with partners and members and exploring new opportunities for our region.

Collaborating for Regional Growth

A highlight included Be.Bendigo CEO Hayley Tibbett meeting with Vice-Chancellor Professor Theo Farrell, Melanie Bish and Marg O’Rourke at La Trobe University to discuss deeper collaboration and alignment. There’s real potential to work together to create meaningful pathways for our future workforce and grow our region’s capacity.

Be.Bendigo also attended the national launch of Jobs and Skills Australia’s Regional Roadmap, right here in Bendigo – providing valuable insights into how our region can be better positioned for future workforce growth. It was fantastic to see so many local and regional voices in the room, focused on how we can prepare for what’s next.

It was also special to join the community for the NAIDOC Week flag raising in the Civic Gardens – celebrating culture, Country and connection. Events like these remind us of the importance of coming together and recognising the strength of our community.

Celebrating Business Excellence

A full day of in-person judging for the Bendigo Business Excellence Awards was another standout. Meeting so many of the outstanding finalists was both engaging and uplifting – and a reminder of the innovation, resilience and passion that defines our local business community.

Unlocking New Opportunities

The past few weeks have also included many valuable conversations with members, potential partners and regional stakeholders – including a productive discussion with Regional Development Victoria about how we can unlock greater opportunities and support for businesses across Greater Bendigo.

As always, these conversations and connections help shape how Be.Bendigo advocates for our business community – ensuring local voices are heard and stronger connections are built right across our region.