Flinders University’s new partnership with Women in Business and Regional Development (WiBRD) was announced on 28 February at their 2020 launch event in Mount Gambier.
The Limestone Coast’s Women in Business and Regional Development aims to connect and support women in South Australia’s regional communities throughout their career.
The partnership with Flinders University, through its New Venture Institute, places the University as major sponsor of WiBRD for the next two years. The NVI’s focus will be to help develop SA’s regional innovation ecosystem and support current and future women entrepreneurs in the region, concentrating on breaking down the barriers between industry and education.
This new collaboration will build on Flinders NVI’s strategic alliance with Mount Gambier High School, one of the State’s five Entrepreneurial Specialist Schools, and the one located furthest from Adelaide.
In an exciting start to the partnership, Flinders University staff member Callena Rawlings, who is co-located at the Mount Gambier High School, hosted staff and the school’s female student captain and vice-captain at the WiBRD International Women’s Day breakfast, which was live streamed to Mount Gambier from the Adelaide event.
The students were delighted at the opportunity to participate in the celebrations, with planning for next year’s event now including a dedicated student event and workshop following the live stream.
Ms Rawlings said “Our focus is on entrepreneurial education so it’s a privilege to partner with both groups here in the region. The question top of my mind is always ‘what can we do together that we can’t do alone?’
“So far, the answers hold amazing potential for both the region and the University.”
She said as part of the University’s work in the Limestone Coast the team is keen to explore any opportunities within Flinders’ broad networks.
As part of the co-location arrangement, the University now has the equivalent of a satellite site at Mount Gambier High School, known as eNVIsion Limestone Coast. Professional development live streams have been held on-site and co-working with industry players is being explored. The facilities offer a range of teaching and collaboration spaces which are available for any member of the Flinders University network to use – contact Callena Rawlings directly for further information.