Innovators Lunch | Rethink Everything: 2026 EOFY Briefing
Hunter iF Innovators Lunch | June
Rethink Everything: 2026 EOFY Briefing.
The rules of innovation just changed. It’s time to rewrite your playbook.
Every once in a while, everything changes.
The tools you used yesterday to build your company, to incentivise your team, to fund your breakthroughs, they just changed. The 2026 Federal Budget didn’t just tweak the tax system. It introduced a massive overhaul to the startup playbook.
But here is the most important part: these reforms are entirely in the proposal stage.
The government is in active consultation with the industry right now, meaning the final legislation could change significantly before it passes. Most people look at this uncertainty, get confused, and freeze. We look at it and see an opportunity to build something better.
To survive a shifting landscape, you need flawless execution, absolute structural clarity, and tactical agility. Hunter iF has designed this exclusive EOFY Briefing to give you exactly that.
The Details
Date: Friday, 26 June 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Location: I2N Hub Honeysuckle | 16B Honeysuckle Dr, Newcastle
Tickets strictly limited.
Part 1: Future-Proofing in an Exponential World
Lisa Andrews | CEO, WAVIA
Before diving into the regulatory weeds, we are kicking off by lifting our eyes to the horizon with futurist and WAVIA CEO, Lisa Andrews. Setting the macro strategy, Lisa will combine her deep knowledge of financially focused growth with exponential tech to provide a framework for future-proofing your business. Providing a canvas of how technological advancements will impact businesses in the year ahead, Lisa will demonstrate how to integrate innovation and tech into your strategy to stay ahead. Come ready to challenge your assumptions and rewire your strategic roadmap in a tight, high-impact session dedicated to guiding organisations through the evolving innovation landscape.
(Includes 10-minute presentation + Live Q&A)
Part 2: Navigating the Proposed Budget Shake-Up
Mitch Eady | Director of R&D & Gov Incentives, PwC Private
In this session PwC Private brings the heavy artillery. In this extended masterclass, Mitch Eady will unpack the proposed R&D rules, explain what the possible scenarios are post-consultation, and tell you how to structure your development pipelines right now to safeguard your funding.
Then, we are opening the floor for a completely unfiltered, Ask Me Anything session. Bring your rawest, toughest structural and funding questions.
(Includes 10-minute briefing + Unfiltered AMA)
Part 3: Making Inventions Happen
Joshua Jeffress | Director & Principal Designer, Design Anthology
A brilliant idea without commercial viability is just an expensive hobby. When funding and R&D rules are moving targets, how do you efficiently turn an idea into a mass-produced reality?
We are bringing in Josh Jeffress, Founder of the award-winning product development agency Design Anthology. DA has commercialised over 100 projects—from medical devices to smart city robotics. Josh will deliver a no-nonsense framework on how to bridge the gap between initial design and manufacturing, avoid catastrophic prototyping costs, and build a realistic business case for your product in a changing economic climate.
(Includes 10-minute framework + Live Q&A)
The Agenda: Friday, 26 June 2026
12:00 PM – Doors Open: Arrival & connection over a light lunch
12:20 PM – Welcome: Setting the Stage (Hunter iF)
12:30 PM – Future-Proofing in an Exponential World: Lisa Andrews (10 min presentation + 10 min Q&A)
12:50 PM – Navigating the Budget Shake-Up: Led by Mitch Eady (10 min presentation + 10 min Q&A)
1:10 PM – Making Inventions Happen: Led by Josh Jeffress (10min presentation + 10 min Q&A)
1:30 PM – One More Thing: Final Takeaways & Open Connecting
2:00 PM – Hard Close
You Have a Choice.
The founders who know how to operate with agility and structure their companies for this changing reality will own the next decade. The ones who wait for the government to make up its mind will get left behind.
Join 100 of the Hunter’s top founders, scale-up leaders, and angel investors. Let’s figure out what’s next.
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