One Future: What NT, Northern WA and North Queensland Can Learn from Each Other
Tracks
Concurrent Room 1
| Thursday, August 6, 2026 |
| 11:50 AM - 12:10 PM |
| Concurrent Room 1 |
Overview
Kate Haycock, AEC Group
Details
1. Northern Australia is not a single economic market but three distinct development systems, each with different infrastructure maturity, workforce capacity and investment readiness.
2. the North’s greatest constraint is not a lack of opportunity but a lack of coordination across infrastructure, workforce and investment planning, which is slowing delivery of major project pipelines.
3. The regions have highly complementary strengths. By sharing lessons, coordinating infrastructure investment and strengthening cross-jurisdiction collaboration, governments and industry can move beyond competition toward a more connected, resilient and prosperous Northern Australia.
Speaker
Kate Haycock
Market Leader - Regional Development And Northern Australia
AEC Group
One Future: What NT, Northern WA and North Queensland Can Learn From Each Other
Presentation Overview
Three Norths, One Future: What NT, Northern WA and North Queensland Can Learn From Each Other
Northern Australia is often discussed as a single economic region, yet the Northern Territory, northern Western Australia and North Queensland are evolving along very different development pathways. Each is responding to global demand for energy transition, critical minerals, defence capability, tourism and agriculture — but with distinct strengths, constraints and investment readiness.
This presentation provides a comparative “state of the regions” perspective, drawing on recent regional strategy, infrastructure and investment advisory work across Northern Australia. It explores how the three regions are progressing across key drivers of long-term growth, including infrastructure and connectivity, workforce capability, industry diversification, investment attraction and regional liveability.
The session will highlight where momentum is strongest, where structural barriers persist, and where collaboration across jurisdictions could accelerate outcomes. It will also examine the growing role of place-based planning, First Nations partnerships and coordinated infrastructure investment in shaping the North’s next phase of development.
Rather than competing for the same opportunities, Northern Australia’s regions have the potential to learn from one another and build complementary economic futures.
Attendees will gain practical insights into how governments, industry and regional leaders can move beyond aspiration to coordinated action — linking people, place and development to turn Northern Australia’s opportunity pipeline into long-term regional prosperity.
Northern Australia is often discussed as a single economic region, yet the Northern Territory, northern Western Australia and North Queensland are evolving along very different development pathways. Each is responding to global demand for energy transition, critical minerals, defence capability, tourism and agriculture — but with distinct strengths, constraints and investment readiness.
This presentation provides a comparative “state of the regions” perspective, drawing on recent regional strategy, infrastructure and investment advisory work across Northern Australia. It explores how the three regions are progressing across key drivers of long-term growth, including infrastructure and connectivity, workforce capability, industry diversification, investment attraction and regional liveability.
The session will highlight where momentum is strongest, where structural barriers persist, and where collaboration across jurisdictions could accelerate outcomes. It will also examine the growing role of place-based planning, First Nations partnerships and coordinated infrastructure investment in shaping the North’s next phase of development.
Rather than competing for the same opportunities, Northern Australia’s regions have the potential to learn from one another and build complementary economic futures.
Attendees will gain practical insights into how governments, industry and regional leaders can move beyond aspiration to coordinated action — linking people, place and development to turn Northern Australia’s opportunity pipeline into long-term regional prosperity.
Biography
Kate Haycock is Market Leader – Regional Development & Northern Australia at AEC Group, leading advisory work on regional strategy, infrastructure, and investment across Northern Territory, northern Western Australia and North Queensland. With over 15 years’ experience spanning consulting, government and research, she has held senior roles with the Australian Institute of Marine Science, Trade and Investment Queensland, the NSW Government and Deloitte. Kate specialises in place-based economic development, helping governments and industry translate major project pipelines into regional growth, workforce opportunities and long-term prosperity across Northern Australia.
