Matt Fawcett, owner of INSURE MORE @ with offices in Forster and Taree, shares his journey from a local high school student in Wingham to a leading insurance broker and community leader. After starting in banking, Matt "fell into" the insurance industry, completing his Diploma in Insurance Broking locally before purchasing the Taree business and expanding to a second location in 2025.

Kate Dunn, the Community Connector on the Mid Coast, shares her journey from a local school student in Old Bar to helping families and professionals settle into the region. After leaving school to travel and work on Hamilton Island, Kate studied media marketing and office administration in Newcastle before briefly commencing a communication degree at Griffith University. Though her degree remained unfinished due to life changes abroad, her foundational qualifications and innate communication skills paved the way for her current role assisting public and private organizations with employee relocation and retention.

Dr Alison McIntosh is the Chair of Taree Universities Campus and a passionate advocate for regional education. With a professional journey spanning corporate computing in Brisbane and Sydney, through to earning her PhD via distance education, Alison’s career has been defined by persistence and a meticulous attention to detail.

Anna Godfrey is the founder of The Switcher, a strategic innovation and marketing business run from the MidCoast. With a background in corporate roles across Australia and internationally, Anna has built a flexible career that allows her to combine big-brand boardrooms with school runs and community life.

Jake Dawson is the co-director of UpBound, a business services company helping small businesses thrive through digital solutions like web development, content creation, and automation.

Kyle Brown is an accountant and co-owner of UpBound, a business helping small enterprises navigate their financial needs. Despite working in a field often seen as numbers-driven, Kyle leads with empathy—supporting a diverse range of clients by understanding their unique challenges.

Wade Death is the founder of Jack & Co, a business built around redefining convenience stores through quality, customer focus, and a strong sense of values.