iAccelerate chief is Wollongong Woman of the Year, plus celeb chefs prepare for April opening
And even more headlines you may have missed
The University of Wollongong’s iAccelerate director Dr Tamantha Stutchbury is the 2026 Wollongong Local Woman of the Year.
Under Stutchbury’s leadership, the program has backed more than 500 companies, generated over 1100 jobs, and claims $500 million in regional economic contribution - figures that position it as one of the Illawarra’s more consequential institutional anchors outside BlueScope and the health sector.
The award recognises Stutchbury’s leadership in fostering inclusive entrepreneurship and her tireless advocacy for women in STEM. Her work through the LIFT project has been instrumental in creating pathways for female innovators.
Notably, approximately half of all iAccelerate-supported startups now feature at least one female founder. This shift challenges the global trend where only 2% of venture capital typically reaches women-led ventures.
When Wollongong MP Paul Scully presented her the award, Stutchbury described the recognition “equal parts an honour and a surprise” and said it “belongs as much to my team as to me”.
“I have been thinking a lot about 14-year-old me who was encouraged to stay engaged in science by a high school teacher. It cost them nothing to speak those words of encouragement, but it changed my life journey.
“If you can, take a moment today to encourage a girl or woman in your world, tell them they belong in STEM, in entrepreneurship, in leadership. These moments matter.”
She has secured over $4 million in funding to support underrepresented groups, including First Nations people and regional entrepreneurs; the LIFT project has delivered 31 industry internships for female PhD candidates and upskilled more than 1000 STEM educators.
Other women honoured in the NSW Local Women of the Year 2026 are Keira’s Val Fell OAM, a one-woman institution across the Illawarra who is an advocate for dementia awareness; Irene Birks and Suzanne Eggins from Kiama; and Shellharbour’s Corrine Ann Boyle. Each recipient was nominated by their respective state MPs.
Celeb chefs, billionaire backer unveil collab
A significant new addition to the regional business landscape, Burradoo Park Farm, is set to open its gates next month in the Southern Highlands. The project, a collaboration between billionaire philanthropist Annie Cannon-Brookes and the celebrity chef team from Three Blue Ducks, marks a major investment in the region’s agritourism sector.
The 242-hectare site is being positioned as a fully integrated regenerative farm, education precinct, and farm-to-table destination.
The development features three distinct hospitality venues, led by The Farmhouse by Three Blue Ducks - whose ownership includes high profile chefs Darren Robertson and Andy Allen. This space will function as a relaxed café and produce store, serving as a community hub that showcases on-site ingredients alongside goods from regional makers. A more formal 50-seat dining room will provide views of the expansive working farm, offering an intimate “paddock-to-plate” experience.
Staged openings are scheduled to begin in early April 2026, strategically timed for the Easter long weekend. The precinct is designed to go beyond traditional dining by incorporating guided farm tours, sustainability workshops, and educational programs.
While Troy Crisante, former co-head chef at Sydney’s three-hatted Quay, has been recruited to lead the restaurant, hiring is still underway to join the team at the Burradoo farm. It’s here.
BlueScope board signals shift
BlueScope Steel CEO Tania Archibald has softened the company’s stance, saying “all options are on the table” on a revised takeover bid from Steel Dynamics and SGH Group. The consortium’s latest proposal is pitched at $34 a share, prompting the board to move away from its earlier outright rejection. BlueScope argues the value is closer to $31 after dividends, but major shareholders are pushing for engagement.
According to The Australian, investors including AustralianSuper, L1 Capital and Perpetual favour either a deal or at least due diligence. Pressure is building as the steelmaker faces a tough trading environment and tariff uncertainty, though granting a direct competitor access to its books remains sensitive.
BlueScope is also pointing to $2.8 billion in non-core land assets and the strategic value of its North Star plant in North America. Shares closed down 2.3% at $26.90, leaving the stock 9% lower over the past month.
The Works’ nod to Corrimal’s history
Legacy Property has lodged a development application for the Heritage Plaza at The Works - its redevelopment of the former Corrimal Coke Works - positioning the 18-hectare site for a dense mix of residential, retail, and commercial uses anchored by preserved industrial structures.
The plaza design centres on the adaptive reuse of the site’s 1912 brick chimney and powerhouse building. Development Director Steve Ball confirmed that a bank of C1 coke ovens, the north stack, and original rail tracks are to be reinstated as interpretive features, with recycled bricks and coal hoppers used throughout.
Internal road alignments have also been revised to improve pedestrian access to Corrimal Station - a transit-oriented design approach increasingly favoured by the NSW planning system for urban infill projects of this scale.
Meanwhile, submissions on two parts of the project close soon. One, the proposal for residential development comprising 201 dwellings, including 53 affordable units, closes on March 16. The other, regarding civil works, closes on March 27.
Construction on the plaza is scheduled to begin in 2027.
Gas plant planned for Moss Vale AI data centre
Sydney-based Cloud Carrier is proposing three data centres and a 700-megawatt power station on a site six kilometres from Moss Vale, ABC Illawarra reported.
The plant would consist of 21 reciprocating gas engines, generating enough electricity to power about 70,000 homes and supply the enormous energy demands of large-scale computing.
One smaller data centre is already operating on the site, with the full campus expected to roll out over five to eight years.
According to Toby Walsh, chief scientist at the UNSW AI Institute, the proposal highlights the growing infrastructure footprint behind AI services. There are already about 90 data centres operating across New South Wales, with dozens more planned as demand for computing capacity accelerates.
A NSW upper house inquiry into data centres has been announced, with hearings to start in May.
Hot ticket
The Nan Tien Temple is hosting a special International Women’s Day event on Sunday, March 8. Registration starts at 9am for the 9.30am start. The community fundraiser includes tai chi, a joyful singing session, meditation and a traditional blessing ceremony. Money will go to YWCA Australia. Book your $20 ticket here.
There’s also the Kiama Sounds of Jazz and Blues on all weekend. More here.
And if you’re headed to the sold out inaugural TedxWollongong on Saturday, enjoy.
If the Creative Wollongong Short Film Festival at the Botanic Gardens is your go, you might want to get there early - a big crowd’s expected!
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