iAccelerate director urges Illawarra to back women, education and innovation
Tamantha Stutchbury says better access to education, more women in leadership and stronger support for entrepreneurs will shape the Illawarra's future.
Innovation won’t reach its full potential until more women are in the room, regional education is better supported, and the Illawarra continues backing the ideas that grow from its own backyard.
That was the message from University of Wollongong iAccelerate director Tamantha Stutchbury, who delivered the 2026 Hargrave Lecture at The Illawarra Connection’s annual dinner at City Beach on Tuesday night.
Drawing on a career spanning medical research, commercialisation and entrepreneurship, Stutchbury reflected on how education shaped her own career and argued it remained one of Australia’s most powerful drivers of opportunity.
She challenged business and community leaders to advocate for education, create more opportunities for women and continue strengthening Wollongong’s identity as Australia’s “City of Innovation”.
Stutchbury recalled how a high school science teacher encouraged her to pursue science before a Year 10 visit to Melbourne University convinced her tertiary education was possible.
“I truly believe in the power of education to transform lives,” she said, arguing that Australia needed to do more to ensure tertiary education remained accessible for future generations.
Using what she described as a system map of women in STEM, Stutchbury said women entered university in strong numbers before representation steadily declined through PhDs, academic appointments and senior leadership. “You can see the drop-off and the gap,” she said.
She said women receive just 2 per cent of global venture capital funding despite making up a growing share of STEM graduates.
Stutchbury said the issue was not about taking opportunities away from others but recognising that many women continue to face barriers that limit their opportunities.
Despite those challenges, Stutchbury said the Illawarra was well placed to become one of Australia’s leading innovation regions.
She pointed to the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus, the success of iAccelerate and a growing network of founders, researchers and industry partners working together to commercialise new ideas.
Since launching a decade ago, iAccelerate has supported about 600 startups, helped generate hundreds of jobs and backed companies now attracting tens of millions of dollars in investment.
Stutchbury said the university was preparing for its next phase of innovation, announcing a new $10 million seed investment fund to help promising startups access early-stage capital while also simplifying the way businesses engage with UOW.
Over the coming year, the university will establish a single front door for industry, making it easier for businesses to connect with researchers, facilities and expertise.
“It’s hard to get through our bureaucracy,” she said. “We are going to make it easier for you to engage with the university.”
Her message to the region was simple: invest in education, broaden who gets a seat at the table and keep backing innovation.
“Who is not in the room?” she asked. “It is the job of the majority to change the diversity in the room.”