Two CBD developments close to completion, fast-talking PhD students star
Plus female founder grant opens
Almost three years to the day after breaking ground on the Hyde development in Wollongong, Blaq Property is celebrating a significant milestone.
The $30 million-plus residential apartments are now 90% complete, a June 2026 construction update revealed. Hyde is a 14-storey building fronting Kenny Street and a 5-storey building fronting Keira Street. It’s a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, as well as sub-penthouse residences.
Meanwhile the group’s other substantial Wollongong CBG project - Brooklyn Square, a 12-storey, 152-apartment development with 26 affordable units and construction costs estimated at $45.5 million, is two-thirds of the way towards completion on Flinders St.
Blaq’s projects sit inside a much bigger shift happening across Wollongong right now. As reported in the Pulse previously, Colliers’ 2026 Wollongong Apartment Report points to a 5235-apartment pipeline moving through the state’s fast-tracked Housing Delivery Authority process across Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama.
It’s the biggest jump in future supply the region has seen in more than a decade.
Much of the growth is coming through the state’s affordable housing bonus scheme - the same mechanism Blaq used to add an extra three storeys and 38 apartments to Brooklyn Square in exchange for 26 affordable units - which Colliers says has added 984 apartments region-wide, including 537 affordable homes, by letting developers build more densely in return for including affordable housing.
Leukaemia survivor’s brain cancer research wins
Kiarn Roughley, drew on his experience as a teenage leukaemia survivor, has won UOW’s Three Minute Thesis Final for the wonderfully titled May the Fast Be With You: Can Fasting Conditions Enhance Brain Cancer Therapy?
Roughley, from UOW’s School of Mathematics and Physics, won the wollongong final a=on Tuesday and now advances to the Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition.
He was diagnosed at 14 with mixed phenotype leukaemia - a rare combination of acute lymphoblastic and acute myeloid leukaemia. In remission since 2021 and the Illawarra Relay For Life’s 2024 ambassador, Roughley has since built a PhD around patient-centred approaches to brain cancer, testing whether fasting conditions can improve how tumours respond to therapy.
The seven finalists, including Basila Salii from UOW’s School of Business in Dubai, had three minutes and one static slide to explain their thesis to the audience in Wollongong.
Runner-up Jessie Sheridan-Moules, from the School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, presented on the molecular underpinnings of schizophrenia using donated brain tissue. The People’s Choice Award went to Sanchita Dewanjee of the Australian Institute for Innovative Materials, for work on nanomaterial-based sunscreen.
3MT was developed by the University of Queensland and now runs across more than 900 institutions in over 85 countries.
UOW’s finalists were:
Declan Fisher is researching how human cells repair damaged DNA during replication, and is aimed at informing new treatments for cancer and genetic disease.
Jessie Sheridan-Moules is examining donated human brain tissue to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying schizophrenia.
Sanchita Dewanjee: is developing advanced nanomaterials for next-generation sunscreen formulations to improve protection against Australia’s high rates of skin cancer.
Ratna Yudhiyati is researching how small textile and clothing businesses can draw on support networks to make the shift to more sustainable practices.
Menaka Hewawaduge is studying how deceptive leadership behaviour erodes trust and dignity in the workplace and developing tools to help build healthier workplace cultures.
Basila Salii is examining how sustainable fashion consumption is taking hold across the Gulf Cooperation Council region.
Female founder grant open
Design-led studio Edition has officially opened applications for its $15,000 Female Founder Grant, targeting ambitious women innovators across Australia and New Zealand.
Established in 2020 by cofounders Jodie and Scott Kennedy, the specialised studio acts as a strategic partner for early-stage startups and expanding tech companies. According to official program details , the selected 2026 recipient will receive a comprehensive $15,000 suite of premium services, including intensive in-person workshops, professional mentorship, market and competitor research, product strategy input, and essential pitch deck support.
The grant program carries significant commercial credibility, highlighted by inaugural recipient Leila Benab, the founder of airline decision intelligence platform ReluGroup. Since winning the initial grant, Benab has successfully closed an impressive $880,000 pre-Seed funding round and secured a large airline group as a major commercial customer.
Eligible entrepreneurs must apply by emailing a detailed background introduction and their core startup idea to hello@editiongroup.com, or by visiting editiongroup.com/female-founder-grant before the formal closing deadline on Monday, July 27.
We’ve been occupied with Operation Scandi - the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s inquiry into issues at the University of Wollongong.
Check out all the coverage here.
Dancers raise an amazing $300k
It’s been a hot minute since the 2026 Stars of Wollongong - but wow, what a night - and what a result.
The 2026 Stars of Wollongong raised almost $310,000 at last month’s dancing spectacular with MMJ director Tim Jones, a reluctant dancer but longtime supporter, tipped a massive $124k into the pot.
Physiotherapist Kylie Moffitt, who raised almost $16,000, revelled in the event and declared the Cancer Council “absolute legends”.
“Incredible night and an amazing effort to raise so much cash for Cancer Council NSW - wow!!,” she wrote on Facebook.
The vibe was pretty much the same from other participants, too. Among the dancers who raised five figures were Webb Financial founder Andrew Webb, Danielle Camer, Lisa Evans, Kate Gurd, boxer Kosta Skrapis, HR with Ease principal Yvone Walker, and Green Gravity’s Tania Jones.
Jones summed it up on Facebook when she wrote: “Our Illawarra community has so much heart and potential to step-up, or in our STARS case, on-stage to help families impacted by Cancer. Awesome sponsors + awesome crew + awesome instructors + awesome stars = awesome outcome for our community.”
The big ticket
Take your pick - or maybe it’s both? A chronic over-sharer with a podcast and a penchant for publicity on Friday then punks with tinges of pop from the mid-90s on Saturday? Why not.
Abbie Chatfield Loves Men comes to Anita’s Theatre on Friday from 7pm and expect, well, a lot. Get tickets here.
The following night the band that repelled grunge for as long as possible is back - and with a new single under their belts. Bodyjar’s How it Still Works Tour comes to Waves on Saturday. Tickets here