Western Cape Futures Symposium 2025

UNSW SMaRT Centre Director Prof Veena will speak at Western Cape Futures Symposium 2025 in Weipa, Far North Queensland, on 8 March 2025.

Hosted by the Western Cape Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Aurukun Shire Council, Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council, Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council, the Weipa Town Authority, James Cook University, the Torres and Cape Indigenous Council Alliance, Western Cape Communities Trust and Rio Tinto.

The biannual Futures Symposium provides an opportunity to shine a spotlight on our region, and explore the opportunities, potential and barriers to regional development in the Western Cape, by connecting Innovators, Industry Leaders, Government, Traditional Owners, Local Business and Community. It will also focus on some key issues impacting the region. 

Veena's talk will highlight that using recycling innovations such as UNSW SMaRT Centre's MICROfactorie^TM Technologies and its Green Steel^TM Polymer Injection Technology that recover valuable materials from waste and reform them into new manufacturing feedstock and products are central to help achieve the sustainability needed for the future.

And she will highlight SMaRT's work on researching solutions for the fight against discarded ‘ghost’ nets and other fishing marine debris in northern Australia.

Event website 

Registration page

Event hosts say:

The Western Cape Futures Symposium was conceived from the need to create a vision and plan for a sustainable future for the region.

This region presents many opportunities for sustainable growth and development in many areas, which the communities and its residents are keen to explore. By working together with Government and Industry, we can forge a path that leads to economic diversity and sustainability, to ensure that the next generations have a bright and prosperous future on the Western Cape. 

Download a copy of the Symposium Schedule.

Post event photos: