Connecting, Learning and Growing: Our CEO at the Norco Primex Business Leaders Luncheon

There's something really special about stepping out of the day-to-day rhythm of running a business and sitting down with other regional leaders who get it: the challenges, the wins, the deep sense of purpose that keeps you going. That's exactly what our CEO Jade had the pleasure of experiencing at the Norco Primex Business Leaders Luncheon on Friday 22nd May, held at Norma's Kitchen at the Lismore Showgrounds.

As part of the iconic Primex Field Days, this annual luncheon is organised by Business NSW Northern Rivers and brings together business owners, community leaders and industry changemakers from across the region for an afternoon of good food, genuine conversation, and the kind of connection that's hard to manufacture in a meeting room or on a Zoom call. And by all accounts, this year's event delivered exactly that.

A Chance to Step Back and Look Up

For anyone who runs a small business, you'll know how easy it is to get your head down and stay there. There's always something that needs doing: a client to call, a roster to sort, a form to fill out. That's why events like this luncheon matter so much. They create the space to lift your eyes from the day-to-day and take a wider view of the region you're working in and the people working alongside you in it.

For Jade, the afternoon was a reminder of just how much is happening across the Northern Rivers. From agriculture and technology to community services and education, the breadth of industries represented in the room was a testament to the incredible resilience and creativity of this region, particularly given everything it has navigated in recent years.

Sitting alongside leaders from a range of backgrounds, Jade had the chance to hear fresh perspectives, share a little of Sistability's own story, and explore the kinds of partnerships and ideas that don't always emerge when you're working in isolation.

The Paddock-to-Plate Experience

Let's talk about the lunch itself for a moment, because it wouldn't be a true Northern Rivers event without a real celebration of local produce. The paddock-to-plate menu was a lovely reflection of what makes this region so unique: fresh, seasonal and full of flavour. It's a small but meaningful detail that speaks to the values many Northern Rivers businesses share, including a commitment to community, to sustainability, and to doing things with care.

There's something grounding about sharing a meal that was grown right here, surrounded by people who are equally invested in the future of this place. It sets a tone that no conference-centre lunch ever quite manages.

Why This Kind of Gathering Matters to Sistability

At Sistability, we're not just a business. We're a certified social enterprise rooted in the Northern Rivers community. We exist to empower people living with disability, older Australians, veterans and families by providing the domestic support they need to live safely and independently at home. Everything we do is shaped by this region and the people in it.

So for Jade, being in that room wasn't just about networking in the traditional sense. It was about deepening her understanding of the broader landscape our clients and team members are living in: the pressures facing regional communities, the emerging opportunities, and the partnerships that might help Sistability serve people even better.

The luncheon reinforced what we already believe: that collaboration and connection are not extras. They're part of how we grow, adapt and remain genuinely useful to the communities we serve.

Grateful to be included

Jade came away from the day genuinely energised, full of ideas, grateful for the connections made, and more inspired than ever about the work Sistability is doing and the region we're proud to call home.

Events like the Norco Primex Business Leaders Luncheon are a valuable reminder that business doesn't happen in a vacuum. It happens in communities, through relationships, and with a shared sense of purpose. And in the Northern Rivers, that sense of purpose runs deep.

Here's to more afternoons like it.