Meet our guest panel speakers
Jamie Cook
After a long career in a variety of roles in various brewing businesses in Australia and abroad, in 2006 Jamie became a partner and director of Dig Marketing, a marketing agency which worked with a wide range of clients in the wine and food industries.
In 2008, he co-founded Stone & Wood Brewing Co in Byron Bay and grew that business to become the second largest independent brewer in the country with a strong reputation as a conscious business.
After retiring from executive duties at the end of 2019, he remains active in a number of other Board / Advisory Board positions including being Director of McTavish Surf in Byron Bay.
His current focus is working with his family in developing the family business – The Watershed Group, with an intention of investing in and building businesses, and chairing the family’s Rekindle Foundation which is focussed on supporting rainforest regeneration, housing accessibility, and the arts.
Jane Laverty
Jane Laverty is a self-confessed regionalist with a personal mission and passion for sustainable economic development, genuine community engagement, and building a bright future for young people in the Northern Rivers. As the Regional Director for Business NSW, Jane’s work revolves around advocacy for business, positioning the region for business and Government investment, and championing policy that supports job creation, innovation, and liveability.
Jane has headed up economic development teams in Local Government, authored place based economic development strategies and been involved in town centre master planning projects and currently a member of the NSW Reconstruction Authority’s Advisory Board.
She is a committee member for Brand Northern Rivers and has taken a deep dive into the exciting and courageous world of place branding best practices globally - with the lessons learned influencing the future strategic direction of the Northern Rivers NSW place brand.
This year, ProspER Northern Rivers (Regional Economic and Environment Plan 2040) is the focus of Jane’s attention with a whole of region approach to sustainable economic development that is specific to the Northern Rivers community values and aims to set up the next generation of NorRiveans for success.
Pam Brook
Pam has extensive experience in product & brand development, and sustainable business management. She has a passion for the growth and development of the regional food and beverage industry and for building a responsible and supportive community. She believes in balanced nutrition based on real food and a healthy sustainable food chain.
Best known for:
- A Dentist for 25 years, then a move to Northern Rivers changed everything.
- Co-founder Brookfarm with her husband Martin Brook (1999- present). Brookfarm is Australia’s leading producer of gourmet macadamia products, granolas, mueslis, & healthy snacks.
- Brookfarm’s CEO from 2000 to 2018 and having handed the CEO position to Will Brook she now heads up Product Development Innovation.
- Co-Founder of Cape Byron Distillery – (2016- present) with Eddie, Martin, Will and renowned Scottish distiller Jim McEwan.
- Co-Founder Coolamon Community (2021- present)- our purpose is to help make a difference to First Nations Mums and bubs at the very start of life
- Chair of Northern Rivers Food (2012-2021), a food industry group she helped establish, now with over 180 members in the Northern Rivers.