David Campese Headlines Successful Gathering of Councils, Members and Industry Partners

MWA was delighted to host a highly successful networking event during the 2026 Primex Field Days at the Lismore Showgrounds, bringing together representatives from local government, industry and the broader MWA member network for an afternoon focused on connection, collaboration and industry engagement.

As one of regional Australia’s leading agricultural and infrastructure exhibitions, Primex provided the ideal backdrop for MWA members and guests to come together, share ideas and strengthen relationships across councils and industry partners who play a vital role in supporting regional communities and infrastructure delivery.

The event attracted attendees from a range of councils and organisations, with representatives from Lismore City Council, Richmond Valley Council, Quilpie Shire Council and Scenic Rim Regional Council all in attendance. MWA was also pleased to welcome Jog Tannerhill from Komatsu Australia, whose continued support and engagement with the sector is greatly valued.

A major highlight of the afternoon was an outstanding guest presentation from Australian sporting icon David Campese. Widely regarded as one of rugby union’s greatest players, Campese delivered an engaging and entertaining address that combined stories from his remarkable international career with valuable insights into leadership, teamwork, adaptability and resilience.

Drawing on his experiences competing at the highest level of international sport, Campese spoke about the importance of building strong teams, embracing challenges and maintaining focus under pressure — themes that strongly resonated with attendees working across local government and infrastructure sectors. His ability to connect personal experiences with practical leadership lessons created an enjoyable and memorable presentation that generated strong discussion throughout the evening.

Beyond the guest speaker presentation, the networking event provided attendees with an important opportunity to strengthen professional relationships and discuss key issues facing regional councils and industry partners. Conversations throughout the event reflected the ongoing importance of collaboration, innovation and shared knowledge in supporting the delivery and maintenance of infrastructure across regional and rural communities.

MWA continues to place significant value on creating opportunities for members and partners to connect in meaningful ways, recognising that strong relationships between councils, suppliers and industry stakeholders are essential to achieving positive outcomes for communities across Australia.

The organisation would like to sincerely thank all attendees for their support and participation in making the event such a success. The positive atmosphere and strong level of engagement throughout the afternoon reinforced the importance of events such as Primex in bringing the sector together.

MWA also acknowledges the organisers of the Primex Field Days for once again delivering an outstanding event that continues to showcase the strength, innovation and resilience of regional industries and communities.

Following the success of this year’s networking function, MWA looks forward to continuing to support future industry events and creating further opportunities for members, councils and partners to connect, collaborate and share ideas.