Bringing our business community together in the Hawkesbury through networking, conferences, expos and awards nights, is the aim of Hawkesbury Business Events (HBE). Started in 2019, the events program grows each year to include a larger and more diverse offering.
Our Origins – Hawkesbury Business Week
Started in June 2019 with the first Hawkesbury Business Week, the week started with a networking breakfast at Richmond Golf Club. Before networking events across the region in Colo, Bilpin, Pitt Town and Grose Vale.
The second half of the week was based in the historic School of Arts in Richmond, with a full day conference featuring speakers from manufacturing, placemaking, youth, education and international tourism. Additionally, a 2-day expo of local businesses aimed at both a business and public audience. Completing the week, we had our first Friday@5 networking.
The team completed an incredible feat with all the events in one week for 2019, since 2021 our events have been spread throughout the year. Therefore, Hawkesbury Business Week to become a networking focused series of events.
In 2022 we held our first Hawkesbury Business Awards in the Hawkesbury Race Club. The event sold out for the first 2 years, so in 2024 we moved the event to Windsor Function Centre.
Our Founder and Motivation for Hawkesbury Business Events
Stacy Kempton, the CEO of Prismatic, has been a fixture of the local business networking and advocacy scene for over 15 years. After moving her family and business to Bowen Mountain, she has grown the company to employ many locals.
She served on the management committees of the Hawkesbury City Chamber of Commerce and Windsor Business Group, including in the role of Vice President for each. Additionally, she was the founder of the Hawkesbury Business Alliance, aimed at bringing all the business groups of the area together.
She heard constructive feedback from the community about ways that businesses could be better serviced by events. Including a need for networking on both sides of the river and an awards night with a focus on local values.
To meet these demands, Hawkesbury Business Events was born.
Our Local Hawkesbury Business – by local, for local
Prismatic Group Pty Ltd is a local company based in South Windsor that specialise in Events and Entertainment. Started in 2004, it has grown to employ many locals in the areas of audio, lighting, staging, media and styling.
We have offices in Dubbo, Sydney, Parramatta and Brisbane. But our main office and warehouse remain in our home, the Hawkesbury.
Also, there is a customisable studio space at the main warehouse for photo or video shoots with styling. In addition, the team run or is developing various events brands including The BIG Bushdance, Grey Nomad Festival and CosCon.
Our team is talented, qualified and driven to make any events dream a reality.
Our Values
Prismatic Group Pty Ltd is committed to the growth and success of our regional economy. Our operations are all run on the values set by our management in consultation with our team.
Passion and Social Responsibility
Hawkesbury Business Events is born from our values of social responsibility and passion. Because we are passionate about the area where the majority of our team live.
We believe by building a stronger business community the benefit will flow to our greater community.
Inclusion, Respect and Safety
We commit to maintaining a team that is bonded and feel safe at work, where diversity is our strength. Also, we want to give the same level of care and understanding to anyone that attends our events.
At all HBE occasions, we want everyone to feel like they belong and are welcome. So, some of our previous initiatives have included:
- Under 18s at all our events, to support carers in addition to those young people that work in family businesses or are entrepreneurs.
- Moving the red carpet to go up the ramp at the Hawkesbury Race Club instead of the main stairs so everyone used the same entrance.
- Providing a respite room for those that need to take time out or reduce their sensory input.
- Embedding needs requirements questions in our ticketing process, including seating and food requirements.
The Prismatic Health, Safety, Environment and Quality system and Inclusion Policy apply to all work conducted under the Hawkesbury Business Events brand.
Local Suppliers
The entire HBE program uses local suppliers, showcases local inspirational speakers and ensures that our networking reaches the far corners of the area. This is to ensure that businessperson in the Hawkesbury should feel that the program is welcoming or accessible, while showcasing what our region can do.
At the Hawkesbury Business Awards and our other events, the menu is themed around the local produce available. From Bilpin apple pie to Kurrajong Kitchen Lavosh, along with Hillbilly Cider or Gypsy Fox beer, we aim to showcase what we produce locally.
Hawkesbury Business Events only use venues located within the Hawkesbury area and source all supplies from the area where possible. Our team have travelled to Freeman’s Reach for mint to flavour water, that is the level of detail we undertake to supporting local.
Some of our regular venues include:
- Windsor Function Centre
- Lime & Coconut Cafe
- Archibald Hotel
- Enniskillen
- Bowen Mountain Park
- Hillbilly Cider Shed
- Richmond School of Arts
- Colo Riverside Cafe
Some of our regular suppliers:
Our Logo Story
Local artist LizzyK designed our logo.
The stylised H was chosen to represent our area, including our creative and modern sectors. The image flows from the river to the patchwork of agricultural lands and then the mountains of the region.
Chosen colour tones represent our recent history by resembling stained glass of our buildings from the convict era. In addition, representing our ancient history is the warmer tones of campfires on the ridge line during sunset.
Each event has a logo based on colour tones taken from the main logo. So, they combine to form the one brand.
- Firstly, blue for networking, associated with calm and trust, both required to maintain a network.
- Secondly, green for expos, as these events aim at growing local brand awareness and market opportunity.
- Third, pink is to express excitement and creativity that conferences should inspire, with purple for wisdom transferred.
- Finally, yellow and gold tones represent the Hawkesbury Business Awards, where optimism and achievement are the focus of the event.
