The Illawarra Connection is the region’s premier networking organisation with an invited membership to the difference-makers of the Illawarra.

Regional leaders established The Illawarra Connection in 1993 to promote the Illawarra for the benefit of all businesses and organisations within our community.   Our prime objectives are to substantiate the viability of the Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama Local Government Areas for conducting business, to support the provision of all levels of employment and management opportunities, as well as the excellent community environment that goes hand-in-hand with worthwhile and abundant employment. 

The Connection provides a forum for communication between members on a wide range of interests.   The membership includes the regional leaders of government, business, industry, academia, media and service industries in our region, mostly at CEO level.   Members enhance their membership through networking and conducting business with other business leaders as well as attending six black tie networking dinner meetings each year featuring high profile, distinguished and professional guest speakers.  

In conjunction with the University of Wollongong and its Sydney business School we have been able to offer a scholarship to undertake an MBA (or another accepted course) to an employee who has been nominated by a financial member.   We also partner with RDA Illawarra and the Sydney Business School in the delivery of the Leadership Illawarra Program, which will produce inspired and well-connected visionaries who will lead our region into the future. ​  The Illawarra Connection also provides a scholarship for this two-year program that provides business leaders as mentors, includes one-day master classes, adaptive leadership coaching in leading teams, emotional intelligence, individual coaching, as well as site visits.