NGM hackathon tackles charity problems in Newcastle
Fri, 15th May 2026 (Today)
NGM Group and Major League Hacking held an AI hackathon in Newcastle, bringing together more than 200 employees, technology partners and University of Newcastle students.
The two-day program challenged participants to develop solutions for three charities linked to the Greater Charitable Foundation and Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation: Dress for Success NSW and ACT, HealthWISE, and the Lake Macquarie & Newcastle Suicide Prevention Network.
Described by organisers as the first hackathon of its kind in Newcastle, the event brought together staff from NGM Group, the customer-owned banking group behind Greater Bank and Newcastle Permanent, with students and external technology partners.
Tech challenge
Each charity presented a defined operational problem. Dress for Success NSW and ACT wanted a clearer, more consistent referral process to reduce manual work for staff and volunteers. HealthWISE needed a centralised system to show vehicle availability in real time and automatically record usage. The Lake Macquarie & Newcastle Suicide Prevention Network sought a way to reach households with accessible mental health information and simple pathways to support.
Three solutions were developed to improve service awareness and efficiency for the participating charities. The event also featured short talks from Microsoft, GitHub and Arinco, alongside speakers from NGM Group and the University of Newcastle.
Regional focus
The program reflects a broader push by regional employers and education providers to retain technology talent in local markets rather than lose skilled workers to larger capitals. It also highlights the growing use of short, intensive project formats by businesses looking for practical ways to connect staff training, student engagement and community projects.
Andrew Cresp, chief information officer, NGM Group, said the organisation aimed to link regional skills development with community outcomes.
"This is the first time a hackathon of this kind has been held in Newcastle, and we had some really clear objectives," said Andrew Cresp, chief information officer, NGM Group.
"The boom is on for technology talent in the regions, so we wanted to harness the skills that are already here and have those people work alongside the next generation, blending industry experience with the enthusiasm and creativity that we're seeing come through in recent years.
"As a customer-owned bank we are here to serve our communities, so it was also really important to us to develop technology solutions that have real-world impact."
Talent pipeline
The University of Newcastle's involvement added a talent pipeline element, with students working directly on live problems set by community organisations. For employers, the approach can serve as both a recruitment tool and a way to expose early-career participants to the practical demands of technology work beyond the classroom.
Microsoft was among the companies involved, with its local leadership presenting the hackathon as an example of cross-sector collaboration. The company supported the program alongside NGM Group in Newcastle.
"Microsoft is proud to partner with NGM Group to bring this hackathon to life, demonstrating what's possible when technology, community and purpose come together," said John Hennessey, general manager, ANZ corporate and commercial (SMC), Microsoft.
"Together, we're helping lead the way in driving innovation across the Hunter region, creating opportunities for people to build new skills, think creatively and develop solutions that deliver real impact for local communities."
Hands-on model
Major League Hacking, which works with students and employers on technical project events, helped run the program. Its involvement points to a model in which regional organisations can draw on established hackathon operators to structure projects, assemble teams and move concepts from briefing to prototype in a short timeframe.
Mike Swift, chief executive officer and co-founder, Major League Hacking, said speed and hands-on work were central to the format.
"At Major League Hacking we know that the only way to stay up-to-date with technology that changes by the minute is to get hands-on," said Mike Swift, chief executive officer and co-founder, Major League Hacking.
"When the team at NGM approached us about this hackathon we were over the moon to be here to make sure their employees and local students had the ability to solve real problems for local charities and to actually bring their ideas to life in just 30 hours."