EMMA LEVINE just likes to 'have a go'.
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From joining any sporting teams she could during her high school years in Taree, to starting up a new type of networking in Newcastle - Emma is a go-getter making a difference.
Emma's energetic attitude as well as a bright idea is what landed her as one of three finalists in the Newcastle Herald Smart Ideas Competition.
In conjunction with the Hunter Innovation Festival, the competition involved entrants to propose their smart idea for Newcastle in under 500 words.
Emma's idea?
To have late-night food trucks around Newcastle, promoting safety in groups, reducing alcohol intoxication through eating food and breathing life into a city's night life that is well - sleeping.
"The lock-out laws that came into place into Newcastle in 2008 were good at the time in reducing violence," says Emma.
"But as a result fewer smaller venues stay open and unless you want to go to a bigger venue, you just stay home."
According to Emma this creates two problems, one being less money reaching Newcastle's nighttime economy and the other being that with less people on the streets, it can make it an un-safe place to be.
The inspiration behind Emma's problem-solving idea was drawn from a trip to the United States in 2013, where food trucks are a popular venture.
"Foods trucks made the empty in-between streets come alive!"
Despite not winning this year's competition, the prospect of food trucks in the Newcastle CBD is undergoing serious consideration with Newcastle City Council.
The council is currently finalising a draft policy for mobile food vending vehicles. With this policy expected to be presented to councillors in the coming months - Emma is looking forward to its outcome.
Emma was recently featured in an article by Alex Morris in the Newcastle Herald on 70:30, a group Emma founded to solve a problem she was experiencing personally.
"After moving back to Newcastle from Sydney I found myself without a social group," said Emma.
As an account manager at Newcastle creative agency The Village Useful, Emma was looking to meet and befriend women in the marketing industry.
"I would go to business networking events and it would just be shaking hands and exchanging business cards when I just wanted to ask, 'So what do you do on the weekend?'
"These events are great for professional development, but I wanted that little bit extra."
Emma started a Facebook group with a description that now reads "A regular meet-up of young Newcastle women in the marketing and communication industry. As opposed to the usual networking brunches and industry groups, 70:30 is mostly just about making friends and hanging out. It's 70 per cent social, 30 per cent business."
It has now been a year since the group started, with their January meeting peaking as the most popular.
Emma explains the popularity of the event usually comes down to the venue. If it is a new place it is bound to bring in more numbers.
Emma says the monthly meet up and online group has become a safe space where the girls can ask for advice and even admit when they might be struggling - a confession that may be considered a flaw in other circles.
Upon hearing her high school Taree High was looking in to setting up a group for alumni, Emma said it is a great idea and her advice on building a group is that "...in the first couple of months it is bound to be slow. As word of mouth increases, the group will grow organically."
"One of the best thing about connections is you don't know what talents and skills people bring to the table until you really get to know them."
Emma attended Wingham Brush primary school and Taree High School. After school she danced at La Vive Classique Academy of Dance and Andrea Rowsell Academy of Dance.
Her father Michael Levine owns and operates Chapman and Wood Chemist in Wingham.