The appointment of an energy ambassador for the Hunter would help attract investment and assist the region's energy transition, the Committee for the Hunter believes.
The idea is part of the think tank's 2021-22 strategic plan to promote economic diversification and investment and create jobs.
"The centrepiece [of the strategy] is the development of an ambitious vision for the region focused on a target for new jobs," the committee said.
"This brings together our initiatives in a unifying framework - describing how the economic, social and sustainability priorities leverage each other in an integrated plan for growth and shared prosperity.
"The vision will provide a compelling vehicle to engage with decision makers on the Hunter's capacity for growth and what it takes to get there."
Other initiatives include a skills and workforce strategy with recommendations for new educational pathways to build the skills the region needs to remain competitive.
It also calls for collaborative research on a Hunter freight and supply train strategy, including an analysis of how assets and capabilities can be harnessed to support priority sectors.
Housing affordability and accessibility advocacy is another key priority.
New house price data from CoreLogic shows the median value of a freestanding house in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie was $781,000 at August 31, up 2.2 per cent on the previous month.
The Committee for the Hunter in a recent submission to the NSW Regional Housing Taskforce recommended several reforms to make housing more affordable.
"A backlog of residential developments has been identified in the Hunter, stuck in the planning pipeline due to a lack of timely supporting infrastructure," Ms Thompson wrote in an opinion piece in today's Herald.
"However there has been an under investment in enabling infrastructure including transport in the Hunter.
"The region received just over three per cent of the $1 billion NSW Housing Acceleration Fund since 2012. We are recommending the Fund be topped up, including a proportional allocation for the Hunter."
"...ultimately the Hunter has a higher capacity for growth than indicated by NSW projections and can do more heavy lifting in the state solution to housing. This is an opportunity to rethink catalytic projects like high speed rail.
"Firstly, as an investment to improve services to the standard expected for a large, growing population centre and modern economy," Ms Thompson said.
"Rail also has a role in driving a more even and productive pattern of settlement across the state, helping take the pressure off Sydney and defer some of the higher costs of infrastructure the city needs to support growth."
