Mr Blakester has worked with thousands of politicians and hundreds of government agencies across the span of his career but never inside government. Now he wants to change that. 

"I've never been a member of a political party," Mr Blakester said.

"But in my career which spans across finance, law, taxation, environmental movement, the children and family sector and rural sustainability, I have worked with government agencies from local through to global.

"All the while the success and difference I've made in my career has been working alongside and with government."

Now living in Uralla, he spent his childhood at Werris Creek where his mother's side of the family is from. His father is also from Tambar Springs in Gunnedah. 

"That's where my love of country and this particular area comes from," Mr Blakester said. 

He said the "crisis" within the current political system was what motivated him to run, in particular the "collapse of the Murray Darling Basin, the collapse of the Great Barrier Reef and the profound structural changes taking place in the coal industry and the economy more generally".

Spreading word of his campaign around the electorate, Mr Blakester was in Murrurundi and Scone on Wednesday.

He described his political platform as "democracy not politics" and one that will be "developed by the voices of the electorate."

"As an independent, independent of all other parties, all other candidates, all big business interests, all big money interests, what I'm offering is to truly represent the electorate," he said.

"And to be able to do that we want to hear what the priorities of the electorate are.

"That's what our campaign is about - that's the doing democracy bit. We are asking the electorate what their key priorities are in this next term of government."

Mr Joyce has worked with Mr Blakester before and said last month he would "play a fair and decent game" and respect anyone who put their hand up to run for the seat.

The federal election, not to be confused with the state election on March 23, is yet to be called but the government is believed to be considering some time in May.

Mr Joyce also faces Labor's Yvonne Langenberg, who has declared her intention to run in the federal election.

"If the Upper Hunter want an independent candidate who truly is working for them and not other interests then I'd welcome them giving us a chance to earn their trust and confidence," Mr Blakester added.