INVNT and SXSW Sydney Unveil a Visionary Line-Up of Innovators for 2024
Today, they unveil a dynamic lineup and program for the stage at the Tech and Innovation Expo, with a whole lot of spark.
As the official sponsor of the Discovery Stage and an endorsed creative partner, INVNT, together with SXSW Sydney are curating an innovation-packed four-day program for The Discovery Stage, featuring 40 sessions and over 100 speakers. Expect unique experiential moments and appearances from brands and personalities including Canva, Aussie Broadband, AWS, Adobe, Leonardo.ai, NVIDIA, CommBank, R.M. Williams, Spotify, Getty Images, Microsoft, Uber and many more.
This year’s Discovery Stage offers a dynamic mix of future-forward conversations, from creative leadership to cutting-edge technologies. Hear from Canva’s head of design, explore sport-tech breakthroughs with AWS and Swimming Australia, innovations in surfing with WSL, and the powerful synergy between CommBank and the Matildas. Dive into AI with a live 'Battle of the Prompts' session, discover Fleet Space’s path to net-zero, and hear from Sea Forest co-founder on how their local research and innovation earned an Earthshot nomination. Explore emerging startups and the realities of raising capital, while MedTech highlights AI’s role in cancer treatment, and Wombtunes, a unique musical translation of ultrasounds. Prepare for innovative insights from industry leaders across the board.
INVNT and SXSW Sydney’s line-up of headline speakers presenting include:
Adrian Schmidt - creative technologist, Kopi Su Studio
Andrew Green - head of design, Canva
Ange Lavoipierre - national technology peporter, ABC
Angela Stengel - head of digital content and innovation, ABC
Angela Winkle - chief sustainability and strategy officer, R.M. Williams
Angie Farrugia - director of communications and engagement, B Lab Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand
Ashley Fell - director of advisory, futurist and generational expert, McCrindle
Athan Didaskalou - founder, July
Ben Cooper - council member, D&AD
Ben Dixon - head of retail media and partnerships, Qsic
Ben McMillan - retail media strategist, Qsic
Ben Vasiliou - CEO, Youth Projects
Bronte Campbell - Olympic gold medal swimmer and co-founder, co-CEO Earthletica
Caroline Pegram - Cybernetics Imagination resident, School of Cybernetics, ANU
Carter Smith - senior security consultant, security testing and assurance, CyberCX
Connor O'Leary - WSL professional surfer, Japanese Olympic surfer
Dagogo Altraide - founder, ColdFusion
Daniel Flynn - co-founder, managing director, Thankyou
Danielle Schutte - chief operating officer, We Are Mobilise
Daphne Berry - podcast host and musician, Indie
David McKeague - co-founder, Curious Thing AI
Dr Arutha Kulasinghe - group leader, University of Queensland
Dr Kate Bower - consumer advocate
Dr Kirsten Banks - astrophysicist and science communicator, Astro Kirsten
Dr Michael Bewley - VP, AI and computer vision, Nearmap
Duncan Orchard - founder, The Gay Agenda
Eden Payne - design lead and co-founder, Kopi Su Studios
Emily Heath - director, Alchemy Labs
Erika Ly - public policy manager, Tech Council of Australia
Flavia Tata Nardini - CEO and co-founder, Fleet Space Technologies
Florencia Aimo - VP of marketing and communications Australasia, Mastercard
Gareth Leeding - chief strategy officer, Livewire
Georgie Dent - chief executive officer, The Parenthood
Greta Van Riel - founder, Hey Influencers
Heath Walker - marketing director, General Motors ANZ
Inge Berman - Lemonade Games, art director
James Miles - head of strategic partnerships, URBNSURF
James Ward - co-founder and creative director, Bursty / co-founder, Nedd's Milk
Jamie Domenici - chief marketing officer, Klaviyo
Jamie van Leeuwen - founder and CEO, Absolutely AI
Jared Lock - senior marketing manager, Aussie Broadband
Jay Banerji - managing investigator, digital forensic and incident response, CyberCX
Jenna Strauch - Olympic silver medalist, Swimming Australia
Jennifer Mulveny - director, government relations Asia-Pacific, Adobe
Jeremy Mura - creator, brand and web designer, Mura Design Co
Jess Corones - general manager of performance support and olympic campaign, Swimming Australia
Jessie Hughes - senior Cceative technologist, Leonardo.ai
Jo Boundy - chief marketing officer, CommBank
Johann Kruse - director strategic AI partnerships, NVIDIA
Jordan Newnham - executive director, corporate affairs and brand, CyberCX
Kate Ertmann - math researcher / communicator / writer, Kate Loves Math
Kate Save - founder and CEO, Be Fit Food
Kristen Migliorini - founder and CEO, KomplyAi
Lara Nakhle - musician, registered music therapist (RMT) and disability ambassador
Laura Thompson - Gunditjmara, CEO, co-founder, Clothing The Gaps
Leah Pinto - cyber intelligence lead, CyberCX / cyber team lead on Hunted
Lottie Dalziel - founder, Banish
Lucinda Barlow - chief marketing officer International, Uber
Marcus Byrne - head of art and AI, Thinkerbell
Marine Turner - sydney head of strategy, EssenceMediacom
Mark McCrindle - principal and founder, futurist and generational expert, McCrindle
Michelle Klein - chief customer and marketing officer, IAG
Mike Smith - founder, ZeroCo
Mitchell Tomlinson - sports announcer and TV host | co-founder, Life Without Andy
Nicholas Davis - professor of emerging tech and co-director of the Human Technology Institute (HTI), UTS
Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon - financial literacy speaker, columnist and author, Nicole's Smart Money
Nikki Kinloch - CEO, Cure Cancer
Noah Yang - founder and CEO, We Are Mobilise
Oliver Bown - associate professor art and design, UNSW
Olivier Blais - co-founder and head of decision Science, Moov AI
Penny Harrison - deputy CEO, Australian Red Cross
Prithi Dey - podcast lead AUNZ, Spotify
Rebecca Hard - group retail CEO, The Sussan Group
Rianne van Veldhuizen - managing director Australia and New Zealand, AWS
Rita Arrigo - strategic engagement manager, National AI Centre
Rohan Taylor - national head coach, Swimming Australia
Russ Tucker - executive creative director at TBWA / Eleven PR
Sam Elsom – co-founder and CEO, Sea Forest
Sam McIntosh - surf media innovator, Stab Mag
Sarah Carney - national chief technology officer, Microsoft ANZ
Scott Cullather - president and CEO, INVNT Group
Sohan Karunaratne - co-founder and CEO, No Standing
Sonny Rennison - Australia’s first wheelchair ballkid
Stephanie Cholakyan - Senior APAC creative manager, Getty Images
Steve Maarbani - CEO and founder, VentureCrowd
Tameka Yallop - professional footballer, CommBank Matilda
Troy Douglas - co-founder and co-CEO, Goodness Group Global (Nexba)
Tushar Apte - producer, composer, songwriter, music technologist
Wendell Hussey - journalist, Betoota Advocate
Wil Monte - co-founder and CEO, Playlunch Games
Yi-Hsia (Yish) Koh - managing director, KIT
Plus exclusive guest appearances, immersive experiences with the INVNT team, and more.
“We’re curating the Discovery Stage to truly showcase, and at the same time challenge the meaning and societal impact of technology and innovation at SXSW Sydney this year. We’re igniting the spark between culture and brands by pairing up panelists that you may never expect to see on a stage together. The line-up is unexpected, and through this, we’re excited to see new ideas come to life on the Discovery Stage. In addition to the stage there’s more to discover, we’ve got some exciting interactive experiences happening at our INVNT lounge – our team is looking forward to meeting you at SXSW Sydney 2024.” says Laura Roberts, managing director of INVNT APAC.
"We're thrilled to collaborate with INVNT again in 2024, bringing an exceptional lineup of talent and topics to the Discovery Stage. The event in 2023 really established the Discovery Stage as a significant piece of programming at SXSW Sydney with its own unique tone. The Expo and Discovery Stage bring together highlights from all the pillars of SXSW Sydney, from groundbreaking tech to revolutionary art, sparking imaginations and uncovering future- shaping ideas.” says Fenella Kernebone, head of conference and caroline pegram, head of tech and innovation at SXSW Sydney.
For those looking to discover more, INVNT will also be showcasing their own space at the tech and innovation expo floor, where audiences can meet panelists, learn more about the world of INVNT, and even put on an AI-generated keepsake.
The Discovery Stage will be held at the SXSW Sydney tech and innovation Expo of the International Convention Center (ICC) Sydney, from October 16-19, with the wider SXSW Sydney Event running from October 14-20. Venue will be subject to capacity.
