University researchers and alumni to feature in SXSW Sydney 2023
Sydney is hosting the inaugural Asia-Pacific edition of South by Southwest (SXSW) festival this October 15–22, with University of Sydney researchers and alumni from a range of disciplines featuring in the program.
The weeklong celebration of innovation will take place across the Sydney CBD and its surrounding suburbs, and will feature a diverse lineup of more than 1,000 keynote talks, panels, immersive activations, screenings and performances.
Conference lineup
The conference series is at the heart of SXSW Sydney, featuring innovators and disruptors from tech, innovation, gaming, music, screen and more.
A number of University staff, alumni and students will feature in the SXSW Sydney conference series, including University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Mark Scott.
"It’s exciting that South by Southwest is coming to Sydney for the first time, and we're really pleased that members of our community are involved in the program. We have staff and alumni speaking as well as an on-campus festival – Someday Soon," said Professor Scott.
As people come to Sydney from all over the world to contemplate what our shared future looks like in the face of emerging technologies, it's great to be able to contribute to this important conversation."
- Adam Jacobs - Co-Founder of Hatch, Co-Founder of The Iconic
- Dr Amandeep Hansra - University of Sydney practising GP
- Amanda Shalala - Deputy Editor of ABC Sport
- Andrew Leigh - Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury, and Federal Member for Fenner in the ACT
- Andrew Truswell - Biztech Lawyers Director and Data, Privacy and Aviation Practice Lead
- Professor Andrew Dzurak - Diraq CEO and Founder
- Angus Stevens - Start Beyond CEO and Co-Founder
- Anna May Kirk - Super Sessions Founder
- Anthony Bekker - Biztech Lawyers Managing Director
- Dr Asher Freilich - InstantScripts Founder
- Bilquis Ghani - University of Canberra Lecturer in Arts
- Camille Goldstone-Henry - Xylo Systems Owner and Founder
- Chris Gillings - Five V Capital and Cut Through Venture Investor and Founder
- Dr Catriona Wallace - Responsible Metaverse Alliance Founder
- Chantelle Otten - Australian Institute of Sexology and Sexual Medicine
- Chloe Dalton - The Female Athlete Project, Professional Athlete and Founder
- Chloe Appleby - Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences Assistant Curator
- Christina Gerakiteys - Singularity Co-CEO, SingularityU Australia
- Clare Birch - Blackbird Investment Associate
- Daniel Anstey - Simpsons Solicitors Entertainment and IP Lawyer
- Edward Santow - Human Technology Institute, Co-Founder and Director
- Erin Moy - WOOM Co-Founder
- Felicity McVay - Former Global Head of Entertainment, TikTok
- Fran Molloy - Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance NSW Media Section President
- Professor Geordie Williamson - University of Sydney Director, Sydney Mathematical Research Institute
- George Peppou - Vow CEO and Founder
- HY William Chan - City of Sydney Councillor
- Jas Chambers - Ocean Decade Australia Co-Founder
- Jacqueline Purcell - TDM Growth Partners Investor
- Jeanine Bribosia - The Cru Owner, Director
- Jessica Priebe - National Art School Lecturer
- Joel Werner - Science Vs (Spotify Studios) Supervising Producer
- John-Paul Monck - Chief Risk Officer, Chief Executive Officer and accounting, economics and finance academic at University of New South Wales and University of Sydney
- Jordan Guiao - Centre for Responsible Technology Director
- Joshua Chou - EXPLOR Space CEO
- Dr Julia Scott-Stevenson
- Julian Delany - News Corp Australia Cheif Technology Officer, Data and Digital
- Justin Shave - Uncanny Valley Head Composer and Sonic Technologist
- Justin Tauber - Salesforce Ignite Strategic Innovation Practice Lead
- Keeva Stratton
- Keerthi Iyengar - McKinsey and Company Associate Partner
- Kiah Roache-Turner - Creative Writer and Director
- Kip Williams - Sydney Theatre Company Artistic Director
- Lee Naimo - Screen Australia Head of Online Games
- Lucy Lin - Forestlyn Founder, CMO
- Mary-Anne Williams - The University of New South Wales Michael J Crouch Chair for Innovation
- Matthew Dunn - Proform Foods Executive Director
- Michela Ledwidge - Mod Director
- Michelle Battersby - Sunroom Co-Founder and CMO
- Michelle Deaker - OneVentures Founder and Managing Director
- Mina Nada - Zoomo CEO and Co-Founder
- Oli Leimbach - Lime Cordiale
- Peter Lewis - Essential Media, Centre for Responsible Technology Executive Director
- Robyn Denholm - Tesla Motors Chairman of the Board of Directors
- Robyn Foyster - Women Love Tech Editor and CEO
- Sachin Shah - AirTree Investment Manager
- Dr Sarah Turner - CareFlight Retrieval Specialist
- Sheila Ngoc Pham - Independent Moderator
- Shivani Gopal - Elladex CEO and Founder
- Sophie Scott - Sophie Scott Health CEO
- Stela Solar - CSIRO Director, National AI Centre
- Stefan Williams - University of Sydney Director Digital Sciences Initiative
- Stephen Hunt - Music Health COO
- Steven Maarbani - VentureCrowd Founder and CEO
- Tanya Ali - FBI Radio Managing Director
- Tim Middlemiss - Harrison.AI Head of Foundation
- Tom Nash - Author, Speaker, Club DJ
- Tom Verrilli - Former Twitch Chief Product Officer
- Vincent Zhang - Tech Council of Australia Senior Adviser
- Yasminka Nemet
- Dr Zoe Schrire
- Zara Seidler - The Daily Aus Co-Founder
Session Select panels
University of Sydney researchers will showcase their work and expertise in the fields of business, arts and social sciences and nanoscience through three SXSW Session Select panels.
AI Fluency: What’s Coming For My Job? (Dr Sandra Peter, Professor Kai Riemer)
University of Sydney experts discuss the state of AI in this live recording of the AI fluency sprint.
Learn how AI works, what it can do, and what it means for our collective future in this expert panel featuring Dr Sandra Peter, Professor Kai Riemer, Dr Kellie Nuttall, and host Rae Johnston.
Dr Marcus Carter
Death And Dying In Video Games (Dr Marcus Carter)
How do video games impact our understanding of death, as a society and as individuals?
From game design to the player experience, this presentation with Dr Marcus Carter and Frasier Allison explores the many ways that games incorporate both serious and playful themes for better or worse.
The Nanobots Are Coming (And That's A Good Thing): Radical Optimism For Life In 2050 (Associate Professor Alice Motion, Dr Taylor Szyszka, Queenie Yip, Karuna Skipper)
As we collectively face the challenge and threat of climate change, food insecurity, pandemics and an aging population, it’s hard to imagine what 2050 will look like.
This panel aims to challenge dystopian projections of our shared future, instead offering radical optimism through exciting new research and innovations.
Big Questions With Adam Spencer and Special Guest Dr Karl Kruszelnicki
University of Sydney alumni Dr Karl Kruszelnicki is a special guest in this session with Adam Spencer.
Human VS Machine: The Great Creativity Wars
University of Sydney Professor Kimberlee Weatherall features in this session about machine learning and artificial intelliegnce.
Spotlighting experts in the fields of academia, technology and creativity, this panel will explore the timely question on everyone's minds: can machines replicate the human creative process?
Ash and Will - Support Act Feature
In this SXSW Sydney session, University of Sydney cyberpsychology researcher Ash King and Will from Support Act will discuss the importance of celebrating First Nations music makers, and offer insight into what to expect from their SXSW Yarning Strong live session, Songlines: The Intersection of Music, Creativity and Culture.
Photography by Michael Cole.
Someday Soon
Presented by the University of Sydney Union, Someday Soon returns to Manning House on 21 October as a partner of SXSW. Featuring major headline acts, this one-day festival will be held at the University's Camperdown Campus. Second release tickets are on sale now.
Learn more about SXSW Sydney and view the full program schedule.
Banner image by Brittany Hallberg.