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At SXSW Sydney, our Future & Sustainability tracks bring together the boldest thinkers and innovators tackling humanity’s biggest challenges, from climate action and ethical tech to circular economies and beyond.
Through panels, workshops and interactive sessions, we’ll explore how industries, communities and individuals can build a future that is not only sustainable but thriving.
Whether you’re leading a business transformation, building solutions for global challenges, or passionate about the future of our planet, SXSW Sydney’s Future & Sustainability programming delivers the insights and connections to turn vision into action.
Explore what’s on offer in the Future & Sustainability:
How To Not Die: Neuroscientists' Views on Preservation and Uploading
Cryo-pods, mind uploading, robotic bodies — are these destined to remain sci-fi, or could they become real? Join neuroscientist Dr Ariel Zeleznikow-Johnston as he reveals what brain experts truly think about preserving life beyond death.
Giving Voice To The Past: Creative Collaboration at Te Arawhata, NZ Liberation Museum
Jason Aldous (Wētā Workshop), Ricky Simmonds and Matthew Eller (Evoke Audio) share how immersive design and sound brought Te Arawhata, the New Zealand Liberation Museum in France, to life through powerful storytelling.
Co-Design with the Body - Using Playful Embodiment for Deeper Insights
A playful workshop using improvisation, play theory and physical techniques to unlock creativity, problem-solving, and authentic collaboration in co-design.
Inhabiting the Deep
Explore the vast potential of ocean exploration and the possibility of permanent human presence on the seafloor to transform science, medicine, and climate innovation.
Frontlines of Food Justice: From Urban Gardens to Indigenous Kitchens
Ron Finley, Adrian Lipscombe, Sean Sherman, and Ashley Rouse share how urban farming, Indigenous foodways, and culinary activism can drive food justice, sovereignty, and community empowerment.
Net Zero Giants: Can HEAVY Industries Really Decarbonise?!
Clayton Franklin (EPCA) shares how his team built Australia’s first 100t electric mining truck retrofit, showcasing practical innovation to decarbonise heavy industry and push mining toward net zero.
Space: Australia’s New Sporting Arena?
Steve Waugh, Enrico Palermo, Larry James and Aussie space entrepreneurs discuss Australia’s unique role, opportunities and bold ambitions in the new global space race.
Beyond the Plate: Affordable Eating, Digital Influence & The Future of Food
Steph de Sousa explores the intersection of social media, cost-effective cooking, and digital innovation, offering insights into how creators, brands, and families can navigate food affordability and sustainability.
Decarbonising the Skies – The Future of Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Renee Wootton offers a global perspective on sustainable aviation fuel, exploring the technologies, policies, and collaborations needed to decarbonise flight and shape the future of cleaner skies.
Ready to BEAD the Change? Understanding the Interconnection of Sustainability, Creativity and Leadership
Bridget (Bead and Proceed) leads a creative, hands-on workshop where participants design beaded jewellery to reflect their connection to the UN SDGs, sparking reflection, creativity, and conversations about impact.
A Good Death: Living and Dying Well in 2050
Casey Beros, Dr Shoshana Ungerleider, Zenith Virago and Nola Ries explore longevity, frailty, and the future of life and death in 2050.
Existential threat or Solvable Challenge? Rethinking Nature's Crisis
Lee Constable moderates a panel with Dr Vanessa Pirotta, Andrew Elphinstone, and Justine Shaw on innovations in conservation—from drones to ecosystem restoration—proving real change is possible.
Using Neuroscience to Thrive in Uncertain Times
Dr Hayley North reveals how neuroplasticity can boost resilience, reduce stress, and improve mental health in uncertain times with actionable, science-backed strategies.
From Dirt to Soil: Rewriting History and Unearthing Unexpected Climate Truths
Freya Mulvey and Jess Hamilton uncover soil’s vital role in climate, biodiversity, and communities, sharing insights from their documentary podcast and voices from the ground.
Could Space Feed Our Future?
A space nutritionist shows how innovations from feeding astronauts– like freeze-drying, air-protein, and lab-grown meat– are shaping sustainable food systems for Earth’s future
When Hard Rock Meets Hard Data: How Curiosity Drives AI Innovation in Unlikely Places
Dr Paul Flachskampf (INFORM Australia) reveals how curiosity and unlikely pairings like AC/DC and concrete can drive AI readiness and innovation in Australian business.
AI on the Pass - How Tech is Reinventing the Restaurant Industry
AI innovators, food tech disruptors, and industry leaders explore how AI is transforming restaurants, from supply chains to kitchens to customer experience, without losing the human touch.
The Future of Food: Nutrition Reimagined
Emma Stirling, Dr Joanna McMillan, Natalie Hayllar and Dr Flávia Fayet-Moore share bold, science-backed visions for the adventurous, sustainable and nutritious foods of the future.
Building Confidence & Influence through Design Experimentation
Atlassian designers Vivian Yu and Timothy Parker demonstrate how design experimentation and real customer data empower designers to influence stakeholders with confidence.
Reigniting Hope: How Climate Science, First Nations Knowledge, and Audio Storytelling Can Help Restore Our Natural World
Adriana Verges, Robert Cooley, and Kate Montague explore how climate science, First Nations knowledge, and audio storytelling can work together to restore marine ecosystems and inspire protection of the natural world.
The Price of Everything, the Value of Nothing
Reece Proudfoot and Claire Marshall invite participants to rethink prosperity, sharing insights on regenerative enterprise and futures thinking to reimagine resilient, thriving economies.
Geoengineering & Carbon Drawdown: Navigating the Future of Climate Intervention
A deep dive into geoengineering and carbon drawdown technologies, examining their risks, opportunities, and the urgent need for ethical and policy frameworks before deployment.
Designed to Disrupt: How Domestic Abusers Exploit your Product Features
Catherine Fitzpatrick makes the case for safety-first product design, exposing how features built for convenience are weaponised for abuse and showing how safety by design can protect users and drive innovation.
Creative Precincts: Alex Poots, Artistic Director, The Shed, NY on New Approaches to Programming
Alex Poots and Lisa Havilah discuss how innovative art and technology programming can transform cultural precincts into dynamic, engaging hubs.
2050 is in Our Hands: Designing Objects from Alternative Futures
A hands-on workshop where participants prototype “artefacts from 2050,” using design fiction to explore alternative futures and uncover strategic insights.
Visitor-Centred Design for the Built Environment
Pladia’s Nic Whyte, Andi Mastrosavas and Via David share how inclusive, tech-enabled design is reshaping visitor experiences from MONA to modern public spaces.
Charged for Change: How EVs & AVs Are Driving the Energy Revolution Globally
Doug McNamee (JOLT), Jonathan Williams (Polestar) and Emma Foley (Uber) examine how EV adoption is transforming consumer behaviour, cities, and energy models.
Embedding Innovation Into the Ordinary, Not the Extraordinary
Liya Safina (Google), Andrew Apostola (Portable), and Tarver Graham (Gladeye/HyperCinema) share global case studies on using AI, XR, and emerging tech to create human-centered impact.
Creating Climate Consultants: A Youth Pipeline for the Green Economy
Jehan Ratnatunga (Who Gives a Crap), Shelene Bailey (Young Change Agents), Abraham Robertson (Biocare), and youth changemakers showcase how young leaders are driving sustainability and the green economy.
Now We Leap! How to Invent or Discover Almost Anything
Dr. Jonathan Englert reveals three principles for breakthrough innovation, showing how to overcome entrenched thinking and unlock discoveries like the Wi-Fi co-invention and ulcer research.
Next Generation Human Space Exploration
Kiriti Rambhatla (Metakosmos) explores the future of human space exploration, from Artemis Moon missions to Mars, space tourism, and the technologies enabling a multiplanetary future.
Building Innovation Ecosystems
Dr. Daniel Getts (Myeloid Therapeutics) and Michael Tolo (Blackbird) discuss strategies for building thriving biotech ecosystems that unite academia, startups, industry, and government.
Walk the Talk: Exploring the Innovation City – Tech Central Walking Tour
Explore Sydney’s Tech Central on a walking tour and panel highlighting universities, industry anchors, and infrastructure shaping the city’s vision as a global Innovation City.
A Vision for Sydney as an Innovation City
Discover how Sydney’s innovation districts, from quantum clusters to space tech hubs, position the city as a world-class Innovation City with unmatched economic potential.
Vibe Coding for Designers
Carl leads a hands-on workshop where participants learn to “vibe code,” build prototypes, and deploy AI researchers—future-proofing design skills in just 90 minutes.
Bridging the Climate Capital Stack
Amanda Goodman (Ecotone Partners), Victoria Denholm (Wollemi Capital Group), and Freshta Mayer (Neu Capital) join Ben Lindsay (Investible) to unpack how venture capital, corporates, and government collaborate to accelerate climate tech.
Down Payment on Tomorrow: Insuring Earth's Future
Nicolette Rubinsztein AM, Saroop Phillip, and Dr. Ramona Meyricke join Elayne Grace (Actuaries Institute) to explore climate finance strategies, from insurance and property markets to retirement security and adaptation.
War on e-Waste: How Tech Innovation Creates Waste, and What We Are Doing About It
Experts in sustainability and data security unpack how tackling toxic e-waste can fuel a circular economy where discarded tech powers new innovation.
Software Has Eaten the World, but Will It Eat Food?
A diverse panel debates the promises and pitfalls of food tech, from synthetic biology to distribution monopolies, and whether real disruption or cultural resistance will define its future.
What I Learnt About My Product When My Town Burnt Down
Tim Cadogan (GoFundMe) shares firsthand lessons from the LA wildfires, exploring how tech can strengthen resilience, rebuild communities, and shape the next decade of giving in Australia.
Diamond: Commercialising the Brilliant
A non-tech founder shares the raw journey of commercialising diamond chip technology—the challenges, risks, and why the bet could change the world.
Retiring Outdated Thinking: Turning the Silver Surge into a Golden Opportunity
Frontline innovators in finance, biotech and retirement design reframe the “Silver Tsunami” as a golden opportunity, showing how design thinking and empathy can unlock longevity’s true potential.
Delete Your Daughter: The Silent Gendercide of AI
Dr Nici Sweaney (AI for Developing Countries Forum) reveals how generative AI threatens feminism and equity, and calls for urgent action to build a more inclusive future for women.
Sydney Design Thinking SXSW Meetup 2025
SydDT, one of the world’s top design thinking meetups, brings together a fun and inclusive community to share, learn, and explore how human-centred design can solve complex challenges.
Musical Chairs: The Game That Explains Carbon Markets. Come and Play!
A lively game of musical chairs turns into a hands-on lesson in carbon markets, showing how emissions trading works, drives renewables, and accelerates the transition to sustainability.
Step into the conversations shaping a better tomorrow at SXSW Sydney. Secure your pass today and explore more of the SXSW Sydney line up here.
