THE DISCOVERY STAGE RETURNS AS SXSW SYDNEY’S INNOVATION EPICENTRE

The Discovery Stage returns to SXSW Sydney as the beating heart of innovation and creativity, presenting four days of boundary-pushing ideas, breakthrough technologies, and future-focused conversations.

Featuring over 30 sessions and more than 100 speakers, the Discovery Stage brings together founders, innovators, and thought leaders to share their journeys, unveil bold ideas, and ignite conversations. From AI and flying cars to bioengineering and humanoid robots, the stage celebrates the creativity and innovation shaping the future of technology and design worldwide.

The Hon. Senator Tim Ayres, Minister for Industry & Innovation, will officially open the Tech & Innovation Festival on Wednesday 15 October with a spotlight on Australian Innovation - with Maincode CEO Dave Lemphers, unveiling Matilda, Australia’s first large language model; Chloe Chang from Lunar Outpost showcasing the Australian Space Agency’s moon rover, the “Roo-ver”; and Australian flying car company Airspeeder co-founder Jack Withinshaw, with futurist Dr Catherine Ball acting as Guest MC.

Across four days, audiences will hear from APAC’s leading innovators, creators, and change-makers, guided by expert moderators and guest MCs including Dr Kirsten Banks, Petr Lebedev (international science communicator), Dr Catherine Ball and Adam Spencer (Australian comedian and media personality). 

Discovery Stage Sessions will feature:

• Dave Lemphers (Co-Founder & CEO Maincode) debuting Matilda, Australia’s first national LLM
• Alex Zaccaria (Co-Founder & CEO Linktree) and Jackie Lee-Joe (former Netflix CMO) on global creative disruption.
• Dr Riley Elliott (Shark Man) renowned shark scientist and Discovery Channel TV presenter.
• The Hon Kristina Keneally (CEO of Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation) with Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation on AI and paediatric health innovation.
• Matt Pearson & Jack Withinshaw (founders of Airspeeder) unveiling the future of next-gen air mobility and racing.
• Wayne Larden (Event Director at TCS Sydney Marathon), Eloise Wellings (Dual Olympian), Ben Lucas (Sydney Marathon Head Coach), Jasmine Al-Zoubi and Kendrick Louis on transforming history becoming Australia’s Abbott World Marathon Major.
• Jessica Hull, Vanessa Low and Jane Flemming leading Running Forward with Athletics Australia.
• Sean Wolpert (The DEEP) and Emily Jateff (Australian National Maritime Museum) on living and working underwater.
• Simon Beard (Co-founder of Culture Kings, Founder of Creator Army) keeping up with the speed of culture.
• Tomasz Bednarz (Director, Strategic Researcher Engagement at NVIDIA) and Dr Sue Keay (Robotics Australia Group Chair, Director UNSW AI Institute) in a fireside chat on the omniverse, simulation and robotics and much more.

Audiences can look forward to immersive experiences and exclusive sessions from leading brands and innovators including Maincode, Airspeeder, NVIDIA, ServiceNow, Side Stage Ventures, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation, Samsara Eco, National Artificial Intelligence Centre, Flowstate, AiCandy, Creator Army, Dynamic Crowd Measurement and Mirror XR. 

Thought leaders will share insights from organisations such as Lunar Outpost, Australian National Maritime Museum, LSKD, Xefco, Seamless, Athletics Australia, Tourism Australia, Arrival Travel Co, Intrepid, ResetData and Datacom. 

The Discovery Stage will also host special moments from the SXSW Sydney Hackathon, Student Pitch Finals, and Start Up Sprint, alongside cutting-edge demos from our XR Showcase and more.

The Discovery Stage is located within the SXSW Sydney Innovation Expo at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney from 15-18 October. 

Grab a day pass to the Innovation Expo for just $40 during the week, or stop by on Saturday 18 October when the Innovation Expo is open to the public for free as part pf SXSW Sydney Unlocked. Secure your pass here.

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Your A to Z of Discovery Stage Speakers

A

Adam Spencer – Australian comedian, media personality, and science communicator
Ainsley Simpson – Chief Executive Officer, Seamless (National Clothing Product Stewardship Scheme, Australia)
Alex Zaccaria – Co-Founder & CEO, Linktree
Anita Godbeer – GM of Content Advocacy PR and Social, Tourism Australia
Annie Liao – Founder, Build Club
Andy King (“Kingy”) – High Performance Olympic Surf Coach
Andrew Faichney – General Manager – High Performance, Australian Athletics

B

Bass Salah – Co-Founder & Managing Director, ResetData
Ben Cooper – Global Executive Director, AI Products, R/GA
Ben Lucas – TCS Sydney Marathon Head Coach
Blakey Johnston – World-Record Surfer

C

Cheryl Mack – CEO, Aussie Angels
Chloe Chang – Mechanical Engineer, Lunar Outpost & The Roo-ver
Chris Hausler – Co-Founder, Flowstate.zone
Christel Cherryadi – Founder, AI-XR Creative Director & Technical Lead, MirrorXR

D

Dave Lemphers – Co-Founder & CEO, Maincode
Dr Brett J Kagan – Chief Scientific Officer & CEO, Cortical Labs
Dr Catherine Ball – Scientific Futurist (Special Guest MC)
Dr Jagdev Singh – Respiratory & Sleep Medicine Staff Specialist, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead
Dr Kirsten Banks – Astrophysicist, Wiradjuri woman, Science Communicator
Dr Marino Festa – Co-Director Kids Critical Care Research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead
Dr Michelle Lorentzos – Advanced Therapeutics Medical Lead & Paediatric Neurologist, The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network
Dr Riley Elliott – Marine Scientist, Shark Expert & Conservation Advocate
Dr Sue Keay – Robotics Australia Group Chair & Director, UNSW AI Institute
Dr Susan Zhang – Head of Creative, EdTech & Consumer, UK Department for Business and Trade / Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University
Dr Vanessa Pirotta – Premier’s NSW Woman of Excellence 2025, Wildlife Scientist, Author & STEM Advocate
Dr Yvonne Chong – Functional Neuro Chiropractor & Experimental Artist

E

Elli Hanson – Principal, Side Stage Ventures (Moderator)
Ella Jackson – Academic Partnerships Lead for APAC, ServiceNow
Eloise Wellings – Australian Long-Distance Runner, Dual Olympian, Co-Founder Marathon State of Mind
Emily Jateff – Senior Curator, Ocean Futures, Australian National Maritime Museum

G

Grace Currie – Senior Program Manager, Learning Health Unit, The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network

H

Henry Swisher – Director of Marketing Strategy, Optigrid

I

Ian Krieger – Innovation Officer for Asia Pacific & Japan, ServiceNow

J

Jack Withinshaw – Co-Founder & Chief Commercial Officer, Airspeeder
Jackie Lee-Joe – Former CMO, Netflix & BBC Studios; Global Marketing Executive
Jacky Koh – Founder, Relevance AI
Jane Flemming – Olympian, Broadcaster, MC & President, Australian Athletics
Jasmine Al-Zoubi – Sydney Muslim Run Club
Jeff Bethell – National Manager Ag + Robotics, CR Kennedy
Jessica Hull – Olympic Medallist & Australian Record Holder

K

Karen Lawson – Board Director & Investor
Kent Boswell – Co-Founder & Head of Production, AiCandy
Kendrick Louis – Founder, The Morning Club & Australian Ironman Champion

L

Laura Malcolm – Managing Director, Australia, Datacom
Logan McNally – Raw Materials & Supply Chain Manager, LSKD

M

Marcus Tesoriero – Co-Founder & Head of Creative, AiCandy
Matt Pearson – Founder, Airspeeder
Michael Wang – CEO, Fishburners China
Mike Mortimer – Co-Founder, Flowstate.zone
Mira – AI Host

N

Nazli Hocaoglu – CEO, Dynamic Crowd Measurement (DCM)
Noelle Russell – Chief AI Officer & Technologist

P

Paul McCarney – Entrepreneur & Non-Executive Director, G’day Group
Petr Lebedev – International Science Communicator & Former Veritasium Producer (MC)

R

Rita Arrigo – Strategic Engagement Manager, National AI Centre

S

Sean Wolpert – President & Board Member, The DEEP
Simon Beard – Co-Founder, Culture Kings / Founder, Creator Army
Teigan Nash – TV Presenter, 7 Network / Content Creator
The Hon Kristina Keneally – CEO, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation
The Hon Senator Tim Ayres – Minister for Industry & Innovation, Minister for Science
Tomasz Bednarz – Director, Strategic Researcher Engagement, NVIDIA
Tom Hussey – Co-Founder & CEO, Xefco
Trent Ellen – General Manager, ARRIVAL Travel Co.

V

Vanessa Low – Paralympic Champion & World Record Holder
Vanessa Vongsouthi – Research Founder & Head of Bioengineering & Discovery Research, Samsara Eco

W

Wayne Larden – Event Director, TCS Sydney Marathon & CEO, Pont3

Y

Yvette Thompson – GM, Marketing & Sales ANZ, Intrepid Travel‍

Z

Zephatali Walsh – Senior Remote Pilot, Airspeeder

Plus other special guests and experiential performances to be announced…

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