Sydney Water Innovation Festival

Adam Spencer

Adam Spencer, one of Australia's most dynamic and engaging minds, is an iconic star of radio and television, renowned for his expertise in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and the future of work. Adam has hosted award-winning radio shows and live TV, interviewed a diverse range of high-profile individuals and delivered engaging keynote presentations. As a conference MC, he excels in crafting compelling narratives and keeping audiences entertained and informed. Adam's unique ability to blend humour and insight makes him a highly sought-after speaker for conferences and events.

Dr Catherine Ball

Associate Professor Dr Catherine Ball is a futurist, best-selling author and visioneer, who integrates emerging technologies with humanitarian, educational, and environmental endeavours. An advocate for diversity and inclusion, she supports Australian startups and social mobility. Catherine advises various enterprises and philanthropic organisations such as the Schmidt Ocean Institute and XPRIZE, and is involved in angel investments and advisory across emerging technologies. Her notable work includes drones and robotics community engagement through the World of Drones and Robotics Global Congress and her participation in Australia's Robotics Advisory Council.

Professor Christopher Lawrence

Professor Christopher Lawrence is an Aboriginal health and wellbeing researcher and Associate Dean Indigenous in the Faculty of Information Technology and the Faculty of Engineering at Monash University. He collaborates with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to use technology and innovation for improving health, wellbeing and education. He is the creator of Monash University's National Indigenous Space Academy (NISA) at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which sends Indigenous STEM students to intern at NASA/JPL. Additionally, he leads the National Indigenous Innovation Challenge at Monash, supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs by embedding innovation in their enterprises.

Lucy Luo

Lucy is an innovation advisor to organisations large and small, helping them seek breakthrough growth opportunities by launching new start-up ideas to future proof their business. She is the head of content and marketing at Strategyzer developing the latest thinking and methodology to turn complex innovation challenges into simple, visual practical tools accessible by all.

Lucy is passionate about resolving social and sustainability challenges. She has worked with organisations such as the Atlantic Council, World Economic Forum Global Shapers and United Nations using design thinking to solve global challenges.

Dr Dianne McGrath

Dr Dianne McGrath is a modern-day explorer of a different kind. She has lived her life challenging what others thought was possible, whether that was to prepare for a one-way mission to Mars, circumnavigate our planet, run ultramarathons, cycle extreme distances, sail in gale storms in a tall ship in the Southern Ocean, or biohack her body and mind to become Dianne 2.0.

Dianne has been one of 7 Australian shortlisted Mars One astronaut candidates in Mars One's one-way Mars Mission. She is also one of Australia’s most highly regarded experts on sustainability. Dr McGrath is a university lecturer, academic researcher, biohacker, podcaster, author, artist, self-experimenter and Director. She has a special interest in sustainable food systems, something that is critical to ensure our survival on any planet.

All participants had the opportunity to meet like-minded innovators.