Here’s a first look at who’s speaking at Adelaide tech festival _southstart

Chester Osborn, chief winemaker & viticulturist at d’Arenberg

The first round of speakers for the two-day _southstart technology conference in Adelaide, November 20-21, have been revealed and include senior executives from Google, DFAT and Atlassian. 

The issues discussed range from space to artificial intelligence, social enterprise, creative industries, blockchain and other technologies potentially redefining the future.

Google’s San Francisco designer Devin Mancuso lead the line up with an issue that will infuriate some and spark plenty of debate – the phenomenon of ‘virtual beings’ as digital influencers and the increasing role they play on social platforms.

Israeli tech journalist and startup ecosystem expert Inbal Orpaz, founder of the #WomanInTech initiative and researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, Orpaz will explain why the way Israel went about building a startup ecosystem is very much like cooking a recipe.

Canaria CEO and Head Designer Alex Moss will tackle the intersection between fine art and science, while Blackbird’s Nick Crocker will be your guide to the past, present and future of Australian startups.

Also on the card are Dr Sarah Pearson, Chief Innovation Officer and Chief Scientist at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Mark Reading, Head of Foundation at Atlassian; and EverEdge Global’s ANZ MD Michael Masterson, Managing Director – Australia & New Zealand, along with BKindred Founder Penny Locaso.

And is it wrong that the speaker Startup Daily is most excited about is Chester Osborn from the acclaimed McLaren Vale winery d’Arenberg?

The winery’s chief winemaker and viticulturist will talk about the “Experience Economy” through the lens of his 15-year ‘dream in the making’, the d’Arenberg Cube (pictured above), a five storey multi-function building with an acclaimed restaurant.

_southstart runs across eight days and four nights in total, November 15-22.

Leading scientists, virtual technologists, winemakers, entrepreneurs, ecosystem champions and other unlikely cohorts will gather to explore the intersection of technology and humanity. There’ll be workshops, keynotes, panels, masterclasses, dinners and parties and more at over 10 venues across Adelaide.

Attendees can connect with 1000-plus entrepreneurs, investors, technologists, creatives, field experts and other curious minds.

The two-day technology conference is at the Adelaide Convention Centre Nov 20-21. Further details on the conference and other events will be announced in the coming weeks. More details on the speakers announced  so far are available here.

Early bird tickets for _southstart [conference], saving 30%, are available for $249 (students $59) until September 24.

Tickets are available here.