Visiting entrepreneur program

Learn from global experts about the transformative technologies tackling the major challenges of our time.

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City Business team

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The visiting entrepreneur program is a series of free events where global and local experts explore the latest technological breakthroughs and innovations in a specific field.

Visiting entrepreneur program 2023: it’s a wrap

In 2023 the Visiting Entrepreneur Program ran from 21–28 June. Under the theme of 'Crossroads: hype x disruption' we brought 5 global entrepreneurs and innovators together with the local ecosystem to deliver 12 inspiring events. Our keynote speakers explored the rapid diffusion of ideas, trends and technologies disrupting society and economies. Event topics questioned what will outlive the hype, looked at how to discern the opportunities from the noise, and considered how tech can have equitable impact.

A group of nine people standing together on a stage dressed in various styles of clothing, including business attire and casual wear. Colourful banners and screens with text in the background. In the middle, a screen in the with text: the tech we all deserve.

Conversations with global thinkers

Since launching in 2017, the program has presented more than 110 curated events for over 12,800 members of the local tech startup ecosystem with over 100 partner organisations.

Past themes covered the metaverse, synthetic biology and artificial intelligence, through to cybersecurity, decarbonisation and quantum technology.

A key component of our tech startups action plan, the program aims to foster a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation, and raise awareness for Sydney's tech startup ecosystem globally.

The visiting entrepreneur program is produced by the City of Sydney with partner organisations from the local startup ecosystem.

Watch again

- Launch Event – The tech we all deserve
  Keynote speaker Galit Ariel, TechnoFuturist, provided a fascinating insight into the impact of technology on our everyday lives and futures. Galit shared her take on the good, the bad and the weird of emerging trends and behaviours and proposed alternative modes of technology creation and usage.
  21 June 2023
- Launch Event – Future TBD: How is technology shaping a better future?
  Keynote speaker Mary Spio, CeekVR founder and CEO, provided a fascinating insight on her journey from dreaming of space to becoming a space engineer and creating industry-changing technologies. Her address was followed by a panel discussion with high-profile international entrepreneurs Grace Sai, Tim Kentley Klay and Zareh Nalbandian. Topics included maintaining balance in the convergence of creativity and technology, the advent of next generation AI creating vehicles that teach themselves to drive, and the hope for a decarbonised future.
  22 June 2022
- Closing Event – What’s next in a Future T.B.D?
  Visiting entrepreneur Zareh Nalbandian, co-founder and CEO of Animal Logic, sat down with Holly Ransom, CEO of Emergent, to discuss his work, the cross intersection of where creative meets technical, and his vision for the future of the sector. The conversation covered topics ranging from the cyclical nature of the industry, leading with innovation, opportunities from emerging digital technologies, pushing the boundaries of storytelling and supporting the next generation of creatives.
  1 July 2022
- Interview with Visiting Entrepreneur Grace Sai
  Grace Sai is the cofounder and CEO of Unravel Carbon, an enterprise software that helps companies track and reduce their carbon emissions. Grace has invested in early staged tech startups and is widely regarded as a node of the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Asia.
- Interview with Visiting Entrepreneur Stephen Scheeler
  Stephen Scheeler is the former Facebook CEO for Australia and New Zealand, and presently founder of The Digital CEO, Senior Advisor to McKinsey & Company, and executive-in-residence at the Australian Graduate School of Management. He is also CEO of revolutionary brain A.I. start up, Omniscient Neurotechnology.
- Interview with Visiting Entrepreneur Tim Kentley Klay
  Tim Kentley Klay is a creative and technical entrepreneur. He is the founder of HYPR, an A.I. robotics company developing mobility systems that improve as they move. Previously, he was the founder of Zoox, an autonomous mobility company acquired by Amazon.
- Interview with Visiting Entrepreneur Zareh Nalbandian
  Zareh Nalbandian is the cofounder and CEO of Animal Logic. Animal Logic has created seminal feature animation and VFX for over 30 years, collaborating with visionary filmmakers and major studio partners around the world.
- VEP Partner Event by Grumpy Sailor – Is Australia missing the immersive experience revolution?
  Why is Australia lagging the rest of the world when it comes to immersive experiences, and how do we create real change?
- VEP Partner Event by Cicada Innovations – What if biotechnology could cure cancer?
  Forty percent of us will develop cancer in our lifetime. What if we found and treated cancer early? How many lives could it save? How much burden would it take off our healthcare system?
- VEP Partner Event by Sydney Quantum Academy – Quantum in space: will it conquer the final frontier?
  Where are the opportunities for quantum technology and entrepreneurs? And what are the potential applications for these technologies back here on earth?
- Vox pops with audience
  Hear what the audience who came along had to say about the 7th edition of the Visiting Entrepreneur Program.

Past topics

- How science is transforming our world
  A keynote from Po Bronson, managing director of IndieBio, the world’s leading science accelerator, in conversation with Dr Cathy Foley, Australia’s chief scientist.
- Promise of biotech: Innovating to save lives
  Nabiha Saklayen, CEO and co-founder of Cellino and a panel of biotech founders discussed the promise of biotech and the opportunities and challenges for realising its potential.
- The coming decade in quantum technology
  Rebecca Krauthamer, CEO Quantum Thought and founder and CPO QuSecure joined a panel of quantum thought leaders on future possibilities of quantum technology and what it will take to get there.
- In science we trust
  Ilana Wisby, CEO of Oxford Quantum Circuits, joined a panel of thought leaders to explore the many dimensions of ethics in a technological world.
- In Conversation with Robyn Denholm, Board Chair, Tesla
  Tesla's, Board Chair, Robyn Denholm discussed technology's role in sustainable energy.
- Asia's CleanTech Transition – Opportunity for Australia
  A keynote from Danny Kennedy, CEO New Energy Nexus.
- Going Green – The New Economy
  A keynote from Danny Kennedy, CEO, New Energy Nexus.
- Launch into space with Dr Christyl Johnson, NASA
  Dr Crystal Johnson speaks about her journey at NASA, starting off as an intern to becoming the first female African American deputy director for Technology and Research Investments at NASA Goddard.
- Extend reality with Amy Peck
  Founder EndeavorVR, Amy Peck discussed augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and extended reality (XR), and how they change lives and shift our futures.
- How Blockchain will Transform the Future
  A keynote from Joseph Lubin, co-founder Ethereum, and Mark Pesce.
- Tech's hottest jobs of the future
  Experts discussed the 4 most in-demand jobs of the future.
- Me, Myself and AI
  A keynote from Liesl Yearsley, co-founder A.kin.
- Technology for social good
  A keynote from Stephanie Hannon, CPO of Strava.
- Introduction to Product Management workshop
  With Stephanie Hannon, CPO of Strava.
- From success to significance
  With Mark Brand, CEO Mark Brand Inc.
- Brand and community Masterclass
  With Matthew Brimer, co-founder General Assembly.
- The future is female
  Visiting entrepreneur Vicki Saunders was joined by a panel of entrepreneurial trailblazers.

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Thank you to our event partners

The visiting entrepreneur program is produced by the City of Sydney with partner organisations from the local startup ecosystem.

Past and current partners include:

Academy Xi, Airtree, Antler, Artesian, Atlassian, Asialink, Aus DeFi Association, Australian Computer Society, Blackbird Ventures, BlueChilli, Canva, Charles Sturt University, Cicada Grow Labs, Cicada Innovations, Centre for Inclusive Design, CollectiveHub, ConsenSys, Cryptonomics, Digital Creators, EduGrowth, EnergyLab, EY, Fishburners, Flex by ISPT, Folklore Ventures, General Assembly, Google for Startups Cloud Program, Greenhouse, Greening Australia, Grumpy Sailor, Harrison.ai, HATCH: Taronga Accelerator Program, Haymarket HQ, Heads Over Heels, HiveMind, Hoist, IDX, Incubate, Innotribe, Innovation NSW, InnovationAus, Inspiring Rare Birds, International Towers, Investible, Julie Demsey, KPMG, LinkedIn Women, Macquarie University, Mirvac, National AI Centre, NCIE, NSW Government, Prismatik, Q-CTRL, Ramen Life, Remarkable, Remix Summits, Right Click Capital, SBE Australia, SheEO, SheStarts, Slingshot, Smart Company, South Eveleigh, Spark Festival, StartCon, StartSomeGood, Startup Daily, Startup Digest, StartupAus, Stone & Chalk, Sydney Knowledge Hub, Sydney Quantum Academy, Sydney Startup Hub, Sydney School of Entrepreneurship, Tank Stream Labs, Tech Council of Australia, Tech Crunch, Tech Ready Women, TechSydney, Textbook Ventures, The Grounds, The Studio, The Warren Centre, Transhuman Coin, University of Sydney, University of Wollongong, Sydney Business School, UNSW Founders Programs, University of Technology Sydney, UTS Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion, UTS Startups, Women in Innovation, Zambesi