Technology Events in Canberra

Quick-fire expert sessions for developing prototypes - 10 minutes per table with expert engineers and designers from ANU, UC, UNSW, and CIT. Thinking about applying for a $10,000 Prototyping Voucher? Already working on a design and want a second (or third, or fourth) opinion before you commit? Mentor Roulette gives you direct access to the people who know prototyping inside and out. We're setting up four tables, each staffed by a different mix of engineers, industrial designers, and technical experts drawn from our partner institutions: ANU, UC, UNSW Canberra, and CIT. You'll spend 10 minutes at each table before rotating to the next. Bring your sketches, your CAD files, your napkin drawings, whatever stage you're at. Use the time however you like: ask about materials, get feedback on your design direction, pressure-test your application, or talk through manufacturing considerations you hadn't thought of yet. These discussions are informal, practical, and designed to move you forward on your prototyping journey.

Matt will set out a practical case for accelerating the uptake of AI and digital transformation across the Australian Public Service. The presentation will focus on why this shift is no longer optional. It will highlight the scale and pace of change facing government, including rising service expectations, tight fiscal constraints, and growing system complexity. AI and digital tools are positioned as enablers of better policy advice, more efficient operations, and improved outcomes for citizens, rather than ends in themselves. The speech will also address trust and assurance. It will outline the importance of using AI safely, ethically, and transparently, with strong governance, clear safeguards, and a focus on human judgement. Managing risk well is presented as a way to enable confident use, not as a reason to delay adoption. Finally, Matt’s presentation will call on public servants at all levels and non-government sector partners to build capability, share lessons, and collaborate. By doing so, the APS can lift productivity, improve service delivery, and remain fit for purpose in a rapidly changing environment.