Data Week 2020 - 17 to 20 August

Event Program

Day 1 - Managing a Black Swan Event using data

Described by Forbes Asia as one of the smartest people on the planet, Dr Richard Hames is a futurist who deals in facts through data. By using a combination of AI to scan information around the world and a verification process with 3,000 trusted analysts, Dr Hames has managed to predict 9/11, the Trump presidency, the GFC and many other world-wide events. His topic for Data Week is how to use data to avert crises such as the one we’re in BEFORE they happen by listening to the information that’s already out there.

With 25 years’ experience in data, Dr Ian Oppermann is one of Australia’s pre-eminent thought leaders on the Digital Economy. He’ll give his inside perspective on the government’s handling of Covid-19, how data has played an enormous part in creating policy and where we’re headed post Covid.

Day 2 - From Data to Strategy

Mark Ritson is former professor of marketing of 25 years with the London and Melbourne Business Schools and RMT. He now runs one of the preeminent online marketing programs, the Marketing Week Mini MBA. He’s provocative and outspoken lending another dimension to how he uses data every day to arrive at successful marketing and business strategies.

Jo Boundy is responsible for the overarching marketing and brand strategy for Qantas Loyalty, including Qantas Frequent Flyer, Qantas Business Rewards and nine other Loyalty brands. She has more than 15 years’ global experience leading digital, communication, marketing and entertainment strategies for large organisations.

Susan Coghill, Chief Marketing Officer at Tourism Australia is a true believer in the power of creativity to build brands, drive business, and shape culture. She has over 20 years experience making it happen with teams and clients of all shapes and sizes.

Day 3 - Telling business stories with data visualisation

Author, designer, former journalist. David McCandless created and runs one of the most unique Data Visualisation companies out of London. His philosophy is data is useless unless people can easily and simply understand it. His topic is how to help audiences within and without an organisation understand the power of data in their day to day lives.

Day 4 - Preparing for an AI / Automation future

Dr Jordan Nguyen is a documentary maker and futurist trying to save the planet. His specialty is using AI and data to map the outcomes of our present-day actions to help guide us into better practices and ways of life. He’ll share his view of the world through case studies he’s been involved in, show how AI has paved the way for change, and how getting it right, asking the right questions and feeding in the right data is an imperative.

Kate Carruthers is Chief Data & Insights Officer for UNSW Sydney, and is also an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the School of Computer Science & Engineering. She is a Certified Information Security Manager and is currently undertaking postgraduate studies in cybersecurity.