Bringing together leaders from industry and academia, this discussion will move beyond the hype surrounding artificial intelligence to explore how emerging technologies are reshaping work, talent and innovation.
The panel will examine the technical capabilities Australia must prioritise to remain globally competitive, including areas where future skills shortages are likely to emerge. Equally important, it will explore the growing value of humanities-based capabilities and the ‘warm data’ skills needed to navigate complexity, build trust and create lasting impact in an increasingly technology-enabled world. These include critical thinking, ethics, creativity, curiosity, judgement and human connection.
As students and emerging professionals bring fresh perspectives, digital fluency and the confidence to challenge established assumptions, they will play a vital role as catalysts for innovation. The session will showcase how the partnership between The University of Melbourne and NTT DATA is helping develop future-ready talent through graduate opportunities, internships and research collaboration, connecting emerging talent with the skills, experiences and opportunities needed to shape the future.
Light refreshments will be included upon arrival.
Business and Economics Editor
Victoria Thieberger is Business and Economics Editor at The Conversation Australia + New Zealand and an award-winning financial journalist with more than 30 years' experience covering business, economics, innovation and global markets. Having held senior editorial and reporting roles with Reuters, The Australian Financial Review and The Australian, Victoria brings deep expertise in industry transformation and the future economy.
Managing Director, Applications Solutions (ANZ) at NTT DATA
Mandy leads teams helping organisations navigate digital transformation, technology modernisation and AI-enabled innovation. With extensive experience working across enterprise technology and business transformation, Mandy is passionate about creating practical pathways for organisations to adopt emerging technologies while developing the skills, talent and culture needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Global technology leader, University of Melbourne alum, and former CEO of Mozilla
Laura Chambers is a global technology leader, University of Melbourne alumna, and former CEO of Mozilla. With senior leadership experience across Mozilla, Airbnb, PayPal, Skype and eBay, she is recognised for her work in digital innovation, product strategy, privacy and trusted technology. Laura brings a unique perspective on how organisations can harness emerging technologies while keeping human values, trust and choice at the centre of innovation.
Professor, Philosophy of Science
Sam Baron is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Melbourne and Convenor for AI Research. His work explores how people understand, explain and trust complex systems, with a particular focus on explainable artificial intelligence. Bringing a humanities perspective to the future of work, Sam examines the role of human judgement, reasoning and understanding in a world increasingly shaped by AI.
Professor, Management
Nicole Gillespie is Chair of Trust and Professor of Management at the University of Melbourne and Melbourne Business School. An internationally recognised expert on trust, responsible AI and organisational transformation, her research focuses on how people and organisations can build trust in emerging technologies and navigate the future of work in an AI-enabled world.
