Theme: Future

Future by definition is a period of time following the moment of speaking or writing; time regarded as still to come.
We spend a lot of our everyday lives thinking about the future, Will we still be here? How will life progress in different areas: Carbon futures? Green futures? Technology Futures? what will the future actually look like? And how will this all influence the human race?

Flinders University
Sturt Road
Bedford Park, South Australia, 5042
Australia

Curiosity Science Club

The Curiosity Science Club from Woodcroft College.

Andrew Stapleton

Dr Andrew Stapleton is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Centre for NanoScale Science and Technology in Flinders University. His research is focused on the development of nanocomposite transparent electrode materials for use inoptoelectronic devices, such as organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices, as the transparent conductor. His research is performed in collaboration with University of Queensland, University of Technology Sydney and CSIRO and has been featured on the ABC program The New Inventors. Upon completion of his PhD Andrew spent 13 months as an R&D explosives chemist for Dyno Nobel. He has an interest in the application of nanotechnology to technological challenges and future technology.

Bronwyn Fox

Professor Bronwyn Fox is the Research Director of Carbon Nexus at Deakin University where she leads a multi-disciplinary team of more than 25 researchers focussed on the manufacture and use of carbon fibre. Carbon fibre composites are materials where the fibre is embedded in a polymer matrix. These lightweight materials are being used across a range of industries such as aerospace, automotive, oil and gas, clean energy and sporting goods, where they are replacing traditional materials such as steel and aluminium. The facilities at Carbon Nexus are designed to enable scientists to conduct research into the chemical, mechanical and nanoscale characteristics of the carbon fibre materials developed and produced at Deakin. Professor Fox joined Deakin in 2001 and has published over 100 journal articles on polymers and composite materials. She completed a PhD in Engineering at the Australian National University in Canberra and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) at The University of Melbourne.

George Ujvary

George is the Managing Director of Olga’s Fine Foods, a family owned South Australian food business that has been in operation for over 30 years. George has a BA(Hons) and Doctoral degrees in Medical Science from the University of Oxford (UK), an MSc in Exercise Physiology, an MA in Gastronomy and an MBA from the University of Adelaide. In 2008, he was awarded the South Australian Premiers Food Awards KPMG Young Leader award and was awarded scholarships for his Le Cordon Bleu MA in Gastronomy from The Food Media Club of Australia and The Culinary Trust in the USA. He is currently a lecturer in Gastronomy and Food Product Development at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu School and in 2014 was awarded a grant from Industry Leaders Fund of South Australia to study Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma. He has served on the board of FoodSA for four years and was recently appointed to the board of SA's oldest co-operative Master Butchers. He is also the founder of the food blog ’The Foodologist’.

Gordon Wallace

Professor Gordon Wallace is currently the Executive Research Director at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science and Director of the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute. He previously held an ARC Federation Fellowship and currently holds an ARC Laureate Fellowship. Professor Wallace’s research interests include organic conductors, nanomaterials and electrochemical probe methods of analysis, and the use of these in the development of Intelligent Polymer Systems. A current focus involves the use of these tools and materials in developing bio-communications from the molecular to skeletal domains in order to improve human performance via medical Bionics.

Jeff Connolly

Jeff Connolly is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Siemens in Australia and the Pacific region – operating for over 140 years, employing around 2,500 people and revenues of $2.5 billion. Jeff has an extensive career with Siemens, working in Australia, Europe and Asia, including China as the CFO of Siemens North East Asia, responsible for more than 80 companies, 40,000 people and a turnover of AUD $9 billion. He is passionate about the critical role of advanced technologies in creating sustainable business through digitalisation, automation and electrification, and the impact and opportunities resulting from the fourth industrial revolution – ‘Industry 4.0’ and he is a member of the Australian Advanced Manufacturing Council.

Jim Mitchell

Jim Mitchell is a professor at Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia and is the leading expert on small scale biological processes in the ocean. This claim is supported by past publications in Nature and Science. He is also a Research Leader within the Centre for NanoScale Science and Technology. He maintains strong collaborations with the University of Tokyo, MIT and the University of Chicago. His research group consists of 27 people, including post doctoral fellows and scientific staff from all over the world. Research in his group focuses on the influences of nanometer to micrometer scale processes on marine ecosystems.

Jody Fisher

Jody Fisher first picked up the classical guitar at the age of seven and has since been recognised as one of Australia’s leading young guitarists. A student of Eduardo Fernandez and Oliver Fartach-Naini, she graduated from the Elder Conservatorium with double honours, first class, and a Masters degree. Jody's music has been heard in festivals and concerts throughout Australia and overseas. She has been a part of SA’s Guitarissimo, the Adelaide Festival Centre’s Sunday Spectrum, Elder Hall and the Elder Conservatorium’s Lunch Hour, Evening Concert and Emerging artist Spring Concert Series. As an undergraduate, Jody was the first guitarist in the history of Elder Conservatorium to perform as a soloist with the orchestra. She has been a featured soloist with the Melbourne Musicians, Heidelberg Orchestra and at the Adelaide International Guitar Festival, where her uniquely lyrical playing was acclaimed for its “clarity… full tone and [evincing] a clear understanding of the music”.

John O'Brien

John O’Brien is the founder of both Australian CleanTech and Sino CleanTech, research and advisory firms that assist cleantech companies to grow, investors to successfully invest and governments to drive cleantech industry growth. John has engineering degrees from Oxford University and Trinity College, Dublin and an MBA from Adelaide Uni and is a member of the South Australian Premier’s Climate Change Council and was on a Committee advising on $200m of grants for the previous Australian Government. John works extensively across Asia developing environmental technology and finance transfer opportunities. With a passion for the environment, innovation and the psychology of leadership, his aim is to change the way environmental issues are communicated and to build positive visions of our future world.

Leanna Read

Dr Leanna Read is the fourth Chief Scientist for South Australia. She is a renowned biotechnology expert and brings a wealth of executive, board and investment experience in technology-based businesses. Leanna is currently the chair of the Cooperative Research Centre for Cell Therapy Manufacturing and member of the SA Economic Development Board, the Council for the University of South Australia and a member of BioAngels, which supports early-stage life sciences businesses. She is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and Board Director of Biosensis Pty Ltd. She has led a number of successful research and commercial ventures, including the Cooperative Research Centre for Tissue Growth and Repair, widely considered to be one of the most successful commercially focused CRCs. She was also the founding Managing Director and CEO of Adelaide biotechnology company, TGR BioSciences from 2001 – 2012.

Martin Westwell

Martin Westwell is the Strategic Professor in the Science of Learning at Flinders University. He works with schools and systems nationally and internationally to bring an evidence-informed approach to innovation in education, and collaborates intensively with public schools in South Australia. He’s the state department of education’s “Scientist in Residence”, one of the chief investigators in the National Science of Learning Research Centre and in 1999 was named by The Times newspaper as the “Scientist for the New Century.”

Michael Bridge

Michael Bridge is the General Manager of Bicycle South Australia and a professor of cycling. Not that he’s a Professor of Cycling, just that he professes to know a lot about cycling. Michael has ridden a bike since Forever, and for the past eleven years he has loved working with the staff and volunteers of Bike SA – a nano-sized but high-achieving NGO NFP. In that time he has led rides for 5 to 5,000, from the Nullarbor to the Pacific coast. He has tumbled spectacularly from a mountain bike and travelled excessively fast on a tandem. Michael knows first-hand the challenges of cycling in Australia, from covering 150 kilometres in 40C heat, to riding naked at night through the outback. He has ridden in cities across four continents and cites circumnavigating the Arc de Triomphe on a bike during rush hour as a thrilling highlight. He still gets a kick out of his daily commute in Adelaide.

Toby Bensimon

Toby Bensimon is the Managing Director of Shiels Jewellers, who took over his father’s position in 2013. Shiels Jewellers is the largest online Australian jewellery retailer as well as operating across SA, WA and QLD with 41 stores.