Sydney Water Innovation Festival

Pre-event: Design Incubators

• Dates: 1^st Oct - 22^nd Nov 2024
• Location: Online and Sydney Water Parramatta HUB

Live festival

• Dates: 4^th - 5^th March 2025
• Location: Online and Telstra Customer Insight Centre, Sydney, CBD

Dr Catherine Ball

Associate Professor, Dr Catherine Ball is an academic, company director, bestselling author, futurist and visioneer working across global projects where emerging technologies meet humanitarian, education and environmental needs.

A champion of diversity and inclusion, Catherine believes we need points of difference to truly innovate and curate the changes we want to see in the world. Working to protect the natural environment and empowering all members of society through mutual education and respect are core aspects of her chosen projects. As well as supporting Australian start-ups and leaders from all generations; Catherine is particularly passionate about social mobility and equity.

Catherine is an advisor to a broad range of enterprises and philanthropic organisations, including the Schmidt Ocean Institute, and an XPRIZE visioneer and member of their Global Brains Trust.

Catherine’s latest business ventures span angel investments and advisory across the broad emerging technology sector, from insect protein to personalised brain health through AI and neuroscience. Her internationally recognised work on drones and robotics community engagement via the World of Drones and Robotics Global Congress continues and is evolving. Catherine is also a member of Australia’s Robotics Advisory Council.

Professor Christopher Lawrence

Professor Lawrence is an Aboriginal health and wellbeing researcher. He’s been a chief investigator on many research grants, including an NHMRC tripartite study exploring Indigenous resilience in Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

Professor Lawrence is the Associate Dean Indigenous in the Faculty of Information Technology and the Faculty of Engineering at Monash University.

Underpinning his work at Monash University is a focus on collaborating with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia – using technology and innovation to improve their health, wellbeing and education while fostering more ‘tech-smart’ communities through co-design.

Professor Lawrence is also the creator and Head of Monash University's National Indigenous Space Academy (NISA) at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena C.A. NISA sends Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander university STEM students to NASA/JPL to intern and learn how to become space explorers. 

In addition, Professor Lawrence leads the National Indigenous Innovation Challenge at Monash University which supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entrepreneurs and businesses by embedding innovation in their enterprises.

Lucy Luo

Lucy is an innovation advisor to organisations large and small, helping them seek breakthrough growth opportunities by launching new start-up ideas to future proof their business. She is the head of content and marketing at Strategyzer developing the latest thinking and methodology to turn complex innovation challenges into simple, visual practical tools accessible by all.

Lucy is passionate about resolving social and sustainability challenges. She has worked with organisations such as the Atlantic Council, World Economic Forum Global Shapers, and United Nations using design thinking to solve global challenges.