WA Innovation Calendar

Panel: The conflict between commercial metrics and customer outcomes
2026-03-10 17:15 - 19:30 (Australia/Perth) | Hatchd, Level 3/108 St Georges Tce, Perth, WA, 6000
Panel Event: The conflict between commercial metrics and customer outcomes. How product managers can balance cultural challenges, managing metrics, and being a good human being.
As technology and the landscape evolves we are seeing a growing conflict between delivering commercial outcomes and delivering value to and protecting the interests of customers. Performance metrics drive individual financial benefits, and so we can see this driving a tendency for leadership to focus delivery on organisational commercial value at the cost of service or product outcomes to the customer. Product Managers are directly part of the interface facilitating this and often have to struggle with the fallout of final decisions.

WA Spotlight on Biomedical Careers: Talent, Transition & Transformation
2026-03-10 17:30 - 19:30 | Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, 6 Verdun Street, Nedlands, WA, 6000, Australia
Discover biomedical career pathways in WA. Employer insights, real journeys and networking across research, industry and government.
Ready to discover what a career in WA’s biomedical sector really looks like?
The ‘WA Spotlight on Biomedical Careers: Talent, Transition, Transformation’ is an exciting in-person event exploring current and emerging workforce opportunities across WA’s growing biomedical sector. The sector extends well beyond traditional clinical and health roles and includes opportunities in research, advanced manufacturing, product development, digital and data, clinical trials, government and start-ups.
This event brings together employers, recruiters, government and sector leaders to provide practical insights into career pathways, hiring expectations and skills needed now and into the future.
Whether you are a student, researcher or industry professional considering a career transition, the session will help you better understand where your skills fit and how to take the next step.

UNSW Perth Alumni Talks | The Future of Mining
2026-03-10 17:30 - 19:30 | PwC, 125 St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA, 6000
Join fellow alumni in Perth for an exclusive thought leadership event featuring Professor Serkan Saydam, Chair of Mining Engineering at UNSW Sydney and Director of the UNSW ARC Research Hub for Next Generation Mining Methods (NextGenMIN).
Professor Sadam will explore how the industry must shift from simply adopting new technologies to creating new knowledge, integrating advanced technology and human capital to design mining systems designed for:

Zero waste
Zero (net) emissions
Zero (human) entry
Improved safety, productivity and efficiency

Founder Story: How Ida Sports' Discovery Cut Costs & Raised $2.5M
2026-03-11 07:30 - 08:30 | Riff, 45 St Georges Tce, Perth, Australia
In this practical session grounded in the Disciplined Entrepreneurship model, you’ll see the actual deck that raised the first $2.5 million for Ida Sports and unpack the customer discovery work that shaped it.
Ben will share how early customer interviews helped Ida Sports more than halve production costs, refine their feature set, and avoid building the wrong product — reinforcing why early validation is critical for first-time founders.
Perfect for early-stage builders, this session blends theory and practice, with actionable insights you can apply immediately (and a timely lead-in to our upcoming pitch practice session).

Coders for Causes (CFC) Industry Night 2026
2026-03-11 18:30 - 21:00 | EZONE UWA Student Hub, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA, 6009
2026 CFC Industry Night will be bringing together students, industry professionals, and organisations from across the tech ecosystem for an evening of networking and career insights.
This event provides an opportunity to connect with industry representatives, explore pathways in software development and data, and gain practical advice to support your professional journey.

AI: Productivity, Power & Prosperity
2026-03-13 18:00 - 21:00 | Bloom Lab, Crawley, 2 Park Road, Crawley, WA, 6009
What happens when frontier models collide with hard industry problems? Compute, talent density, regulatory lag, how will these shape WA’s future? Two tech nerds go deep on the fears and the fantasies, pulling apart what’s hype, what’s real, and what choices we still have left to make.
Hear from two leaders in AI as they debate… well actually we don’t know what they will say:

Jeroen Van Dalen Founder, technologist, chief tinkerer of all things AI. Back in December 2026 he made 14 AI predictions. How’d he do? ✓ 10 spot on 🟡 2 on the way ❌ 2 still loading Basically: the guy to listen to when the future is speeding toward us.
Alex Jenkins Director at WA Data Science Innovation Hub, an advocate for Applied AI across Industry, Government Sectors, Academic Research, Health and Education.

Join the conversation shaping WA’s future. Because when it comes to AI, the questions matter just as much as the answers.

Maximising Australian Critical Minerals R&D Potential through Targeted Collaboration – Panel Discussion
2026-03-18 12:30 - 13:30 | online
Australia sits at the centre of a global race to secure, process and value‑add critical minerals, but real success depends on how effectively industry, research organisations and government work together.
This panel brings together national leaders shaping that collaborative landscape to explore how Australia can accelerate innovation, strengthen sovereign capability, and unlock the full potential of its critical minerals sector.
Join Dr Chris Vernon (CSIRO), Dr Neville Plint (Mining3 and Critical Metals for Critical Industries | CMCI CRC), Rohan McDougall (Curtin University Trailblazer), Dr Karin Soldenhoff (ANSTO), and Lucy O’Connor (Manager, Australian Critical Minerals R&D Hub) as they unpack emerging opportunities, technical challenges, and the strategic partnerships required to position Australia as a global leader along the entire critical minerals value chain.
Expect sharp insights, real‑world experience, and a forward‑looking discussion on the collaborations that will define Australia’s next decade of critical minerals growth.
Register here: Maximising Australian Critical Minerals R&D Potential through Targeted Collaboration – Panel Discussion

WA | YEP-FACCI Shaping Energy’s Future Through International Collaboration
2026-03-25 17:30 - 20:30 | GHD, 10/999 Hay Street, Perth, WA, 6000
The French Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FACCI)​ and Young Energy Professionals (YEP)​ invite you to join the panel discussion: ‘Shaping Energy’s Future Through International Collaboration’ on 25 March 2026 at 5:30 PM at the GHD Building​ in the Perth CBD. The event will feature a moderated panel discussion followed by casual drinks and networking, specifically designed for the Franco-Australian business community in Perth and young energy professionals.
Panelists:

Francois Dupeyroux (Moderator) – Managing Director of Sia
Bill Johnston – Former Minister, Non Executive Director, Helping with strategy of the McKell Institute
Iris Bua – Segment Director, Power and Grid of Schneider Electric
Peter Sadler – Dispute Resolution Partner, HFW Australia

The discussion is built around the inherent complexity of energy innovation, specifically the urgent need to balance the “energy trilemma” while managing long-lived infrastructure within a heavily regulated and politically sensitive environment. Because these constraints can often slow down vital experimentation, we will highlight how cross-border cooperation and harmonised frameworks serve as the ultimate catalysts for change.

Webinar: The Mine Beyond Operations
2026-03-30 11:00 - 12:00 | online
The mining sector is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by automation, digital systems, AI and sustainability. The Mining Innovation Across the Lifecyle webinar series will dive into the mining lifecycle – from smarter exploration techniques to digital mine planning, intelligent operations, advanced processing, and mine closure.
Join Austmine on Monday 30 March as we continue the series with The Mine Beyond Operations. This webinar will showcase the latest technologies and strategies for cost-effective rehabilitation, circular economy opportunities, and the future of post-mining land use.
Webinar Details: Monday 30 March 2026 | 2:00PM AEDT

From Start to Exit: An Investor Masterclass
2026-03-30 15:30 - 18:30 | 9 The Esplanade, 9 The Esplanade, Perth, WA, 6000
What does a successful exit really look like? Hear directly from founders and investors who’ve been there.
Join VentureX HQ for an exclusive masterclass featuring founders who will share their real-world journeys from startup to exit, including the wins, the challenges, and the lessons that changed everything.
New date: this event will now run on Monday 30 March, 3:30pm – 6:30pm.
Learn more and register here: https://events.humanitix.com/investor-and-founder-masterclass

Bright Minds, Bold Voices: Reimagining how we fly
2026-04-14 17:30 - 19:00 | online
Bright Minds, Bold Voices: Reimagining how we fly
Project Sunrise is Qantas’ bold leap into the future of ultra-long-haul travel, backed by evidence-based research by scientists at the Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney.
This bold project has transformed fundamental discoveries about circadian biology into real-life impact – reimagining in-flight lighting, movement, nutrition and sleep to reduce jet lag and improve travellers’ wellbeing with scientifically measurable benefits.
Their research has informed the design of next-generation aircraft, built with futuristic cabin features helping passengers arrive more rested, alert, and ready to go.
In conversation with ABC Canberra’s Lish Fejer, we’ll hear from two leaders of the project:

Vanessa Hudson is Qantas Group CEO and Managing Director. She is leading the airline towards Project Sunrise take-off, with the first flights scheduled for 2027.
Professor Stephen Simpson AC FAA FRS is leading the team of researchers from Charles Perkins Centre, using real-world passenger data to enhance the in-flight experience and inform the next generation of specially designed ultra-long-range aircraft.

This event is for everyone including students, professionals, academics, policymakers, lifelong learners, and those simply curious about how science is shaping our future.

Opportunities for WA METS in the Americas
2026-04-15 09:00 - 10:00 | online
Austmine, in partnership with Invest & Trade Western Australia, invites Western Australian METS companies to explore the latest opportunities and emerging trends within the Americas mining industry.
The mining markets across the Americas represent some of the most dynamic growth opportunities for Australian METS companies, driven by robust investment pipelines, strategic resource portfolios and a strong shift towards innovation and sustainability.
Latin America – particularly Chile and Peru – continues to attract significant foreign investment with a broad mix of copper, gold, zinc, lithium and other critical minerals underpinning long-term demand, while national governments are actively seeking partnerships to modernise operations and adopt cutting-edge technologies.
In North America, the United States and Canada remain lucrative markets with established mining sectors that offer a familiar business environment, strong appetite for innovation and numerous growth corridors – from automation and digital solutions to sustainability services.
This webinar will showcase where and how Western Australian innovation can thrive in the Americas’ expanding mining landscape.
Panel discussion with successful WA Exporters:

Brianna Peake, Investment and Trade Commissioner for the Americas, Invest & Trade Western Australia
Robert Trzebski, Director International Business, Austmine
Sheldon Varcoe, International Projects Manager, Austmine

Society for Underwater Technology April ETM
2026-04-15 17:30 - 20:30 | Parmelia Hilton, 14 Mill Street, Perth, WA, 6000
“Beneath the Surface: Uncovering Maritime Mysteries Through Underwater Technology”
The SUT April ETM will showcase how advancements in underwater technology are redefining maritime archaeological research and underwater exploration.
Highlighting the intersection between engineering, science, archaeology and underwater exploration, this event will demonstrate how technological innovations are progressing investigations of our submerged cultural heritage, support more engaging communication to the public and how these methods can translate into broader industry applications.
Learn more and register here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/april-evening-technical-meeting-tickets-1983737789128
