West Tech Coast
8:30AM - 4:30PM | Tues 5 Dec | Coast, Port Beach
EVENT AGENDA
7:30am - 8:15am
BEACHSIDE YOGA
Have a spiritual start to your day with our free drop in yoga session with Cherry Pearce on the beach before the event gets underway.
7:30am - 8:30am
REGISTRATIONS OPEN
Arrive early to check in and grab your waterproof wristband. Thanks to our Silver Partners EvokeAg, we have complimentary barista quality coffee available for those early raisers to enjoy before the event gets underway.
8:45am - 9:05am
WELCOME TO COUNTRY
Please join us on the beach under the shade sail for a Welcome to Country followed by a special Sand and Water Ritual.
- Barry Winmar
9:15am - 9:30am
OPENING ADDRESS
Join us inside our venue, Coast, with our morning MC Rohan McDougall, Co-Founder of West Tech Fest for the opening address.
- Hon Stephen Dawson MLC (Minister for Emergency Services; Innovation and the Digital Economy; Medical Research; Volunteering.)
9:30am - 10:00am
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Dr Simon Eassom, CEO at Food Frontier
The world’s population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050 whilst demand for animal meat is also growing on a per capita basis, bringing new challenges around how will we meet our food requirements without placing further unsustainable burden on the earth’s resources. Hear from Dr Simon Eassom, CEO at Food Frontier, providing insight into the exciting, emerging area of alternative proteins and hear how newly emerging applications of technologies from areas such as synthetic biology might not only be our saviour but also our only solution.
10:00am - 10:50am
MORNING TEA
Plus time to explore the many activations happening throughout the day
10:50am - 11:00am
MIT REAP UPDATE
Get an update from ‘Big Dog’ Neil Freeman on the results of the MIT REAP program Team WA have been participating in for the last two years.
- Neil Freeman (Rio Tinto)
11:00am - 11:40am
TIME TO TRANSITION: A CONVERSATION ON DECARBONISATION INITIATIVES
Australia’s decarbonisation efforts have grown rapidly over the past decade, but our future path will depend on our ability to boost investment and become a global leader in green energy transition. Don’t miss this timely conversation exploring what it will take to make Australia a leading nation in decarbonisation, and the opportunity WA has to help us get there.
- Prof Peta Ashworth (Curtin Institute for Energy Transition)
- Ben Bristow (Western Power)
- Harshita Gupta (BHP)
- Rachael McIntyre (NBN Australia)
- Carlos Zapatalui (CarbonChain) (MC)
11:40am - 12:20pm
TRANSFORMATIONAL TALES: INSPIRING CHANGE THROUGH IMPACT STORYTELLING
Learn from expert storytellers how to convey complex, nuanced ideas with sensitivity, shaping narratives that deeply engage and transport your audience into the world of impactful storytelling.
- Luke Anear (Safety Culture)
- Dr Megan Sebben (CSIRO) (MC)
- Brooke Silcox (No Thing Productions)
- Michael Wear (Tidal Moon)
- Briege Whitehead (White Spark Pictures)
12:20pm - 12:40pm
POSITIVE PEACE: THE SOCIAL & ECONOMIC VALUE OF COLLABORATION
Philanthropist Steve Killelea A.M, explores the multifaceted nature of peace beyond conflict absence, discussing societal impacts and collaborative outcomes in a fireside chat.
- Steve Killelea A.M (Institute for Economics & Peace)
- Peter Rossdeutscher (First Nations X)
12:40pm - 2:00pm
LUNCH
2:00pm - 2:30pm - West Coast
NEW HORIZONS: INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE
Investors in climate tech and sustainability are still finding plenty of opportunities to deliver a positive impact, both for the environment and for financial returns, even in a constrained funding environment. To meet UN SDG targets, even more investment must flow to technology solutions for hard-to-abate sectors which can move the dial.
Join us for a fireside chat with Bill Tai, early seed investor of Zoom, Canva, Safety Culture, Liven, Powerledger, & Twitter, and West Tech Fest co-founder Paula Taylor, on how investing in our future benefits everyone.
- Bill Tai (ACTAI)
- Paula Taylor (West Tech Fest)
2:00pm - 2:45pm - Boathouse Main
CREATIVE EXPRESSION X CLIMATE INNOVATION
Burning Man, Blazing Swan, Bliss, Activate:creative festivals can generate lessons for social transformation, innovation and climate adaption. Join this conversation with leaders who apply their wisdom in more than one ‘world’.
- Jerome Bowen (Blazing Swan)
- Peter Sharp (Bliss Festival)
- Jess Silva (Activate Tree Planting)
- Andrew Outhwaite – (Blazing Swan) (MC)
2:30pm - 2:50pm - West Coast
CUSTODIANSHIP & THE LAND: CONNECTING PEOPLE, PLACE & COMMERCE
Land rehabilitation is an art unto itself and a role that our First Nations people as Custodians of the land have often utilised for a multitude of other purposes. Join Florence as she outlines how we can better connect people, place, and commerce in this moving dialogue.
- Florence Drummond (Development Partner Institute)
2:50pm - 3:15pm
STANDING UP TO STIGMA: FOUNDER MENTAL HEALTH
Mental health is everyone’s business. Let’s talk about silent struggle of founders under the limelight — and how we can all help solve it.
- Aaron Gershenberg (The Founder Mental Health Pledge)
- Lachie Samuel Mairu (FIFO Mental Health Group) (MC)
3:15pm - 4:30pm
SUNDOWNER DRINKS BROUGHT TO YOU BY AIRTREE
Watch kite surfers against the setting sun whilst enjoying freshly shucked oysters, local beer and wine, and great company.
Speakers
West Tech Coast Activation Menu
West Tech Coast exists to explore how we can leverage technology to achieve sustainable development goals as set by the United Nations.
To take this idea to the next level, we have curated an epic list of activities available for West Tech Coast delegates to engage with throughout the day. On offer will be:
- Beachside Yoga (7:30am – 8:15am) – Join Cherry Pearce on the beach as the sun rises for a spiritual start to the day
- Wing Foiling and Flite Scooters (10:00am – 12:30pm) – Courtesy of Aquaflights and King Wing, have a go at the latest ocean sports tech on the market.
- ‘ANTARTICA EXPERIENCE’ Screening (10:00am – 3:00pm) – Produced by White Spark Pictures, watch this first of its kind VR documentary about the research conducted in Antartica to understand climate change and conservation.
- Climate Conversation Corner (10:00am – 3:00pm) – Drop in for a casual chat with three impactful organisations – Containers for Change, Conservation Council of WA and Canopy Blue – to find out how you can positively shape the environment.
- Kite Surfing Taster (12:30pm – 4:30pm) – Want to be like Bill Tai? Try out kite surfing on the beach with the team from Kite Surfing WA.
- Kite Surfing Demonstration (3:00pm – 4:30pm) – Check out the incredible talents of the ACTAI Global team as they take to the water against the setting WA sun.
Everclime Offers Offset Certificates
We are thrilled to partner with local startup Everclime to offer all West Tech Coast attendees an opportunity to make a positive impact on the environment.
Ticket holders will be able to offset their carbon footprint whilst simultaneously supporting a local Kelp Reforestation project in Kalbarri, Western Australia by purchasing a digital certificate on Everclime’s platform.
In doing so, ticket holders will also receive an exclusive digital copy of this stunning artwork produced by proud Nanda Yamatji woman Shannon Walding.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the dress code for this event?
No need to suit up – the dress code for West Tech Coast is all boardies, bathers, t-shirts, caps, and sandals/thongs/pluggers.
What should I bring?
Make sure to bring a towel, sunscreen, water bottle, hat, notepad and business cards to make the most of your day. We’ll be encouraging everyone to take a refreshing dip in the Indian Ocean during breaks or test out the latest Ocean Tech thanks to Aqua Flights and King Wing.
Are there changing rooms at the venue?
Showers and changing rooms are available adjacent to the venue at the Port Beach change rooms.
Where can I keep my stuff for the day?
You are welcome to leave your belongings inside the venue whilst going outside for a swim or to check out our ocean tech activations but all belongings are the responsibility of delegates. There are no lockers or cloakroom facilities at the event.
COAST Port Beach
Wheelchair Accessible
Ample Parking
Coast is everybody's beach house; a place where you can relax with friends and enjoy the best of local WA produce that is at the forefront of environmental venues in Australia. They recycle, are fully solar powered, and are the only large event venue with no single use plastic that might end up on the beautiful Port beach.
Event Partners
