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Examining the future of the workplace at WORKTECH19

In late February, WORKTECH19 will see a series of boutique conference events covering the future of work, the workplace, design, and innovation – and Indesign readers can get special access!

Want to know where the future of work is heading? From the sentient workplace through to even more technical topics such as sustainable digitisation – it will all be covered at WORKTECH19 this February in Sydney.

WORKTECH19 is a forum for anyone invested or interested in the future of work and the workplace, as well as real estate, technology and innovation. The forum offers a chance to discuss the latest and most inspired ideas on how we will work, think and create in the future.

To cover these diverse and bold lines of thinking, WORKTECH19 has curated a selection of international thought leaders, who will tackle four central questions in the world of work and the workplace. How can we support performance at work? How is the demand for flexibility changing commercial property? How can organisations build human-centred work environments and culture? How are disruptive technologies shaping the future of work?

One speaker on the line-up shares his thoughts in the lead-up. John MacLeod is an Internet of Things specialist with IBM and profers how technology will infiltrate workplaces in the future, “A significant workplace challenge is the loss of knowledge due to an ageing workforce. Years of expertise is literally walking out of the door. And it takes a long time for new staff to be as productive as someone with many years’ experience. Technologies like Digital Twin (a software model of a physical reality) and Augmented Reality, informed by the Internet of Things will provide opportunities to capture such knowledge and allow us to diagnose and fix issues in ways never before possible.”

To give you a little taste of what else is on the agenda, here are some of the speakers and sessions already confirmed:

  • The Art and Science of Murmuration: Burning Man’s Culture of Cooperative Leadership – led by Stuart Mangrum, Education Director of the acclaimed Burning Man project
  • The Sentient Workplace – led by Philip Ross, Futurologist & CEO, Cordless Group & UNWORK
  • A MONSTER AT WORK – led by Dr Nelly Ben Hayoun, Designer of Experiences, Nelly Ben Hayoun Studios/ SETI Institute/ University of the Underground
  • Crossing the Threshold – The Sustainable Digitalisation of Work and Real Estate – led by Simon Carter, Director, Morphosis
  • What Is This Tsunami of Data Arriving from My Buildings Telling Me About How to Save Money?! – led by John MacLeod, Internet of Things Specialist, IBM
  • B:Hive – New Zealand’s Largest and Smartest Co-Working Space – led by James Grose, CEO, BVN; Greg Smales, Director, Smales Farm
  • Designing for Fashion | David Jones & Country Road Group: Case Study – led by Heidi Smith, Partner, Gray Puksand
  • BCG Create an Office of The Future In Hudson Yards, New York – led by Ross Love, Senior Advisor, Office of the Chairman at Minderoo – Ex-Managing Partner for BCG New York

WORKTECH19 will kick off on Wednesday 20 February with an exclusive lounge day at Lendlease Barangaroo, with the forum and conference session beginning the next day at Sydney’s International Conference Centre. 

Not sold already? A media partner, Indesign readers are welcome to a 20% discount, follow this link to redeem.

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