13-14 APRIL 2023
BUNDABERG
QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
FORUM | EXPO | SITE VISITS
Early bird pricing available on full showcase tickets!
Event Program
Every effort is made to keep program information up-to-date. However, in the event of unforeseen circumstances changes may occur.
Day 1
Morning Session – AgForum
Venue: Bargara Cultural Centre (next to Agtech Hub)
MC: Julia Spicer, Queensland Chief Entrepreneur
Registrations
Acknowledgement of Country & Official Welcome
Presentations:
- Opportunities and challenges identified by Hinkler AgTech Initiative with Prof. Phil Brown, CQ University
- Connectivity Update with Rob Hardie, NBN
- Case Study – AI Yield Prediction with Fiona Turner, Bitwise Agronomy
- Protecting your data – Dean Jones, Luxfield Communications
Panel Discussion:
Expanding on the morning’s topics to further delve into making agtech an attractive and practical investment in a farming operation.
Proudly supported by:
Afternoon Session – Site Visit & Demonstrations
Delegates will board buses to visit a local grower to see a range of technologies in operation around the farm and in the packing shed.
Demonstrations thanks to these innovative companies:
Proudly presented by:
Evening – Networking Function
Delegates are invited to attend a networking function with drinks and canapes featuring some of Bundaberg’s finest food and beverages.
Day 2
Morning Session – Future of Agtech
Venue: Bargara Cultural Centre (next to Agtech Hub)
MC: Julia Spicer, Queensland Chief Entrepreneur
Registrations
Acknowledgement of Country & Official Welcome
Presentations:
- What’s next in precision agriculture with Rowan Wilson, John Deere
- Artificial intelligence in farming with Ashley Rootsey, Food Agility CRC
- Queensland’s AgTech Roadmap with Kim Coyne, Dept. Agriculture & Fisheries
- ‘Chief’s Chat’ Developments from Evoke Ag with Special Panel
- Preparing for the future of agriculture now with Paul Higgins, Emergent Futures
Panel Discussion:
Expanding on the morning’s topics to explore more insights into what we need to be doing now to prepare for the future.
Wrap Up & Lunch
Delegates depart after lunch.
Proudly supported by:
Tickets Now Available
through Regional Business HQ
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Presenters
Julia Spicer
Queensland Chief Entrepreneur
We are excited to have Julia as our main conference MC as well as leading a number of forum sessions throughout the event.
Hailing from Goondiwindi, Julia has a passion for regional Queensland and helping rural businesses succeed through innovation. Her insights will be valuable throughout the event.
Paul Higgins
Futurist & Strategist
Paul Higgins comes from a rural background having been a dairy cattle vet, pig vet, and a pig farmer. He was a director of Auspork for 16 years. In 2000, Paul returned to uni and studied for a Masters Degree in Strategic Foresight. For the last 20 years, he has worked as a futurist across a wide range of industries and organizations, helping people to think about the future, while maintaining his strong interest in food and agriculture. Paul is also Chairman of Social Ventures Partners Melbourne, investing in and advising innovative not-for-profit start-ups. He is an Associate of the Melbourne University Business School and is currently a special advisor on strategy and foresight for Save the Children Australia.
Prof. Phil Brown
Team Leader Hinkler AgTech Initiative
Phil is an agricultural scientist with a passion for working with agricultural industries to improve their productivity, profitability and sustainability. He focuses on plant physiology and agronomy. He works closely with industry partners to deliver practical outcomes based on an understanding of the physiological and anatomical basis of crop development.
Fiona Turner
CEO & Co-Founder, Bitwise Agronomy
Fiona is an innovator, disruptor, and lover of technology with over 17 years of experience in new product development for Ag, infrastructure, utilities, construction/asset management, government, banking, and manufacturing industries.
Fiona is also a farmer at heart growing up in rural NZ, coming from a long family history of farming. She moved to Australia 18 years ago to experience city life but soon found herself yearning for rural life so 9 years ago moved to TAS and bought a vineyard.
Fiona brings her passions together with a pragmatic approach to problem solving and based on this she is the Co-founder and CEO of Bitwise Agronomy, an Artificial intelligence company giving insights to farmers based on easy and affordable GoPro imagery.
Ashley Rootsey
AI & Robotics Lead, Food Agility CRC
Ashley Rootsey is the AI & Robotics Lead at Food Agility CRC. He manages a multimillion dollar portfolio of agtech R&D projects exploring the applications of Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and related technologies in improving the efficiency and sustainability of major Australian agricultural sectors.
Thomas Hall
Director, Agtech & Logistics Hub
A fourth-generation farmer, Thomas has an intimate working understanding of agriculture and is passionate about innovation and driving the sector forward.
Thomas is focused on sustainable development and transforming the sector into a collaborative ecosystem where innovators, industry and government work together.
He started his agricultural career at age 10, helping his family drop off eggs at the Queensland Egg board.
The role of Director is a natural progression for Thomas, who is also Director – Strategy Innovation for AATLIS and FKG Group’s Projects Manager.
Rowan Wilson
Product and Systems Specialist, John Deere Aust NZ
Rowan supports the growth of product and technology knowledge for two of John Deere’s key dealership groups, including the local dealership here in Bundaberg, RDO Equipment.
In his presentation, Rowan wil cover John Deere’s Precision Ag technology, how to best use and manage data, and where John Deere sees technology heading over the next few years.
Rob Hardie
Executive Manager – Health and Agriculture | Regional and Remote - nbn Local
Robert Hardie is Executive Manager for Health and Agriculture at nbn. Robert joined nbn in April 2020 and since then has been working with key stakeholders in rural, remote and regional Australia to lift digital capability in the health and agriculture sectors, and supporting digital capability uplift in regional Australia.
Robert was born in Geelong; he attended Geelong High School before moving to Canberra to study Arts and Commerce at The Australian National University. After graduating, Robert pursued a passion for politics and spent 10 years working at Parliament House as a political adviser across a range of portfolio areas including Defence, environment, parliamentary procedure and, finally, the commemoration of the Centenary of Anzac and improving services and support for Australia’s veterans and their families.
Now working at nbn, and with experience gained as Policy Director at the NSW Farmers’ Association, Robert brings more than 15 years’ experience of public policy development and advocacy to his role.
Event Partners & Stakeholders
Event Enquiries
Agtech Showcase Event Coordinator
David Wise
Regional Business HQ
0491 646 941
davidw@businesshq.org.au
Location
The conference sessions of Agtech Showcase will be held at the Bargara Cultural Centre, located next door to Bundaberg’s own Agtech Hub.
Address:
160 Hughes Rd, Bargara QLD 4670
Site visit will be held at a local farm with transport provided by bus from the Agtech Hub.