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In Person Event

Event: Practical AI for Small Business – Understanding practical application, safety and ethics in the real world

Sponsored by

Salesforce

SYDNEY
Sep 21
3PM – 6:15PM
Ivy Sunroom
330 George St,
Sydney NSW

MELBOURNE
Oct 11
3PM – 6:15PM
Metropolis
3 Southgate Ave,
Southbank VIC

SmartCompany is excited to bring you Practical AI for Small Business: Understanding practical application, safety and ethics in the real world, in partnership with Salesforce.

You’ve seen all the hype – but what does AI mean for you and your business? We’ll explore the ins and outs, hearing from experts and business leaders like you who’ve put AI to work.

Your host Tegan Jones, senior tech journalist at SmartCompany will share the latest from Dreamforce 2023 in San Francisco, exploring what the conference’s developments mean for local businesses.

And a panel of SME leaders will unpack their experience with AI, sharing how they used it to get ahead.

Join us, and get to the bottom of: ethics, safety, data protection, customer trust and practical tools… so you can start to take advantage of this exciting tech, in the right way, for your business.

Agenda

3:00PM           Delegate arrival and registration
3:30PM           Welcome address
3:40PM           Keynote
4:25PM           Panel Session
5:15PM            Closing & drinks reception

Salesforce Keynote

SALESFORCE & AI

This session will look into the ethics, safety and security of artificial intelligence for small businesses. The audience can expect to learn how Salesforce’s personalisation and productivity tools deliver growth and scale to your business.

This session will also cover what practical tools are readily available and where SMEs can start.

 

Tegan Jones
Senior Technology Journalist
SmartCompany
Hosting at Sydney & Melbourne
Tegan Jones is a senior technology journalist at SmartCompany. An award-winning journalist, she has been reporting on technology, telecommunications and gaming for the past 10 years. She regularly appears on mainstream media channels as an expert tech commentator. Her previous roles include editor of Gizmodo Australia and global reviews editor at Finder. She has also served as a reporter and editor across Business Insider, Lifehacker and Kotaku Australia. Tegan is the co-host of one of the top technology podcasts in Australia, Queens of the Drone Age.
Rowena Westphalen
Senior Vice President of Innovation APAC
Salesforce
Keynote speaker & panellist in both Sydney & Melbourne
Rowena Westphalen is Senior Vice President, Solutions & Customer Advisory APAC at Salesforce. Her talented team of business advisors, solution engineers, and architects helps organisations achieve customer-centric digital transformation at scale, resulting in increased revenue and customer satisfaction. Rowena is passionate about emerging technology and innovation, ethical artificial intelligence, and customer experience. She believes businesses have the power to improve the world, and envisions a future where technology and human-centred design create positive change for individuals, organisations, and society.

Panel Session

HOW SMES ARE DEPLOYING AI RIGHT NOW

In this session, a panel of SMEs will unpack how they view the current state of AI and ways in which they are bringing the efficiencies into their business.

The panel session will bridge the gap between these ideas and the real world application of AI tools and technologies.

They’ll share practical tools, strategies and advice based on their experience and touch up how trusted partners such as Salesforce are an integral part of their AI journey.

 

Simon Crerar
Editor-in-chief
SmartCompany
Panel moderator in Sydney & Melbourne
Simon Crerar is editor-in-chief of SmartCo Media. Previously, he was the founding editor and then GM of BuzzFeed Australia. He began his career on Fleet Street as a tech reporter for The Times, and has also worked for the Sydney Morning Herald and News Corp Australia. He is co-founder of *PS Media, a collaborative local news startup.
Amanda Kereama
Founder + Managing Director
Cartel Flowers
Speaking in Melbourne
The Cartel story begins with Amanda, a Chartered Accountant, on maternity leave from her high-flying corporate job in 2015. After the birth of her first son, Amanda had her lightbulb moment. Armed with a black fine liner, and an A4 piece of paper, she mocked up the idea she had in her head, and therein the Cartel Flowers idea was born. Declining a return to her corporate career - Amanda resolved to transform her idea into a reality and got to work. Instagram was a new platform and was where the business got its first real exposure - Cartel Flowers proudly claimed its position as the world's first personalised flower business and grew rapidly. Fast forward to 2023 with over 100,000 followers on social media, a customer base reaching as far as Hollywood celebrities and tens of thousands of orders worldwide. Amanda's journey continues as she seeks fresh avenues for growth, continual improvement, and self-education. Each new chapter presents challenges, including navigating a post-COVID business landscape and now more recently, harnessing the power of AI.
Trent Milvain, Chief Operating Officer, Law Squared
Trent Milvain
Chief Operating Officer
Law Squared
Speaking in Melbourne
Trent is the Chief Operating Officer of Law Squared. He has overseen the firm's growth over the past eight years alongside Demetrio Zema and the business, laying and executing the firm's strategy–from new legal and non–legal service lines to integrating teams across Australia, United Kingdom, and most recently an office in Auckland. Trent’s responsibilities include leading the firm's culture, capability, and day-to-day operations. His strategic approach has also led to the establishment of a Legal Technology function that provides helps corporate legal departments optimise their legal operations & technology. Trent advises a Melbourne-based FinTech and is a founding board member for We Are Mobilse which is on a mission to positively transform the lives of those facing homelessness across Australia. Previously, Trent worked as a Commercial Manager for one of Australia’s leading retail groups and has advised a construction firm in Melbourne. In his free time, Trent enjoys learning and experiencing new things, spending time with friends and family, and watching live sports.
Ankit Paliwal
Head of Technology
Investor Kit
Speaking in Sydney
Ankit Paliwal is the Head of Technology at InvestorKit, an award-winning data-driven buyer’s agency, named by REB as the 2023 Buyers Agency of the Year. Ankit brings over a decade of expertise in technology strategy, AI, automation, and digital development to the position. In his pivotal role, he leverages technology to elevate marketing and operational strategies, having previously collaborated with brands like Allianz, Apple, Google, and Samsung. Ankit is a keen advocate for utilising and capitalising on AI in SMEs and believes there is a massive opportunity gap in proptech to revolutionise the way properties are bought and managed, paving the way for more accessible and efficient real estate solutions.
Ben Willis
Chief Technology Officer
MadeComfy
Speaking in Sydney
Ben is a technology executive based in Sydney, Australia, and the current CTO of MadeComfy. With over 10 years of experience in technology leadership roles, Ben has overseen the digital transformation of companies at both the small and large scale, including some of the most successful online learning providers in Australia. While also building a career in software engineering and digital product management, he was an early adopter of Salesforce in Australia and has been hands-on designing and implementing Salesforce solutions since 2007.
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