22 September 2025 A digital gathering on connection and creativity

The big ideas

Throughout the conference, several key themes emerged that painted a picture of a digital world that is both complex and full of possibility.

• Human resilience and creativity: The event celebrated how people are using technology in remarkable ways to solve problems and create new things.
• Technology's dual nature: Speakers emphasised that technology can be a powerful tool for good, but it also has the potential to cause harm. We must be intentional about how we use it.
• The power of diverse perspectives: Innovation thrives when people from different backgrounds and disciplines come together. Meaningful change starts with these cross-sector conversations.
• Human-centered design: Multiple sessions stressed that the best digital experiences are built on a foundation of empathy, clarity, consistency, and authentic human connection.

Spotlight sessions: key takeaways

The conference featured a wide range of sessions, each offering unique insights into the digital landscape. Here are some of the most compelling takeaways.

Innovation through partnership

The panel on "Co-Creating the future: Government and industry partnership" underscored the importance of collaboration. As panelists from the Queensland Government, Urban Utilities, the Queensland Academy of Sport, and the Queensland Museum shared their experiences, a clear message emerged: success comes from bringing together diverse expertise from different sectors.

The ethical frontier of tech

In her powerful talk, "Digital frontlines: Access, advocacy and resilience in war zones," Marwa Fatafta of Access Now revealed a troubling trend: major tech companies like Microsoft and Google are providing cloud services that enable military operations. She highlighted a concerning shift in these companies’ ethical stances as they pursue military contracts.

Telling human stories

Brittany Brown, NASA's Director of Digital Communications, explained the space agency's approach to "Digital storytelling." She noted that NASA’s successful content isn't just about science and space; it incorporates a human element, uses the universe as a setting, and presents a clear conflict or challenge. An essential element of this approach is making accessibility a core part of content creation, not an afterthought.

The power of trust

Tim Hardaker, Head of Group Product Futures at ABC, delivered a talk on "Talk human to me: Why trust and authenticity matter." He argued that trust shouldn't be a byproduct of your strategy – it should be the strategy itself. He also stressed the need for transparency by design, meaning you should be upfront about things like pricing and data collection to build long-term relationships with your audience.

Australia's leadership in online safety

A representative from the eSafety Commissioner, Kelly Tallon, discussed Australia's role as a global leader in online safety. Her session, "From trial to guidance: The future of age restrictions and online safety in Australia," highlighted the country's new, world-first legislation on social media age regulation.

The evolving world of search

A panel on "Zero click: The end of search as we know it" offered a nuanced perspective on the future of search. The panelists acknowledged the rapid rise of "zero-click" search results, where users find the answer they need directly on the search results page without clicking through to a website. However, they concluded that traditional search isn't disappearing, but rather evolving, citing Google’s massive ad revenue as a sign that search is here to stay.

Digital activism and empathy

Jessie Macneil Brown from Ben & Jerry’s shared insights on "The inside scoop: Digital activism in an age of division." The key takeaway? Empathy is a strategic tool. Used to counter dehumanisation, build a sense of belonging, and cut through the noise, empathy connects with people in ways that AI simply can't replicate.

AI and Open Data

Rounding out the event, Queensland's Chief Scientist, Professor Kerry Wilson, spoke on "Where science meets digital: Shaping Queensland’s innovation future." She explained how AI is revolutionising government foresight by analysing a huge number of change drivers to provide strategic insights. She also emphasised that open access to scientific data is a game-changer, enabling broader research and innovation.

Something Digital left attendees with a clear message: while technology is a powerful force shaping our world, it is our collective creativity, collaboration, and human-centered approach that will truly build a future where we are all stronger together.

About Something Digital

Something Digital was created in 2018 to bring Queensland’s digital community together and strengthen the digital innovation ecosystem.

Whilst technology is key to solving complex problems, it is the digital piece that transforms tech into human centred platforms that can be used, marketed and sold. Digital innovation is the bridge between technology and humanity.

The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Innovation and Science is proud to support Something Digital.