2025 ATSE Chaikin Oration
Celebrate Dr Sue Keay FTSE as our 2025 Chaikin Orator.
Date
Thursday 25 September 2025
Time
12:00 PM - 2:00 PMCost
In-person - $60
Online - Free
Online - Free
AI in Australia: Meeting the moment or seeing it pass by?
Australia has a once-in-a-generation chance to turn its natural strengths into sovereign, sustainable AI capability. Our abundant renewables, world-class datasets, strong research, and geopolitical stability give Australia a unique edge for low-emissions (sustainable) compute, yet, without public leadership, we risk “renting” our digital future from offshore providers amid record foreign data-centre spend.To own our future will require bold public investment in nation-building digital infrastructure that secures productivity, resilience, and strategic autonomy, keeping value and standards onshore while partnering globally where it serves the public interest.
The Chaikin Oration, named after the late Professor Malcolm Chaikin AO OBE FTSE, personified the impact that academia, learning and education can have on the world. His pioneering work in industrial waste treatment, recycling and desalination demonstrates the critical role that research plays in shaping wider conversations and action regarding critical issues – sustainability in this case. Chaikin’s story illustrates the importance and huge opportunities for universities to look beyond their own walls. In the context of increased competition across the sector, his focus on collaboration was markedly progressive.
Join us in person or online on Thursday 25 September in Sydney to celebrate Dr Sue Keay FTSE as our 2025 Chaikin Orator.
Speaker
Director, UNSW AI Institute
Dr Sue Keay is an expert in robotics, AI and automation. She is the Director for UNSW AI Institute and Founder of Robotics Australia Group, the peak body for Australia’s robotics industry. An advocate for diversity in technology, Sue represents Oceania for Women in Robotics and brought the Grace Hopper celebration to Australia in 2019. Sue is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE), a member of the Kingston AI Group and Chief Executive Women, and is on numerous advisory boards, as well as being on the board of computer vision start-up, Visionary Machines. Sue has an MBA from The UQ Business School, a PhD in Earth Sciences from ANU and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute for Company Directors.
