Bright Minds, Bold Voices: From research to reality – Australia's opportunity

What happens when an influential Australian changemaker meets a trailblazing scientist? To find out, join the Australian Academy of Science for the 2026 Public Speaker Series.
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Bright Minds Bold Voices

What happens when Australia backs its brightest minds?

From the solar panels on your roof to the medicines in your cabinet, Australian ingenuity makes everyday life better. Australia has world-class research – but it's time to back our own ability to make it count. We're exploring how we invest in science and what it really takes to turn great ideas into change that matters to us all. 

In conversation with ABC Canberra's Lish Fejer, we'll be joined by:

  • Senator David Pocock, former captain of the Wallabies and vice-captain of the Brumbies. Now an independent senator for the ACT.
  • Dr Kate Cornick, CEO of LaunchVic Ltd. In 2025 Dr Cornick was a Panel Member for the Strategic Examination of R&D – a once in a generation review of the national R&D system.  

This event is for everyone including students, professionals, academics, policymakers, lifelong learners, and those simply curious about how science impacts our everyday lives. 

 

Buy a ticket

Event details

Date: Tuesday 8 December 2026

Time: Canapés and drinks are served from 5.30pm, with the talks (and the livestream) 6.00pm–7.00pm AEDT

Venue: The Shine Dome, 15 Gordon Street, Acton, ACT (and free online livestream)

Cost: $22pp ($17pp for students)

 

Speakers

Having migrated from Zimbabwe with his family as a teenager, David went on to captain the Wallabies and vice-captain the Brumbies as part of a stellar rugby career. He has been awarded for leadership both on and off the field. With a Master of Sustainable Agriculture, David also has a track record as a powerful advocate on issues ranging from climate action to marriage equality. He has been involved in multiple small businesses and has co-founded numerous not-for-profit community initiatives in Australia and overseas, including with his wife Emma. In 2021, David attended the COP26 climate summit and led 'The Cool Down' campaign that saw over 470 Australian athletes from 40+ sports call on the Australian Government to lift its ambition on climate change. Upon returning home, he announced his run as the community-endorsed Independent Senate candidate for the ACT. After campaigning on a platform of integrity, doing politics differently and making Canberra count, David was successfully elected at the 21 May 2022 federal election.
Kate is a passionate technology and innovation leader, with experience working across startups, corporate, academia and government. Kate started her role as the CEO of the Tech Council in May 2026. She was previously the CEO of LaunchVic, Victoria’s lead startup agency. Under her leadership LaunchVic has supported over 13,000 entrepreneurs to upskill, 2,200 startups to grow, helped launched 16 venture capital funds and 11 angel networks unlocked over $1b private capital and supported tens of accelerator programs across Victoria. Passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion, Kate is the founding CEO and Investment Committee Member of the Alice Anderson Fund – a fund led by LaunchVic dedicated to supporting women founders. To date the fund has made over 45 investments into women-led startups. Kate is the Deputy Chancellor and Council Member of Charles Sturt University, and Chair of the Investment Committee for the University of Melbourne’s Genesis Pre Seed Fund. In 2024 Kate was selected by the Federal Government to be a Panel Member for the Strategic Examination of R&D – a once in a generation review of the national R&D system. The Panel handed its report to Government in December 2025. Kate previously founded a human resources technology startup and led it through an ASX listing. She was also the Senior Telecommunications Adviser and Deputy Chief of Staff to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and worked as a General Manager at NBN Co. Kate has a PhD in optical telecommunications from the University of Melbourne.

Series details

More about the series

The Australian Academy of Science’s public speaker series in 2026 will explore today’s challenges and tomorrow’s solutions, underpinned by science.

Each event will pair a prominent public figure with a top scientist, researcher or innovator. Together with ABC Canberra’s Lish Fejer, they will explore the big issues shaping our future, and the important role science and research plays in everyday life.

Find out more about the Bright Minds, Bold Voices speaker series

 

The Academy is pleased to welcome back ABC's Lish Fejer as the host for all the events across this series. As a seasoned radio broadcaster and passionate science communicator, Lish will deliver illuminating sessions with her engaging style and thought-provoking questions.

Series convenor

Thank you to our convenor for 2026:

  • Professor Stephen Simpson AC FAA FRS, University of Sydney

     

Series supporter

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