The Inspirefest 2017 Programme was officially launched in Grand Canal Square yesterday.
Inspirefest will welcome over 50 speakers from 15 countries on July 6th and 7th, with keynote speakers including the President and CTO of Nokia Bell Labs - Marcus Weldon, Silicon Valley icon and venture capital partner - Ellen Pao, Games leader - Rhianna Pratchett of Tomb Raider fame, the head of the US National Science Foundation - Dr France Córdova and Chief Strategy Officer for Accenture, Omar Abbosh.
Themes this year will vary from Blockchain, Fintech and Medtech, to Infosecurity, A.I., Robotics, and Games as well the Future of Work and STEM pedagogy for a new landscape. The collision of technology and the arts will also be tackled with Other Voices founder Philip King teaming up with engineers from Nokia Bell Labs to create a special performance to close the first day of the conference at the Bord gais Energy Theatre, while Ana Matronic of Scissor Sisters fame will offer her unique view on Robotics.
Some 3,000 people are expected over three days, and headline sponsors this year are Accenture and Bank of Ireland, with other organisations involved including Facebook, Dropbox, Intel, Nokia Bell Labs, Deutsche Bank, IDA, EI, SFI, IRC and Dublin City University.
Each evening, the event will be topped off with a Fringe festival of banter, music and culture, hosted in Facebook (Thurs) and Airbnb (Fri), while the popular Family Fringe event returns on Saturday July 8 with exhibitions and workshops from Space exploration to coding and a mini Dublin Maker, at The Dock, Accenture’s multi-disciplinary research and incubation hub at 7 Hanover Quay.
"We are thrilled to be a part of Inspirefest again this year. We are at a point where organisations must truly innovate to be relevant for the future, and inclusion and diversity drives innovation in all areas of a business,” said Dr. Michelle Cullen, a managing director and Head of Inclusion and Diversity at Accenture Ireland. “This is a unique event, with its mix of brilliant minds, its focus on inclusion and diversity and inspiring discussions on the key trends that matter most in business, science and technology today."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
