SXSW Sydney has announced its first keynote speaker for 2025 – Meredith Whittaker, President of Signal.
A leading figure in the global conversation on artificial intelligence, privacy, and internet policy, Whittaker will join an impressive line-up of speakers for the SXSW Tech & Innovation Festival, celebrating innovators and emerging local talent from Australia’s tertiary education sector.
With more than 17 years of experience across tech, academia and government, Whittaker has played an instrumental role in shaping the public narrative on AI, emphasising the need for greater transparency in the tech industry.
Her research and advocacy have been pivotal in reframing the discussion around the surveillance business practices that often underpin modern AI, as well as the concentration of power within major tech companies and she has advised the White House, the European Parliament, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on matters of security, privacy, and artificial intelligence.
In a time when AI is shaping industries at an unprecedented pace, Whittaker’s insights will be invaluable for industry leaders, policymakers, and attendees looking to understand the broader societal impacts of emerging technologies.
Meredith Whittaker
As newly announced SXSW speaker Sandy Carter, international authority on AI & Blockchain, says: “Stop fearing AI—fear the businesses that refuse to embrace it. The real threat isn’t machines overtaking humans, but companies missing out on transformative potential.”
Carter is a best-selling author and tech industry authority and the COO of Unstoppable Domains, providing user-owned digital identities using Web3 technology.
SXSW Sydney has also confirmed other AI experts to the line-up at the event between October 13 – 19, 2025. Ivan Zhao, co-founder and CEO of Notion, Paige Costello, Vice President of Product at Figma and Rohit Agarwal, the MD of Peak XV Partners (Formerly Sequoia Capital India & SEA), all join the line-up.
Providing local insight is Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness CSC, Australia’s National Cyber Security Coordinator leading national cyber security policy.
Alongside the Conference, this year’s event maintains its cornerstone competitions with the SXSW Sydney Pitch and Hackathon. There are also two exciting new initiatives: the Student Pitch and Tech & Innovation Showcase.
These spotlight the brilliance emerging from universities and technical institutions, providing tomorrow’s leaders with unprecedented exposure to industry figures, investors and media.
SXSW Sydney 2025 returns from October 13 – 19th, featuring 1,600 sessions and events – 400+ conference sessions, 150+ professional development sessions, 300+ music performances, 95 film screenings, 150 games, and more than 400 brand-led events.
More information about the Tech & Innovation Festival can be found here, and more about the Conference can be found here.