Launch Y(E)P
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Deep Dive16.93°S 145.75°E // Cairns, Queensland

DeepDiveIntoAI

Cairns | Friday 30 October 2026 | 9am to 7pm

AI is rewriting the future. Spend one day with the people building it, see the startups betting on it, and walk out ready for what comes next.

Get ticketsFrom $19 · Full program dropping soon
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// 01 Why now

Electricity.The internet.Now AI.

Every few decades a technology arrives that changes how we work and what we're capable of building. We're living through one right now. Tools that felt like science fiction three years ago are writing software, designing new medicines and running whole businesses.

You might already be building with it. You might feel the ground moving and not know where to stand. Either way, Deep Dive into AI is your way in. One day at Tropic Tech with the founders, builders and thinkers working at the edge of what's possible.

The future isn't only being built in Silicon Valley. Some of it is being built right here in Cairns.

// 02 Speakers

The people building it.

Founders, engineers and researchers putting AI to work right now. More speakers to be announced soon.

Dr Kelvin Ross
Presentation

Dr Kelvin Ross

Founder, KJR · Chair, Queensland AI Hub

When AI writes the code

AI agents are starting to ship software on their own. What it takes to keep that code safe.

  • Has run software assurance firm KJR since 1997
  • PhD in safety-critical software, career started in defence
  • Director of IntelliHQ, Adjunct Assoc. Professor at Griffith
  • AI safety
  • Governance
  • Assurance
Elle Russell
Interview

Elle Russell

Co-founder, NightCafe

Building a global AI company from Cairns

Why you don't need to move to San Francisco to build something the world uses.

  • 25M+ people have made over a billion images on NightCafe
  • Bootstrapped, built and run from Far North Queensland
  • 2026 finalist, B&T Women Leading Tech Awards
  • Founder
  • Bootstrapped
  • AI art
Tristan Cartledge
Presentation

Tristan Cartledge

Founding engineer, Speakeasy

Putting AI to work, without losing control

What your AI agents can touch, what they can do, and who answers for it.

  • Builds the AI Control Plane at Google Ventures-backed Speakeasy
  • Customers include Vercel, Mistral AI and SolarWinds
  • Led engineering teams at London game studios for most of a decade
  • AI agents
  • Security
  • Enterprise
Nicky Jurd
Workshop

Nicky Jurd

Managing director, Precedence

AI for complete beginners

Never used AI? One hands-on hour and you'll be using it for real work the next morning.

  • Co-founded Cairns web firm Precedence over 25 years ago
  • Known for explaining tech in plain English
  • Takes business owners from first prompt to practical results
  • Beginner friendly
  • Hands-on
  • Small business
Jamie Baker
Presentation

Jamie Baker

Co-founder, Sophus

Signal over noise

How AI can help us find what matters instead of adding to the pile.

  • Veteran software engineer
  • Co-founded health tech consultancy Sophus
  • Building Friendly News, which uses AI to cut through the news cycle
  • Builder
  • Health tech
  • Media
Tara Diversi
MC

Tara Diversi

MC, Launch Y(E)P

Your host for the day

Guides you from the 10am welcome through to the last startup pitch.

  • Building digital health businesses since 2008, with exits along the way
  • Early-stage investor in health tech
  • Dietitian, psychologist and author of The Good Enough Diet
  • Founder
  • Investor
  • Behaviour change
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// 03 The day

From first prompt to first pitch.

09:00

AI for complete beginners

Nicky Jurd takes you from never having used AI to using it for real work the next morning. One hour, hands on.

12 places
10:00

Deep Dive into AI

Keynotes, interviews and workshops with the founders and builders putting AI to work right now. Hosted by Tara Diversi from Launch Y(E)P.

Running order soon
16:30

Startup pitches and networking drinks

The future needs founders. Watch local startups pitch, or step up with your own idea. Then stay and meet the people shaping what comes next. Wraps at 7pm.

Until 19:00

// 04 Tickets

Pick your way in.

The beginner workshop is capped at 12 places across both workshop tickets.

The full diveWorkshop + Deep Dive$89Beginner workshop, the full day and evening networking.Get this ticket Deep Dive + Networking$59The full day and evening networking.Get this ticket Workshop only$39The one-hour beginner workshop.Get this ticket Networking only$19Evening startup pitches and networking drinks.Get this ticket

Friday 30 October · Tropic Tech, 254 Mulgrave Rd, Cairns

AI is rewritingthe future.Be in the room.

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