Youth, Civics, and the Future of Democracy

‍Thursday 16 October

Featuring: Holly Rankin, Charlotte Walker, Lizzie Hedding & Daniel Dummer

This panel will explore how Australian communities and leaders can harness innovative strategies and technologies to boost media literacy, civic confidence, and democratic participation in young Australians.We’re excited to bring this conversation to SXSW Sydney’s audience of educators, policymakers, innovators, activists, and everyone interested in enhancing youth participation in our democracy.

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‍Jaddan Comerford on the State of Australian Music: Why the Future’s Bright

‍Thursday 16 October

The headlines love to tell you what’s broken in Australian music. Jaddan Comerford would rather tell you what isn't broken.

As founder and CEO of UNIFIED Music Group, Jaddan has spent more than two decades proving that big ideas and global ambition can grow from here. From artist management, recorded music and publishing, to live events, merch and investment, he’s built one of the country’s most forward-thinking music companies and co-founded Side Stage Ventures to back the next generation of founders along the way.In this keynote, introduced by Holly Rankin (also known as Jack River), Jaddan cuts through the noise to share an unapologetically optimistic take on Australian music: the opportunities ahead, the global stage waiting for our artists, and why belief in homegrown talent is stronger than ever.