The Digital Innovation Futures Festival is returning for its eighth year to celebrate Victoria’s vibrant digital innovation ecosystem. From 23 August to 6 September, Victoria’s flagship tech festival will feature two weeks of events including hot debates, deep dives on the latest trends, insights from experts and networking opportunities.

With accessibility in mind, DIF2023 Festival will showcase a dynamic, hybrid events program, so that everyone can experience the festival. The DIF Community has co-curated a mix of in-venue, live-streamed and on-demand events, ensuring widespread participation for all.

In-person events will be hosted across the state, from panels discussions and debates to hackathons and conferences. And the DIF Hubs are back in Docklands at the Australian Computer Society, in Cremorne at the Cremorne Digital Hub and in Carlton at Melbourne Connect. Plus, DIF On Demand will continue to provide content for those on the go.

The DIF team is also delighted to announce the launch of DIF Live – a twice-daily online learning opportunity that connects you with Victoria’s innovators, thinkers and makers. If you’d like to host a Lunch’n’Learn or DIF Download session, find out how you can pitch your #DIFlive idea.

Mark your calendars from August 23 to September 6, as the DIF2023 Festival will be an inspiring journey that shines a light on Victoria’s digital ecosystem and invites all Victorians to be a part of the state’s tech community and digital economy.

What’s on in DIF2023?

The DIF2023 Festival program is officially live. Here’s a glimpse of some of this year’s feature events with popular favourites returning and exciting new sessions on emerging technologies, fintech, AI, cyber and more.

DIF2023 Opening Event: AISA Cyber Debate

 23 August - Melbourne Connect

Battle lines are drawn, debaters make their case, the audience decides who wins! The Australian Information Security Association (AISA) once again leads the official opening of the DIF Festival with a lively debate. Join us at Melbourne Connect where two sides battle it out on one of the day's hot topics.

Women in Emerging Tech Conference: Re-imagining the Future

 23 August - ACS Dockands

Presented by Women in Emerging Teach (WiET) and hosted by the Australian Computer Society (ACS) at the DIF Hub Docklands, this event will explore Gaming, Inclusive Virtual Reality and of course unravel the emerging tech landscape after the recent and growing changes in AI.

Digital Summit: Driving Regional Growth Innovation

 24-25 August - Bendigo

Regional Development Australia Loddon Mallee, Regional Development Victoria, Public Sector Network and Delos Delta have come together to bring this powerhouse event to Bendigo. In driving regional growth and innovation, the Digital Summit will provide a platform for demonstrating and celebrating significant progress in digital and innovation applications in the Loddon Mallee.

Intersekt/23 FinTech Australia

 30-31 August - Grand Hyatt

Intersekt returns to Melbourne with the largest gathering of Australian fintech companies, hubs, accelerators, policymakers, regulators, investors and advisors, devoted to examining, discussing and unlocking the potential of Australia’s fintech market. 

The Churchill Club Top Tech Trends Debate

 30 August - Melbourne Connect

Unlike anything else that exists in Australia, this event showcases the visions of five leading industry professionals and gives the audience the opportunity to vote on 2023’s biggest tech trend.

Pearcey Oration & Victorian Entrepreneur of the Year Award

 6 September - Melbourne Connect

The Pearcey Oration and Victorian Entrepreneur of the Year Award returns as part of Melbourne Connect Innovation Week. This year, the Oration is by 2018 Australian of the Year, Professor Michelle Simmons. Michelle is CEO and Founder of Silicon Quantum Computing and Director of ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology.

And that’s just the beginning…

Keep an eye out for the next wave of DIF events, including DIF community events by the Committee for Melbourne, Startup Victoria and more.

There is still time to get involved as an event partner and host your own event. #MaketheDIF and register your event as part of the festival.