The Role of Technology in Sustainable Development
Sponsored by SheSharp & HCLTech
Friday, July 26th - Sunday, July 28th, 2024
November 15, 2024
|
78 attendees
Discuss how technology can be used to address environmental challenges and promote sustainability focusing on green Tech.
When
4:30pm to 6:30pm, Friday, November 15th, 2024
Where
Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts, Te Whare Tāpere Iti
DAY OVERVIEW
• Registration starts at 17:30
• Event kick-off at 17:55
• Event ends at 20:00
On Friday night, we kick off our Hackathon, where participants will be inspired by two keynote speakers and will be guided through all aspects of the Hackathon. The main goal is to choose a use case or pitch your own idea, form a team, and start discussing possible solutions to the problems the teams aim to solve. All participants will be able to ask any questions about the upcoming days.
• Venue opens at 07:30
• Day kick-off at 08:05
• Venue closes at 20:00
This day is all about hacking. In the morning, participants will meet a mentor designated to their teams who will help them focus on refining brainstorming and considering validation. This is also the time when creative and technical team members can begin drafting a Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
Just before lunch, all participants will be able to attend the optional session “Supercharge Your Solutions with Generative AI” by Geri Harris. Before dinner, there will be a Q&A session about AI solutions with Amir Mohammadi. After dinner, the first Pitch Practice session is hosted. This is when teams present to their mentors for the first time, explaining their business ideas and answering tough questions.
• Venue opens at 07:30
• Day kick-off at 08:05
• Venue closes at 18:00
This day is the final day of the Hackathon. At the beginning of the day, all teams will be working on their pitches and presentations. The deadline for all projects to be submitted is 13:00. The pitching session starts around 14:00 and will last until 16:00. The Hackathon will conclude with the awards announcements.
Session resources
We would like to share some resources from the event on behalf of our amazing speakers, demo and workshop facilitators.
Check out resourcesProblem: Manual analysis of customer feedback is laborious and prone to bias.
Solution: An AI system that can generate automated summaries of customer feedback, highlighting key themes, actionable suggestions, and relevant statistics
Problem: Creating and maintaining training materials for new technology platforms is time-consuming.
Solution: An AI system that can reformat, recompile, and update various media types, reducing timeframes and increasing efficiency.
Problem: Manual checking and marking of VOU documents is prone to error and time-consuming.
Solution: An AI system that can automatically mark VOUs against an answer sheet and populate relevant metadata into a spreadsheet.
Problem: Manual extraction of information for weekly SAP update emails is time-consuming.
Solution: An AI system that can draft automated emails using predefined templates and populate relevant metadata from an excel export.
Problem: Finding consistent answers to marketing-related questions is challenging.
Solution: A centralized location where all relevant marketing knowledge material is stored and can be interacted with via a human language interface
Problem: Creating thumbnails for PDFs in the central storage location is labor-intensive.
Solution: An AI system that can automate the thumbnail creation process.
Problem: Writing test protocols and testing summaries is labor-intensive.
Solution: An AI system that can automatically formulate test protocols and summaries from provided requirements and test evidence.
Problem: Updating and standardizing procedures is time-consuming.
Solution: An AI system that can extract key points from existing procedures and reproduce a draft procedure in a new template
Judging Information
- Held on 28th July 2024
- The international judges join together via Zoom
- 5-minute pitch from each team
- Judging panel of 6 judges (see below), led by Dr Mahsa McCauley - Founder director of She Sharp
- 4 Winners for this event: Best Pitch, Best Technical Solution, People's Choice Award, and Winner of this year's AI Hackathon
- The theme of the "F&P AI Hackathon with She Sharp" is about breaking free from drudgery and using innovation and technology to address repetitive tasks, mundane processes, and administrative burdens.
- Participants are expected to align their proposed solutions to address one or more of the 8 use cases provided in the brief.
- The solutions must involve a technology innovation, which can include the innovative use of existing technology.
- The technology used must incorporate elements of AI, and the team must explain what these are and how they are utilized.
- If the team has completed any work prior to the event, they must disclose what work was done and their starting point.
Problem and Solution:
- The team must demonstrate a clear understanding of the problem they are solving.
- The team must explain how their solution effectively solves the identified problem.
- The pitch should be clear and concise in its presentation.
Feasibility and Impact:
- The solution must be technically feasible and able to be implemented.
- The solution must have the potential to solve the problem effectively and create a meaningful impact.
- Each judge will individually evaluate the teams based on the criteria above.
- The judging panel will then discuss and come to a consensus on the winners in each category: Best Pitch, Best Technical Solution, People's Choice Award, and the overall Winner of the AI Hackathon.
Keynote Speaker
Lara Higson
Vice President - HCLTech
Lara is a seasoned senior executive with nearly 40 years of experience in the energy, mining, and technology sectors, spanning government-owned, public, and private settings. She has operated in numerous roles at company, division, and functional levels, in both corporate and site environments, in Australia and overseas. Lara holds undergraduate and post graduate qualifications including a Bachelor of Business, Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA), Masters of Business Administration (MBA), and Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment.
Meet the Panel Speakers
Loren George
Data Product Lead - Fonterra
Having started in Fonterra 17 years ago in Accounts Payable and moving my way through my career to spend the last 12 years in the data space, it has been clear to me that the demand for “data people” is only getting bigger. I currently work as the Data Product Lead for Fonterra, understanding the frameworks needed to take Fonterra on it’s Data Product Transformation. The role involves a lot of indirect management, coaching and stakeholder management, all of which I am passionate about. I believe that each person has their own value and enjoy working with people to unlock the skill that makes them shine so they can bring the most to their role.
Noor Syed
Account Tech Strategist/CTO - Health Sector NZ
Noor is of Pakistani origin, grown up in Dubai and has been in NZ for the last 10 years. Noor works as a Tech Strategist/Chief Technology Officer for health in NZ @Microsoft. She drives technological innovation and transformation within the healthcare sector and supports the development and implemention of strategic technology solutions to enhance patient care, streamline operations, and improve efficiency. Her expertise in both technology and healthcare helps organisations achieve their goals and deliver better patient outcomes. She also leads transformative initiatives that modernise healthcare systems and promote digital health solutions. Noor is also the external partnerships lead for GLEAM (LGBTQIA+ chapter) at Microsoft.
Dr Kim de Graaf
Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering - UoW
Kim is a senior lecturer in Civil Engineering at the University of Waikato and a Chartered Professional Geotechnical Engineer with strong industry links. She has over 10 years of experience as a geotechnical engineer through various building and infrastructure projects. After returning to academia in 2021, Kim has focussed her research interests on the behaviour of unusual NZ soils, slope instability, landslides and the use of geotechnical waste to create 3D printable sustainable concrete. Kim is also leading a research group in the early stages of the development of an AR system to support communities in understanding their risk to natural hazards and potential to improve resilience.
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Margaret Paiti
Principal Advisor Secondary Transition - MOE
Margaret Paiti has a solid understanding of Āotearoa's educational system. With over twenty-five years of experience across a diverse range of roles, she's fully familiar with both the challenges and opportunities within STEM education. Committed to collaboration, Margaret's goal is to strengthen relationships among various groups, driving meaningful change. A passionate advocate for STEM, she urges young people, especially those who are underserved, to delve into these fields. Her active role with the Web Access Waikato Trust demonstrates her commitment to digital inclusion. Additionally, her contributions to the Waikato Tertiary Tech Alliance emphasise her dedication to expanding STEM opportunities.
Yvonne Gill
Executive Director - TechWomen | NZTech
Yvonne is the Executive Director of TechWomen and works with an amazing group of women across New Zealand who collectively deliver a large range of programs and events that inspire girls into technology, support the growth of women in tech roles, and help develop policy and actions for improving diversity in the tech workplace.
Yvonne also leads the strategic programmes across the NZTech group, which delivers hundreds of events, research reports, and initiatives nationwide to connect, promote, and advance technology in Aotearoa New Zealand for a better tomorrow.
find out more about this event
Google Educator Conference 2024LOCAL EVENT ORGANISERS
WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE DAY
Check out the AgendaReadiness Workshops
1
Build your own AI Powered Web App
Microsoft is offering two 2-hour workshops to help students prepare for the AI Hackathon. These sessions will teach students how to build AI models and integrate them into applications.
When
These virtual workshops will be held on Tuesday July 16th for part 1, and Wednesday July 17th for part 2, both at 12-2pm NZT.
Revisit workshop
Facilitators
2
Iterative process and strategies for prompt development
Promptech is offering a one-hour workshop to help students understand the architecture of large language models, providing an introduction to prompt engineering. This session will help students crafting prompts for models including ChatGPT and Gemini, teaching effective customization techniques, creating custom copilots, ethical considerations, and hands-on tutorials to leverage the full potential of large language models.
When
This virtual session will be held on Monday July 22nd, at 6-7 pm NZT.
Revisit workshop
Facilitator
3
Supercharge Your Solutions with Generative AI
Join us for an interactive session where we’ll explore cutting-edge generative AI tools that can accelerate your projects. From idea generation to data analysis, discover how AI can enhance your hackathon experience and drive impactful solutions.
When
This session will be held on Saturday July 27th at 12:00 NZT.
Facilitator
need SOME ESSENTIAL INFORMATION?
LEARNING RESOURCES
A wide range of learning resources is available for students, including free Azure for Students credits worth USD 100.
WHERE TO LOOK FOR DATASETS?
Access a diverse range of datasets, suitable for various use cases.
PriZes to be won
Engraved trophy for winning teams sponsored by She Sharp
Two (2) AI Summit tickets each valued over $1,595, sponsored by AI Forum
Four (4) $250 Prezzy cards from Fisher & Paykel
Four (4) $250 Prezzy cards from Deloitte
Eight (8) $150 Prezzy cards from Fisher & Paykel
Five (5) $100 Prezzy cards from AUT
Five (5) $100 Prezzy cards from Datacom
One (1) confirmed internship place sponsored by Deloitte
Free tickets to all the remaining four (4) She Sharp events for the rest of the year valued over $500
Credit in AI services + three (3) months free mentorship; first team receives $500 and second team receives $200 from Promptech
Frequently asked questions
Join us for a dynamic workshop designed to address the challenges and opportunities in supporting SEN students and promoting responsive education here in Aotearoa.
This interactive session will be a thoughtful exploration into the unique needs of diverse learners.
We’ll dive into insights from Kami’s research on SEN and demonstrate practical ways to use the app as a universal accommodation tool. Participants will be encouraged to identify pressing issues, and brainstorm innovative edtech solutions.
Get ready to be a part of ideating new products, crafting actionable strategies that can be brought to life in schools, driving real change in the SEN space.
Bring your laptops to make the most of this hands-on and truly rewarding experience!
By:
1. Jessica Brennan - Kami - Regional Customer Manager
2. Paul Savage - Kami - Senior Product Marketer
Join Alliv Samson, CGO and Co-Founder of edtech app Kami, as she shares how a Kiwi startup grew from its humble beginnings in Aotearoa to empowering over 40 million users worldwide.
Alliv will delve into Kami’s journey of transforming education and her passion for driving innovation in edtech.
By:
Alliv Samson - CGO and Co-Founder of Kami
Join us for an empowering workshop focused on engaging girls in STEMM. This interactive session will explore innovative strategies and practical approaches to inspire and support female students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics through a Māturanga Māori lens.
Participants will gain insights into effective teaching methods, learn first hand about some of our successes , and develop tools to create a more inclusive and motivating STEMM environment.
Equip yourself with the skills to help ignite a passion for STEMM in young girls and promote their continued success in these fields.
By:
1. Claire Wigley - Teacher at Spotswood College New Plymouth & TENZ Council Member
2. Munireh Rouget - Deputy Chair - TENZ Council and Poutakawaenga mō te Pūtake Whakawhanaungatanga - Facilitator for the Whakawhanaungatanga Principle
A look back to see how we got to here. What is here and why it matters and what could the future look like for education.
By:
Steve Smith - NZ Program Manager, Google for Education
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integral to various aspects of life and work, it is crucial that educational systems prepare students to navigate this new landscape. This panel will explore what AI literacy entails for primary and secondary education and discuss actionable strategies to equip students with the necessary skills and understanding.
Panelists:
Dr. Geri Harris
Benny Pan
Paula Gair
An overview and Q&A/kōrero of how curriculum content (NZC only-not TMoA) is approaching the wero of what our next generation need to know, what is essential learning with, in, and about technology?
By:
Catherine Frost - Lead Writer Technology, Ministry of Education
With the technology curriculum refresh currently underway, in a world where AI tools are becoming ever more pervasive, we can expect that future views of digital literacy will involve a significant level of AI literacy. The Scaffolded AI Literacy (SAIL) framework has been developed by a group of experts from Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas to provide a comprehensive guide to developing AI literacy through scaffolded levels of competency. This session will provide a brief overview of the framework before getting into the practicalities of how its knowledge, skills, and critical perspectives can be delivered to diverse learner groups in engaging and interactive ways using accessible digital tools.
By:
1. Dr Kathryn MacCallum - Associate Professor of Digital Education Futures, University of Canterbury
2. Dr David Parsons - Research Director, academyEX
3. Dr Mahsa McCauley - Senior lecturer at AUT School of Engineering and Founder of She Sharp
How do we empower our students to become creators of Artificial Intelligence rather than just users? This workshop will explore one way we can create our own AI from first principles while providing guidance on how to teach intermediate level python.
Genetic algorithms are an easy stepping stone on the way to understanding AI that draw lessons from nature and all living things around us. Here we will turn nature into technology by using genes, inheritance and natural selection to make our code overcome the survival of the fittest!
By:
Alex Ward - Senior Curriculum Leader, Rototuna Junior High School
In this workshop, we'll explore how AI can revolutionize teaching and learning through differentiated instruction. We'll delve into powerful tools like Diffit, Gemini, Magic School, and Questionwell, which offer personalised learning paths, targeted feedback, and adaptive assessments. By harnessing the power of AI, teachers can create more engaging, effective, and equitable classrooms where every student can thrive.
By:
Bex Rose - Head of Impact, Growth Culture
The CodeRunner tool is used in dozens of Universities across NZ and internationally to assess programming ability in students. With the new NCEA standard coming in, this created a unique opportunity to take a big step forward in the assessment of NCEA programming. That was the goal of (soon to be Doctor) Henry Hickman who developed a way to leverage CodeRunner to work with NCEA as part of his PhD study. While there were challenges, the potential benefits are clear; to assist teacher to deliver a consistent assessment for all their kids and, hopefully, increase the opportunity for kids to learn to program. This workshop will give you hands on experience in the new and improved tool that will be released for the 2025 academic year. You’ll leave with a good understanding of the tool and its potential benefits for you, your students and the subject.
By:
1. Steven Rodkiss - Digital Technologies Teacher, Burnside High School & member of the DTTA committee
2. Henry Hickman - PhD student, University of Canterbury
Our Event sponsor
HCLTech
A taste of the Event
Key Contact references
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