Brisbane is turning its attention to technology this week with a series of events celebrating the best of Queensland’s fast-growing tech and startup sector.

All week long Something FestiveQueensland’s digital, innovation and technology festival, kicks off Monday with the something X, an all-day conference hosted by the Queensland Chief Entrepreneur, bringing together renowned global thinkers and changemakers with leaders from across Queensland’s innovation ecosystem to explore and discuss great ideas.

This is followed by the two-day conference, Something digitalnow in its 5th year, on Tues-Wed, October 25-26.

This year’s theme is “reality bites” and the topics in Something digital this year Web3 towards responsible design, ethical AI and net zero, exploring ethical conundrums, data + personalisation, people + growth and the wider digital journey leading up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

International speakers this year include Brad MacDonald of The Exploratorium, Sumner Norman of Caltech and Jess Northam of the Tony Blair Institute for Global change.

The two-day event will feature 57 international and Australian speakers, along with Queensland’s top emerging technology community and some of the country’s top technology leaders.

The event will spotlight Queensland and Australian companies developing the technologies that shape how we live, work and play, complemented by international speakers from TikTok, Google and AWS.

Speakers include TikTok Head of Product Alex Rankin, Google Cloud VP and chief innovation evangelist Jim Hogan, and Dr. Lutza Ireland, founder of Matrix Design+Health.

In addition to the talks, nearly 60 technology companies in Queensland will participate in the associated trade show.

River City Labs chief executive Pauline Fetaui said that while it’s Something Tech’s first year, it’s the start of something big for Queensland’s startup sector.

“The theme sets the tone for what we are currently experiencing in the world and in technology. “People, Planet and Platforms bite back,” she said.

“Our world has seen ongoing challenges, technology helps shape and create opportunities for how we evolve and emerge. The exciting and consciously designed lineup of speakers showcases some of Australia’s most exciting technology entrepreneurs and industry leaders who are working on these opportunities and now delivering.

The week-long Something Fest culminates with the River Rival finale, where 8 Queensland entrepreneurs will present the best product and company to a jury, including Steve Baxter of Shark Tank.

ACS Head of Innovation Siobhan Casey said Something Tech shows how Australia’s innovation and startup ecosystem is much bigger than just Sydney and Melbourne

“There are entrepreneurs all over the country and opportunities in every state,” she said.

“By bringing in some of the world’s leaders, we can showcase the great work being done in Queensland and inspire founders wherever they are in Australia.”

Something Tech tickets and the program are available at somethingtech.com.

There’s more on Something Fest and its events here.