DEPT® x SXSW Sydney 2023

As official SXSW partners, we’re right in the heart of the action, situated within the lush surroundings of The Chinese Garden of Friendship, next to the ICC and Tumbalong Boulevard.

From October 18 to 20, you’re invited to be a part of the DEPT® Garden House experience:

• Come along every day at 2:00 PM to hear from some of the most influential speakers at SXSW.
• Enjoy lunch and Happy Hours every day.
• Get on the list for the DEPT® x Variety Garden Party on October 19. Register for a spot here

To access the DEPT® Garden House, simply sign up for your wristband. No SXSW badge is required.
 
Event Details:

Dates: October 18, 2023 – October 20, 2023
Time: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location: DEPT® Garden House at The Gardens by Lotus restaurant in The Chinese Gardens of Friendship

The Program:

Wednesday, October 18, 2 pm – 3 pm
Pioneering Meaningful Social Impact
In an age where social impact initiatives are often met with cautious scrutiny, this panel presents a well-rounded viewpoint on how brands and consumers can collaboratively guide the journey towards meaningful social impact. How can brands genuinely catalyse internal and external changes to foster social betterment? And what proven strategies exist for educating and openly communicating these initiatives to consumers?

Speakers:
Kira Day, Policy and Advocacy Manager, B Lab
Leigh McLeod, Social Impact Program Manager, Canva
Jessica White, General Manager Australia, DEPT®

Thursday, October 19, 2 pm – 3 pm
Tapping into the Niche: Building Cultural Credibility Through Content
In this session, we’ll discuss the transformative power of using content to build credibility with niche interest communities in a panel looking into cultural marketing – featuring Stephanie Coombs from iHeartRadio, Huw Araniego-Ellis from Red Bull and Chris Wirasinha from Linkby, hosted by Antonio Castiglia, Strategy Director at DEPT®.

Following that, join Poppy Reid, Editor-in-Chief of Rolling Stone & Variety as she discusses the key strategies to make an impact in today’s dynamic cultural landscape with Kim McConnie, Marketing Director at Kayo Sports.

Speakers:
Poppy Reid, Editor-in-Chief, Rolling Stone & Variety
Kim McConnie, Marketing Director, Kayo Sports
Stephanie Coombes, Podcast Content Director, iHeartRadio
Huw Araniego-Ellis, Cultural Marketing Manager, Red Bull
Chris Wirasinha, Co-Founder, Linkby
Antonio Castiglia, Strategy Director, DEPT®

Friday, October 20, 2 pm – 3 pm
The Name of the Game: Brands and Marketing in a Playful World
In this session, we delve into the multifaceted world of gaming and marketing. Discover how the bold and the brave leverage gaming’s prominence as a strategic tool for brand identity and customer engagement. Join us as we explore how emerging technologies are opening up a world of possibilities in this dynamic field.

Enjoy a thought-provoking discussion with Alice Almeida from Totally Awesome, the leading youth-first engagement platform in APAC, Nico King, Executive Creative Director at Chaos Theory Games and Harry Kaloyirou, Product Director Web3 at DEPT® to uncover how to harness gaming’s interactive essence, storytelling prowess, and expansive online communities.

Speakers
Alice Almeida, Head of Research, Data, & Insights, Totally Awesome
Joan Westenberg, Adviser, MODA DAO
Nico King, Executive Creative Director, Chaos Theory Games
Harry Kaloyirou, Product Director, DEPT®

Come make the most of the inaugural Sydney SXSW event with us at the DEPT® Garden House! Find out more about SXSW Sydney here.