Thomas Hajdu

Director of The Sia Furler Institute, University of Adelaide
Tom is Director of the Sia Furler Institute and Professor and Chair of Creative Technologies at the University of Adelaide, where he has built and delivered unique initiatives, such as the world-first Art Intelligence Agency (AIA), at the intersection of AI and creativity. With innovation and entrepreneurship in his DNA, he has pioneered competitively differentiated real-world creative arts learning experiences benefitting students.

His lustrous career fuses academia, creative arts, government, and the commercial industry. A globally-renowned catalyst of generational change, he is a prolific entrepreneur, renowned CEO of global music for media and digital innovation companies tomandandy and Disrupter and was South Australia’s first and only Chief Innovator. Talented at recognizing patterns with limited information, he has already anticipated and grasped the opportunity to deliver game-changing outcomes that will close the gap between Australia’s creative arts industry and the world’s digital scene. A solid academic background, an active speaking portfolio and an esteemed international profile underpin this futurist drive. Tom received a PhD and MA from Princeton University, a Presidential MBA from Pepperdine University and BMUS from the University of British Columbia.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

• Pioneered synergistic initiatives including The Art Intelligence Agency and the Open Music Initiative, the former pairing world-class AI and machine learning scientists with leading artists such as Laurie Anderson and Herbie Hancock, and the latter creating the first OMI node outside the US.

• Recently launched the South Australian Block Chain Lab, an extension of OMI bridging academic and industry to create block chain innovation.

• CEO of global companies tomandandy and Disrupter, generating +US$1BN for global economies and driving impact at scale, re-shaping the role of music and media and leading the innovative development of distributed Web infrastructure and AI worldwide with current engagements including the European Space Agency.

• Positioned Adelaide as Australia’s first gigabit city, creating the opportunity to transform the city’s future. Secured access to +US$5BN in annual funding for city-to-city innovation collaboration, signing an MOU in the White House.

• Holds the record number of NTROs for the University of Adelaide.