Dr Stefan
Hajkowicz

Dr Stefan Hajkowicz is Chief Research Consultant at CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, where he works in the Analytics and Decision Sciences program examining the forces reshaping our economy, society and future. With over 25 years at CSIRO, Stefan has established himself as one of Australia's foremost authorities on artificial intelligence strategy, strategic foresight and decision theory.

Stefan is the architect of Australia's national AI roadmap and AI Ethics Framework, landmark documents that guide how the nation navigates artificial intelligence adoption and governance. His research has informed policy decisions and investments worth hundreds of millions of dollars across Australian state and federal governments. With over 6,500 citations on Google Scholar, Stefan is a world-leading scholar in decision theory and management science, bringing rigorous, evidence-based insights to organisations grappling with complex choices.

As author of the bestselling book Global Megatrends, Stefan has distilled decades of foresight research into accessible narratives about the forces transforming our world. His work spans the economic geography of innovation clusters, having mapped Australia's technology hotspots and advised economic development agencies on building thriving ecosystems. Stefan holds a PhD in geography and postgraduate qualifications in economics from the University of Queensland and University of New England respectively, along with First Class Honours in Cartography and Geographic Information Systems.

But Stefan's unique advantage as a speaker lies in his rare combination of scientific rigour and presentation excellence. Trained at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA)—Australia's premier performing arts institution—and through a science-media fellowship at the Australian Broadcasting Commission, Stefan transforms complex technical content into engaging, entertaining presentations that captivate diverse audiences. Whether delivering keynotes to 500+ delegates or facilitating intimate boardroom sessions, Stefan brings the storytelling craft of NIDA together with the analytical depth of CSIRO.

His presentations consistently receive outstanding feedback, including a 4.65/5 rating as top speaker at the Russell Investment Group conference. Stefan's material features on TEDx and he routinely delivers keynotes at major industry conferences across sectors from quarrying to healthcare to financial services. He serves on the OECD and World Economic Forum's global strategic foresight communities and is an associate with the University of Melbourne Business School Mt Eliza Executive Education Program.

Stefan doesn't just inform audiences about the future—he takes them on a fascinating journey that is simultaneously rigorous, entertaining and actionable. With the credibility of Australia's national science agency backing every insight, Stefan equips leaders to navigate uncertainty, harness emerging opportunities and make wiser strategic choices in a rapidly changing world.