{ "conference": { "slug": "ai-x-design", "name": "AI by Design Melbourne 2026", "url": "https://webdirections.org/aixdesign/" }, "updated_at": "2026-06-02T09:39:42.641Z", "count": 12, "speakers": [ { "id": "c63a782c-02b1-4984-a9fb-05592e10f5e6", "slug": "alex-mcmahon", "full_name": "Alex McMahon", "pronouns": "she/her/hers", "job_title": "Head of Design", "employer": "LMG", "bio": "Alex McMahon designs AI experiences for one of the most regulated industries in Australia. As Head of Design at Loan Market Group (LMG), she leads the AI experience design for MyCRM Intelligence, a suite of AI assistants used by Australian and New Zealand brokers. Before LMG, she worked as Director of Design at Alpaca Markets, shaping the UX across algorithmic trading, crypto, and broker infrastructure platforms globally. With 15+ years across fintech, e-commerce and tech, including Expedia, News Corp and blockchain gaming pioneer ZED RUN, Alex brings a research backed perspective to designing AI products when the stakes are real. She writes and speaks regularly on the ethics and craft of product design with a focus on emerging technologies.", "photo_url": "https://speakers.webdirections.org/photos/photo/c63a782c-02b1-4984-a9fb-05592e10f5e6?v=1774136160922", "speaker_type": "Speaker", "social": { "social_media": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexjmcmahon", "linkedin": null, "bluesky": null, "mastodon": null, "website": "https://www.alexmcmahon.com.au" }, "presentation_ids": [ "620478a9-3e53-4687-80ad-43dfe915c9a9" ] }, { "id": "3a636cd5-153f-4a1b-ae97-e02ac3494f26", "slug": "amanda-baughan", "full_name": "Amanda Baughan", "pronouns": "they/them", "job_title": "AI UX Researcher", "employer": "Maincode", "bio": "I’m a UX Researcher turned Product Manager at [Maincode](https://maincode.com/), where I translate cutting-edge AI research into products that fit seamlessly into real-world workflows. My work focuses on advancing human–AI interaction methods and exploring how AI can reshape the way we work.\r\n\r\nBefore joining Maincode, I earned my PhD in Computer Science from the University of Washington, where I studied human–computer interaction and social computing at the intersection of design, psychology, and technology. My research explored how technology foregrounds or prevents connection online, and has been featured by the [Wall Street Journal](https://www.wsj.com/articles/stop-mindlessly-scrolling-social-media-11660067136), [Scientific American](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-social-media-makes-people-unhappy-and-simple-ways-to-fix-it/), and [NPR](https://www.kuow.org/stories/to-mask-or-not-to-mask-that-is-the-pressing-pandemic-question).\r\n\r\nI’ve also worked as a UX Researcher at Google Maps and AI2’s Semantic Scholar, improving human–AI interactions in research discovery, and I periodically teach design ethics at the University of Washington Information School.", "photo_url": "https://speakers.webdirections.org/photos/photo/3a636cd5-153f-4a1b-ae97-e02ac3494f26?v=1774516736521", "speaker_type": "Speaker", "social": { "social_media": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-baughan/", "linkedin": null, "bluesky": null, "mastodon": null, "website": "https://www.amandabaughan.com" }, "presentation_ids": [ "e66a3c37-8305-4b81-bc74-2487673da05c" ] }, { "id": "917065a8-8449-448c-ac30-ca1737b68cfc", "slug": "boris-divjak", "full_name": "Boris Divjak", "pronouns": "he/him", "job_title": "Strategic & Service Design Lead", "employer": "ANZ", "bio": "Boris Divjak is a Strategic & Service Design Lead at ANZ, based in Melbourne. Before relocating to Australia, he worked extensively in London, building his practice across complex commercial and public‑sector environments. He works at the intersection of human‑centred design, systems thinking, and emerging technologies, enabling teams to raise the standard of digital and human interactions with customers.\r\n\r\nWith a strong focus on sense‑making and practical application, Boris is particularly interested in how new technologies like AI can augment, rather than replace, good design practice, supporting better decision‑making and more meaningful outcomes for both customers and organisations.", "photo_url": "https://speakers.webdirections.org/photos/photo/917065a8-8449-448c-ac30-ca1737b68cfc?v=1774410607759", "speaker_type": "Speaker", "social": { "social_media": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/borisdivjak/", "linkedin": null, "bluesky": null, "mastodon": null, "website": null }, "presentation_ids": [ "a5eb63ef-5d7d-45f6-ad30-2ca97fdf5392" ] }, { "id": "48f01519-1f0f-4035-acd7-8e6054665dc1", "slug": "hilary-cinis", "full_name": "Hilary Cinis", "job_title": "Sociotechnical Digital Strategy Director", "employer": "Salesforce", "bio": "Hilary is Sociotechnical Digital Strategy Director and AI Ethics Specialist (MAICD). She has over 30 years at the intersection of technology, human factors and information design. Currently she is an AI Specialist business consultant at Salesforce.", "photo_url": "https://speakers.webdirections.org/photos/photo/48f01519-1f0f-4035-acd7-8e6054665dc1?v=1775115463142", "speaker_type": "Speaker", "social": { "social_media": null, "linkedin": null, "bluesky": null, "mastodon": null, "website": null }, "presentation_ids": [ "0fd072ed-7d6f-424d-b42a-5b0fffd0363b" ] }, { "id": "fc2e2799-3f81-4f95-8817-245e2f25fdb1", "slug": "melissa-voderberg", "full_name": "Melissa Voderberg", "pronouns": "she/her", "job_title": "Director of Customer Experience & Innovation", "employer": "Publicis Sapient", "bio": "Melissa Voderberg is a senior design executive with over 20 years leading customer experience and service design transformation programs across education, retail, utilities, health, transportation, hospitality, and government sectors.", "photo_url": "https://speakers.webdirections.org/photos/photo/fc2e2799-3f81-4f95-8817-245e2f25fdb1?v=1774136165370", "speaker_type": "Speaker", "social": { "social_media": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissavoderberg/", "linkedin": null, "bluesky": null, "mastodon": null, "website": null }, "presentation_ids": [ "4bcc3886-864b-4e1c-a912-a3a767e677ee" ] }, { "id": "a8283456-68df-4980-9997-b02defb7fe77", "slug": "michel-ferreira", "full_name": "Michel Ferreira", "pronouns": "he/him", "job_title": "Designer Advocate", "employer": "Figma", "bio": "Michel Ferreira is a Brazilian designer based in Sydney with nearly three decades of experience building products used by millions — at Booking.com, Shopify, and Atlassian — before joining Figma as Designer Advocate for the ANZ/JAPAC region.\r\n\r\nAt Figma, Michel works at the intersection of design, collaboration, and community — helping designers and teams figure out what AI actually changes about how they work, not just what it promises. He's spent the past year running that conversation across the region", "photo_url": "https://speakers.webdirections.org/photos/photo/a8283456-68df-4980-9997-b02defb7fe77?v=1774501224646", "speaker_type": "Speaker", "social": { "social_media": "@multimichel", "linkedin": null, "bluesky": null, "mastodon": null, "website": null }, "presentation_ids": [ "541ec9b5-5c68-4d73-be87-cacb2a8762ba" ] }, { "id": "93994913-061d-41a6-ad9e-cb109efc4ecf", "slug": "milly-schmidt", "full_name": "Milly Schmidt", "pronouns": "She/Her", "job_title": "Design Manager — Rovo Studio", "employer": "Atlassian", "bio": "Milly is a design leader with over fifteen years experience in tech, across engineering, product and design roles. She currently leads the design team building Studio, where you can extend your Atlassian software through agents, automations and custom apps. She lives in Melbourne and is a proud union member.", "photo_url": "https://speakers.webdirections.org/photos/photo/93994913-061d-41a6-ad9e-cb109efc4ecf?v=1774136163166", "speaker_type": "Speaker", "social": { "social_media": "none.", "linkedin": null, "bluesky": null, "mastodon": null, "website": "millyschmidt.me" }, "presentation_ids": [ "ed30e6dc-9334-441d-8f6e-bacb544c555d" ] }, { "id": "dc3c6506-ad0d-4577-bc95-4cbc2586f168", "slug": "riley-coleman", "full_name": "Riley Coleman", "pronouns": "They/Them", "job_title": "Founder", "employer": "AI Flywheel", "bio": "Riley is a human-centred design veteran, self confessed problem solving junkie and tech nerd. Riley started their career as service designer creating behaviour change programs for marginalised communities in the not-for-profit sector. Resulting in awards by the International Red Cross and the United Nations. \r\n\r\nBefore studying a Masters in Human-Centred Multimedia and transitioning to user experience design. Riley has spent the last 12 years working in design leadership roles, building & scaling design practices in Australia, Germany, Netherlands and Sweden. \r\n\r\nIn early 2024 Riley was sitting in a lecture during a course in London on the Ethics of AI when they had the sickening realisation that, they couldn’t hand-on-heart say, the work they’d done on 4 AI projects in the previous 8 years hadn’t caused harm, hadn’t been bias. \r\n\r\n**Good people with best intentions can cause systemic harm when designing for AI.**\r\n\r\nRiley has spent the last two years learning about how to design AI that is highly capable and trustworthy. This moment later turned Riley into “an accidental founder” of [AI Flywheel](https://ai-flywheel.com/). Since then Riley has taught over 312 designers Human-Centred Ethical AI, as well as consulting teams on redesigning their operations for the AI era.", "photo_url": "https://speakers.webdirections.org/photos/photo/dc3c6506-ad0d-4577-bc95-4cbc2586f168?v=1779237096377", "speaker_type": "Speaker", "social": { "social_media": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/riley-coleman-a185754/", "linkedin": null, "bluesky": null, "mastodon": null, "website": "https://ai-flywheel.com/" }, "presentation_ids": [ "e2a5121b-f845-4e41-b6ab-72938f6ea716" ] }, { "id": "8a28de45-89c0-4906-9f4e-2d78174a7bb4", "slug": "sam-keene", "full_name": "Sam Keene", "pronouns": "HE/Him", "job_title": "Head of UX Engineering", "employer": "Google Maps", "bio": "Sam Keene is the Head of UX Engineering at Google Maps. Since 2021, he has led the global UXE team across all surfaces, including Driving, Search, and AR. Most recently, Sam has driven Geo UX's AI transformation through the scaling of vibe prototyping, the redesign of Driving navigation, and the launch of the AI-powered \"Ask Maps\" experience.\r\n\r\nA creative technologist at heart, Sam’s passion for blending design and code started in the late 80s programming a Commodore 64. Over his career (including a decade at Google and time at R/GA and Nike in the US) he has helped build game-changing products like the Nike FuelBand, YouTube VR, and Google Maps World-Scale AR. His work has been recognized globally with Cannes Gold Lions, D&AD, and One Show awards. Sam is the author of the Google Daydream VR Cookbook and a former Interactive Media lecturer at RMIT.", "photo_url": "https://speakers.webdirections.org/photos/photo/8a28de45-89c0-4906-9f4e-2d78174a7bb4?v=1774136154222", "speaker_type": "Speaker", "social": { "social_media": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/samkeene/https://x.com/_SamKeene", "linkedin": null, "bluesky": null, "mastodon": null, "website": null }, "presentation_ids": [ "2abd1c8f-3dbd-47d9-8f3e-9d29d54209b5" ] }, { "id": "18e8dd59-9f75-48cb-aa45-10d5486149e9", "slug": "stefi-peykova-krishnan", "full_name": "Stefi Peykova Krishnan", "pronouns": "she/her", "job_title": "Co-founder of the Bulgarian Design Council & Principle Product Designer at eHealth NSW", "employer": "NSW Health", "bio": "Stefi Peykova Krishnan is a co-founder of the Bulgarian Design Council and a Principal Product Designer at eHealth NSW, working inside Australia's largest public health system. \r\nHer work sits at the intersection of design, co-creation, systems thinking and responsible AI in complex, high-stakes environments. She previously led the end-to-end design of a precision medicine platform for the Children's Cancer Institute that supported clinical decision-making and was recognised with Best in Class for Service Design at the Australian Good Design Awards.\r\n\r\nIn the age of AI, she is especially interested in how design shapes systems, behaviour, and decision-making upstream ... before bad assumptions scale and broken models become business as usual.", "photo_url": "https://speakers.webdirections.org/photos/photo/18e8dd59-9f75-48cb-aa45-10d5486149e9?v=1774136158731", "speaker_type": "Speaker", "social": { "social_media": "Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefka-peykova/ ; Substack: https://substack.com/@designwaves", "linkedin": null, "bluesky": null, "mastodon": null, "website": "https://gardenofhumancapability.com (this is personal project site) and in case there's need of portfolio one (https://autotelicbydesign.framer.website - quite old)" }, "presentation_ids": [ "5987da0c-44f5-4b4c-9c35-ed0437ae2c43" ] }, { "id": "13187e89-e7c8-49bb-a573-996a7acef162", "slug": "steve-baty", "full_name": "Steve Baty", "job_title": "Founder", "employer": "UX Australia", "bio": "Steve was the inaugural CEO of the Australian Design Council, co-founder of Meld Studios and co-founder of UX Australia. He is a Director of the Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence and served two years as the President of the Interaction Design Association.\r\n\r\nHis practice is centred on improving our public spaces, infrastructure and services.", "photo_url": "https://speakers.webdirections.org/photos/photo/13187e89-e7c8-49bb-a573-996a7acef162?v=1777876542309", "speaker_type": "MC", "social": { "social_media": null, "linkedin": null, "bluesky": null, "mastodon": null, "website": null }, "presentation_ids": [ "28613e93-0bb5-41bb-89bb-9f11eeae910a" ] }, { "id": "e10c2bcf-4d45-4480-8737-38030bce578f", "slug": "tori-sanderson", "full_name": "Tori Sanderson", "job_title": "Managing Director", "employer": "Avian", "bio": "Tori Sanderson is Managing Director & CEO of Avian, a boutique consultancy specialising in bringing HCD thinking to products, environments and teams. \r\n\r\nTori is a sought‑after product and leadership strategist, with 20 + years’ experience spanning government, tech, retail, healthcare and NFP sectors. She’s steered award‑winning digital programmes and guided major brands and organisations through complex transformation and capability‑building. \r\n\r\nA regular speaker at Web Directions and Women in ICT events, Tori delivers clear, practical insights on digital strategy, design leadership, and building high‑performing teams.", "photo_url": "https://speakers.webdirections.org/photos/photo/e10c2bcf-4d45-4480-8737-38030bce578f?v=1774136156509", "speaker_type": "Speaker", "social": { "social_media": null, "linkedin": null, "bluesky": null, "mastodon": null, "website": "torisanderson.com" }, "presentation_ids": [ "389b6e46-51f4-4670-b57e-a99a8de3f0ff" ] } ] }