2025 TDS Symposium:
Leading Australia’s Secure, Trusted, and Inclusive Digital Future.
Leading Australia’s Secure, Trusted, and Inclusive Digital Future.
On Friday 7 November 2025, the Trustworthy Digital Society (TDS) Symposium brought together over 70 researchers, technologists, policymakers, and community leaders at the UNSW CBD Campus to explore the future of trust in our digital world.
The event opened with a warm welcome from Victor Dominello (Director of TDS) , and Helen Paik (Director of Research Strategy TDS), setting the tone for a day of exploration and collaboration. Professor Nicole Gillespie from Melbourne Business School delivered a thought-provoking keynote on trust, public attitudes, and the use of artificial intelligence.
Participants then split into two concurrent streams. The Trust and Society stream explored frameworks for trustworthy data sharing, introduced the Global Trust Index, and examined collaborative data ecosystems through the Australian Research Data Commons and Dataspaces in Australia. Presentations also addressed the legal and technological challenges of digital identity, reimagined public libraries as hubs for digital equity and AI literacy, and showcased youth engagement in AI governance via the Youth Policy Advisory Forum.
Meanwhile, the Trust and Technology stream spotlighted technical innovation, featuring SpiderMark, a hybrid watermarking framework for generative AI, alongside scam literacy tools, regional engagement with smart home tech, and AI solutions like GuardianAgent, Vox ID, and a lease interpretation tool designed to support vulnerable renters.
In the afternoon, live demos of the Australian AI Index and SHIELD AI Tutor drew interest, followed by a lively panel discussion moderated by Susanne Lloyd-Jones. Panellists Toby Walsh, Lyria Bennett Moses, Catherine Thompson, Aurelie Jacquet, Angus Vos, and Victor Dominello shared insights on “Leading Australia’s Secure, Trusted, and Inclusive Digital Future”.
The day wrapped with a collaborative brainstorming session led by Sara Shirowzhan and Akshay Kumar, where participants mapped out future research directions and potential partnerships. Networking over refreshments closed out a vibrant and inspiring day.
Thank you to all who contributed to making the 2025 TDS Symposium a success. Stay connected as we continue shaping a trustworthy digital society.
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Posters