AI in Sport: Tasmania's First Chapter

For the first time in five editions, Tasmania has its own chapter in the national Sport Innovation Report. This evening marks that and offers a first look at what is being built in Tasmania. Convened by Sportstech Tasmania. Hosted at the University of Tasmania with the Australian Sports Technologies Network (ASTN) and TasICT. Supported by Womensport and Recreation Tasmania. 

Contact Mike Briers AO if you wish to attend the event.

Welcome + Presentation

The evening will open with a welcome from Amanda Castray, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Campus Life. 

Dr Martin Schlegel, Executive Chair, Australian Sports Technologies Network (ASTN), will present on the state of AI in Australian sport and what the national picture means for Tasmania.

In conversation

Dr Martin Schlegel, with Professor Kristy de Salas, Associate Head (Research and Partnerships), School of ICT, University of Tasmania, and Chris Jackson, TasICT.

Chaired by Sarah Gillman, Deputy Chair, Womensport & Recreation Tasmania.

Sarah Gillman

Sarah Gillman is a co-founder of Sportstech Tasmania and Deputy Chair of Womensport & Recreation Tasmania. A former ABC journalist and broadcaster, she has worked as a presenter, producer and reporter across news, current affairs and sport, and has taught journalism at universities in Tasmania, Darwin and Canberra.

Sarah is a long-standing advocate for women in sport, engaged as a researcher, trainer and mentor by the Australian Sports Commission, the Australian Institute of Sport and Womensport Australia. She sits on AFL Tasmania's Women's Advisory Group and is Tasmania's representative on the AFL's national Women and Girls' Game Development Action Plan Leadership Advisory Group. In 2021, The Mercury named her one of the most influential women in Tasmanian football for her role in kickstarting girls football.

Kristy de Salas

Kristy de Salas is a Professor of ICT and Associate Head ICT Research and Partnerships at the University of Tasmania, where she works across emerging technologies, digital empowerment, education, and industry-engaged research.

She is passionate about helping people build the confidence, capability, and connections needed to engage with emerging technologies in meaningful and responsible ways. When she's not working, you'll usually find her bushwalking Tasmanian trails, going for a run, or developing games and creative projects with her independent Games development company, Giant Margarita.

Amanda Castray

Amanda Castray is Pro Vice-Chancellor, Campus Life at the University of Tasmania, where she leads a portfolio including campus life, sport, student accommodation, libraries, arts and cultural collections activities.

She is UTAS Alumna, holds a Master of Science in Executive Leadership and is a Harvard Business School graduate. Before returning to Tasmania in 2024, she spent six years in the UK as Director of Campus Life at Ulster University, helping deliver an award-winning student experience.

With a career spanning government, private industry and higher education, Amanda brings extensive experience in innovation, economic development and leadership. Passionate about sport, wellbeing and community connection, she serves on the Southern Tasmania Netball Association Board, is a Mental Health Ambassador, and mentors emerging leaders through the Tasmanian Leaders Program.

Dr Mike Briers AO

Dr Mike Briers AO is Co-Founder and Chair of Sportstech Tasmania. A sixth-generation Tasmanian, he returned to Hobart after 35 years in Sydney building public and private sector collaborations and the companies that grow from them. He founded RoZetta Technology, a financial data business, was a founding director of agtech company The Yield, co-founded the Capital Markets CRC, and was founding CEO of the Food Agility CRC. He also established two national research infrastructure facilities, SIRCA and Intersect Australia. He is an Adjunct Professor in the School of ICT at the University of Tasmania, and in 2016 was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for service to the finance and digital technology sectors, particularly data intensive research and analysis, to higher education, and to judo.

Chris Jackson

Chris Jackson believes sport could be Tasmania's most underused platform for innovation. As co-founder of Sportstech Tasmania, he's out to prove it, bringing tech companies, researchers, government and sporting bodies together to solve problems and build new industry.

He knows both worlds from the inside. He leads national tech company Data#3's Tasmanian business as State Manager and sits on the TasICT executive, drawing on 20 years in technology with Telstra, Fortinet, The Project Lab and Intuit Technologies.

His commitment to using sport for impact runs deep. As Vice President of SFL Tasmania, he's helped lift women's participation towards parity, and coached senior women's and rep teams. He co-founded Gridiron Tasmania, served on the Gridiron Australia board, and managed the Australian Outback under 19 team at the 2016 World Cup.

Chris holds an MBA in Sports Management from Torrens University and Real Madrid Graduate School, and is a Non-Executive Director of Cancer Council Tasmania.

Dr Martin Schlegel

Martin has 25 years international experience in the sports and recreation industry across novel materials, technology and R&D commercialisation. His ASTN work focuses on startup programs, content delivery, export growth programs and global partnerships with other clusters of innovation.

Martin previously worked on major sports infrastructure projects across Australia, Asia, Europe, and the USA, including sports surfacing projects for the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.

Prior to his engagement in Australasia, Martin worked in various positions in the USA and Asia including executive management positions in business information technology, quality management, engineering and business M&A.

Demonstration

Students from the University of Tasmania will demonstrate the Island Intelligence Platform, built in four months to connect Tasmania's sport, health and environment data.

Followed by drinks, conversation and an XR demonstration by Marcos Gogolin from labXR.org until 8.00pm.

Radio interview on ABC Radio Hobart (936 ABC).

How is AI changing the face of sport with Dr Martin Schlegel from the Australian Sports Technologies Network.

Listen to Martin's interiew at 1:19:00.

New Tasmanian Sports Technology Collaboration Promises a Bright Future

A new sports technology collaboration, Sportstech Tasmania, has been launched through a partnership led by the Australian Sports Technologies Network (ASTN), with TasICT and the University of Tasmania (UTAS), bringing together sport, research and technology to unlock new opportunities for the state.

Co-founder and Chair Dr Mike Briers AO described Sportstech Tasmania as a deliberate innovation platform that uses sport as a gateway to better health, safety, environmental and economic outcomes for Tasmanians.

“It brings together shared intelligence infrastructure, young Tasmanian talent, and connections across the sport, research and technology sectors, so that each makes the others stronger,” he said.

Sportstech Tasmania was officially launched in Hobart on Monday, 26 October, at a networking event featuring a presentation by Dr Martin Schlegel, Executive Chair of ASTN, a not-for-profit, industry-led membership organisation that supports the commercialisation, development and promotion of Australian-inspired sports technologies. The evening, AI in Sport: Tasmania’s First Chapter, was also the Tasmanian launch of ASTN’s 2026 Sport Innovation Report, the first in five editions to include a chapter on Tasmania.

Dr Schlegel said ASTN supports the growth of Australia’s $7.11 billion sportstech sector, which employs more than 20,000 people nationally. He said the launch of Sportstech Tasmania could help the state capitalise on significant opportunities in the sector.

He highlighted Tasmania’s globally distinctive combination of assets, including elite and community sport, health and medical research, education and skills, marine and environmental science, and ready access to natural environments spanning the ocean, rivers and mountains.

Together, these strengths provide a compelling foundation for innovation, investment and growth.

The event also featured a panel discussion with Professor Kristy De Salas from the University of Tasmania’s School of ICT, TasICT Secretary, Chris Jackson and Dr Schlegel.

A highlight of the evening was a presentation by UTAS ICT students showcasing their award-winning data platform, Island Intelligence.

The team of six students — Taylah Stewart, John Streat, Tim Downey, Tanjil Madbor, Noku Mufunda and Han Zhang — developed the platform in just 12 weeks as part of their capstone project before graduating. It won first time, the prize at the UTAS School of ICT Showcase in October. The platform brings together sport, health, safety and environmental data in one place for every Tasmanian local government council.

Dr Briers said the platform demonstrated what creative and innovative young Tasmanians could achieve when supported and mentored by industry.

Professor De Salas said the project gave students the opportunity to apply their knowledge in authentic project environments while developing valuable skills in problem-solving, collaboration, client engagement and professional practice.

“For partner organisations, the unit offers a valuable opportunity to engage with emerging talent, explore new ideas and contribute to the development of the next generation of digital professionals,” she said.

Using the launch as a springboard for further collaboration, Dr Briers called on Tasmania’s sport, ICT, health, tourism and business sectors to connect with Sportstech Tasmania and help create opportunities for students to tackle real-world challenges. Through Home Ground, Sportstech Tasmania’s talent initiative, organisations can put forward challenges from December for student teams starting in February 2027.

By bringing industry, research and emerging talent together, Sportstech Tasmania aims to turn Tasmania’s unique strengths into practical solutions, new opportunities and lasting benefits for the state.

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