Amanda Johnstone Travels from Sydney, NSW

Amanda pioneered conversations and technical builds around neuroscience, AI ethics, and human behaviour long before they became mainstream. Her work has redefined how emerging technologies influence the way we think, connect, and evolve. Her inventions in suicide prevention technology have reached over 80 countries and assisting over 20,000 vulnerable people to get mental health peer support in real time, while her emotionAI innovations and artificial intelligence leadership continue to inform governments, Fortune 500 companies, and global think tanks on the urgent need for responsible innovation and scale.

With patents in complex human–machine symbiosis, psychology and social connection, alongside her role advising Sovereign Australia AI, Amanda is a champion of digital responsibility, self-sovereignty and national sovereignty. She is one of the most compelling voices on dopamine-driven engagement loops, digital addiction, and cognitive polarisation, helping the world build resilience in an AI-powered era.

Her entrepreneurial spirit sparked early: at just 17, she co-founded retail chain Sebachi, one of Australia’s first e-commerce stores, guided by mentorship from Cotton On founder Nigel Austin. Now, at 39, she continues to blend creativity with foresight, travelling more than 150 days a year to work with her internal team, advise leaders, inspire audiences, and explore the world’s cultural and technological frontiers. 

Amanda is also a passionate advocate for the arts, STEM and is an angel investor. Her tech education show “Talk Nerdy to Me” reached tens of millions of listeners, with over 300,000 subscribers. She’s a trusted advisor to programs such as Startmate (since 2025), The Timeout Suicide Prevention Retreat (15 years) and Tech Ready Women Academy (9 years). With an unmatched ability to “see around corners,” she empowers organisations and individuals to not only adapt to the future but to shape it with courage, empathy, and vision.