International Day of Light 2024 Industry Showcase

Celebrating the International Day of Light, the Sydney Photonics Industry Network is proud to bring together 10 leading companies and organisations from the Sydney and Canberra Optics and Photonics landscape to demonstrate their pioneering products and services. Also gracing the stage is our keynote speaker, Dr. Simon Poole AO, who will shed light on the Current Status and Future Opportunities of the Australian Photonics Industry.

The event premium sponsors, Advanced Navigation, represented by Katherine Kinder, and LEAP Australia, represented by Matthew Haines, will present on their innovative products and services and their link to the photonics industry. The evening will then break into the networking and demo sessions where attendees will be free to browse around the various demo booths, learn about the different technologies and services provided by the local community, and connect with like minded optics and photonics enthusiasts on the floor.

The demo booths details can be found in the demo booth section below.

Students - We have some special perks provided by one of our sponsors for student attendees, so If you are a student, please register with your student email address and select a student ticket in order to get the student specific communication!

Speakers Bio

Dr. Katie Chong

Dr. Katie Chong is the Director and a Co-founder of the Sydney Photonics Industry Network. Carrying over 12 years of experience in the Optics and Photonics field with a research background in Nanophotonics, Katie's industry experience spans across optical engineering and program management and between R&D and Advanced Manufacturing in some of the largest photonics companies in Sydney. Katie is passionate in bringing together the photonics community locally and internationally.

Locally, Katie was the OSA student chapter treasurer and SPIE student chapter president at the Australian National University prior to starting SPIN. Internationally, Katie has been a member of several SPIE governance and conference committees since 2018.

Katie completed her PhD in Nanophotonics at the Australian National Univeristy in 2017. She has since worked at Finisar Australia, Baraja and Advanced Navigation, and is currently a Staff Program Manager at Q-CTRL.

Dr. Simon Poole AO

Dr Simon Poole AO is an engineer/scientist/entrepreneur with 40 years’ experience in photonics in research, academia and industry. He has been involved in start-ups in both academia and industry for the majority of this time and is renowned both for his contribution to the technology of photonics as well as the companies he has founded.

He was a member of the team that invented the Erbium-Doped Fibre Amplifier (EDFA) at Southampton University and, on moving to Australia in 1988, founded the Optical Fibre Technology Centre at the University of Sydney and, subsequently, the Australian Photonics Cooperative Research Centre.

Since leaving academia in 1995, he has founded a number of companies (Indx/JDSUniphase Australia, Engana/Finisar Australia and Cylite Pty Ltd) which have, between them, generated over $2B in export revenues and employed over 1,000 people in Australia.

Dr Poole is a Director of Cylite Pty Ltd and of the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF), a member of the TMOS Advisory Board, and a fellow of the AAS, ATSE, IEAust and IEEE.

Katherine Kinder

Katherine is a photonics engineer at Advanced Navigation. With a strong background in optical physics and precision instrumentation, she specialises in designing photonic hardware for cutting-edge inertial navigation systems, including strategic-grade fibre-optic gyroscopes.

Katherine completed her undergraduate degree in Physics at Macquarie University, before pursuing a Master of Science in Precision Measurement and Instrumentation at the Australian National University. Her studies and research centred on precision sensing using photonic and optical instrumentation, particularly in the context of gravitational wave detection.

Mathew Haines

Matt completed his undergraduate degree in nanotechnology engineering at the University of Waterloo and then went on to complete his Master degree in Photonics Systems Engineering at McGill University, where his research focused on the development of novel photonics switches for fiber networks. His career paths have mainly been within startup companies, working for Google in the development of augmented reality technology and Baraja in the development of LIDAR system for autonomous vehicles. He has a strong background in technical project management and photonics, optoelectronics, and microfabrication, which brought him to LEAP Australia as an optical applications engineer.

Ticketing Information

1. Limited Space: As space is limited, we kindly request all interested attendees to register in advance to secure their spot at the event. In the event that registrations exceed the venue's capacity, a waiting list will be created. If you are placed on the waiting list, you will be notified promptly if a spot becomes available. We encourage you to register early to increase your chances of attending.
2. Confirmation and Entry: Upon successful registration or ticket purchase, you will receive a confirmation email with detailed instructions and any necessary e-tickets or QR codes for entry. Please ensure that you have the necessary documentation readily available on the day of the event for a smooth check-in process.

Additionally, we kindly request that if you have registered for the event but are unable to attend, please consider canceling your ticket as soon as possible. By canceling your ticket, you allow individuals on the waiting list the opportunity to attend in person. If you are no longer able to attend the event, we encourage you to switch to the recording-only option, which will still provide you access to the event content.

To cancel your ticket, please refer to the instructions provided in your confirmation email or contact our ticketing support team. Your cooperation in this matter will greatly assist us in ensuring that as many people as possible can participate in the event.

Thank you for your understanding and support in creating an inclusive and accommodating event experience for all attendees.

For any ticketing inquiries or technical support, please contact the event organizers directly through the provided contact information on the event website or ticketing platform.

Terms and Conditions

By attending or participating in this event, you acknowledge and agree to the following terms and conditions:

1. Ticket Holders: All attendees must be registered and hold a valid ticket to gain entry to the event.
2. Age Restrictions: This event is strictly for attendees aged 18 and over due to the service of alcohol. Valid identification showing proof of age may be required upon entry. It is the responsibility of the attendee to ensure they meet the required age limit. Minors will not be allowed entry, even if accompanied by an adult..
3. Health and Safety: The Event Organizer prioritizes the health and safety of all attendees. By attending the event, you agree to comply with any health and safety guidelines, including but not limited to COVID-19 protocols, as instructed by the Event Organizer and venue management.
4. Event Changes: The Event Organizer reserves the right to make changes to the event program, including but not limited to performers, speakers, schedule, and venue, without prior notice. Any such changes will be communicated through the official event channels whenever possible.
5. Photography and Recording: By attending the event, you grant the Event Organizer the right to use any photographs, recordings, or other media captured during the event for promotional purposes without further consent or compensation.
6. Liability: The Event Organizer, its affiliates, sponsors, and partners shall not be held liable for any loss, injury, damage, or theft sustained by attendees, whether resulting from negligence or any other cause. Attendees are responsible for their personal belongings and should take necessary precautions to safeguard them.
7. Code of Conduct: All attendees are expected to adhere to a code of conduct that promotes inclusivity, respect, and a safe environment for all participants. Any disruptive or inappropriate behavior may result in expulsion from the event.

By attending the event, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to this event disclaimer. If you do not agree with any of the terms and conditions stated above, please do not attend the event.