Stepping onto the stage, I thrive on converting cautious AI onlookers into confident champions.
Dawid Naude is Affinda’s inaugural Chief AI Officer and one of Australia’s leading AI educators and implementers. He helps organisations make every employee more productive, rethink what’s possible, and turn AI curiosity into AI confidence.
A prominent AI speaker, Dawid is known for keynotes that move audiences to action. With infectious energy and a knack for making the complex feel simple, he has a reputation for turning cautious AI onlookers into confident champions.
For Dawid, technology matters because of the difference it makes to people’s lives. He believes AI’s real strength isn’t just making the status quo more efficient, but opening up entirely new and better ways of thinking, working and creating.
His career spans consulting, leadership and founder roles across digital, technology and innovation. He was a key player in Cloud Sherpas’ fast-growing startup years and was instrumental in its acquisition by Accenture in 2015. He joined Accenture’s technology innovation division, became a Partner within three years, and led work for organisations including Qantas, NAB, AMP, Foxtel and government.
Dawid went on to found Pathfindr, which is now part of Affinda’s dedicated AI deployment business. Under his leadership, Pathfindr was named one of AFR BOSS Most Innovative Companies in 2024 and 2025, won the Customer Impact Award at OpenAI’s inaugural Partner Summit in San Francisco, and became an Official Services Partner to OpenAI for Australia and New Zealand. Dawid and his team have worked with organisations including Coles, Woolworths Group, the Victorian Government, Honey Insurance, Standards Australia, Engie and Australia Post, helping thousands of people build real confidence with AI.
As Chief AI Officer, Dawid now helps Affinda’s clients go from upskilling their people through to engineering and deploying AI at scale, with one goal in mind: helping leaders and their teams do the best work of their lives with AI.
Talking Points
Supercharge Today. Reimagine Tomorrow.
"Exciting, accessible, and impossible to ignore," this 60-minute keynote from Dawid Naude, CEO & Founder of Pathfindr AI, is a dynamic and highly practical AI masterclass.Supercharge Today. Reimagine Tomorrow.
With an infectious energy and a gift for making the complex feel simple, Dawid doesn't just talk about AI — he brings it to life. In this transformative session, you'll discover how AI is reshaping industries and redefining what’s possible for individuals and organisations alike.
Packed with compelling stories, real-world case studies, and powerful live demos, Dawid delivers a hands-on journey through the art of what’s possible with AI—right now. You’ll walk away with the tools, insights, and confidence to:
- Supercharge your productivity
- Unlock exponential growth
- Drive breakthrough innovation.
Whether you're an AI skeptic or a seasoned enthusiast, Dawid is renowned for turning curiosity into confidence. This keynote will not only inspire you—it will empower you to take action and lead in the age of intelligent transformation.
Reimagining Education.
Imagine a future where every student has a personal tutor—24/7, patient, tailored to their pace, language, and learning style.Reimagining Education.
Now imagine every teacher with a tireless, uber responsive assistant—helping plan lessons, provide feedback, and focus on what matters most: teaching.
In this compelling 60-minute keynote, Dawid explores how AI isn't just enhancing education—it’s poised to transform it. Through vivid stories, live demos, and real-world examples, Dawid paints a picture of what’s possible when we give every learner and every educator the support they deserve.
What happens when no child is left behind? When no teacher burns out?
We don’t just fix education—we unlock the full potential of society.
This is the future of learning. And it’s closer than you think.
AI or Die: 3 Killer Use Cases & How to Do it Now
In this 60-minute keynote, Dawid Naude, CEO and Founder of AFR Award-Winning Pathfindr, cuts through the AI noise with 3 real-world use cases from leading brands doing it right. Taking a practical “AI-for-now” approach, Dawid shares insights on how his team has supported leading enterprises across APAC to reimagine what’s possible and achieve breakout innovation and growth. AI or Die: 3 Killer Use Cases & How to Do it Now
This keynote also covers:
- The Critical Role of Internal AI Champions: Why building a dedicated AI taskforce isn’t optional—it’s the backbone of sustainable transformation and cultural adoption.
- ChatGPT Excellence for Execs: Why every senior executive team needs to master ChatGPT, now. It’s not just about productivity; it’s about credibility, vision, and unlocking the power of everyday, off-the-shelf AI.
- Live Q&A: At least 15 minutes of audience queries answered in real time.
Video
Dawid Naude | Intro | Saxton Speakers
Meet Dawid Naude—award-winning AI innovator, educator, and Chief AI Officer at Affinda, Australia’s leading AI accelerator. With a dynamic career spanning consulting, leadership, and entrepreneurship, Dawid has been instrumental in translating AI’s potential into real-world impact for organisations like Qantas, NAB, AMP, and Foxtel. As a prominent keynote speaker, he is renowned for making complex AI concepts accessible and inspiring, helping businesses unlock exponential growth and drive breakthrough innovation.Dawid Naude | Supercharge Today, Reimagine Tomorrow | Saxton Speakers
Step into the world of transformative technology with Dawid Naude—AI strategist, innovation leader, and Chief AI Officer at Affinda —as he shares a bold and practical vision for how businesses can unlock the true potential of artificial intelligence. With clarity and energy, Dawid reveals how forward-thinking organisations are using AI to amplify performance, spark innovation, and create lasting value. What You’ll Discover: - Actionable ideas to boost productivity with AI today - The mindset and structures needed to foster AI-driven innovation - How to build a culture that embraces and scales intelligent tools - Stories of real businesses reimagining the way they work This is your window into a future where possibility meets practicality—where AI isn’t just a buzzword, but a catalyst for real change.Dawid Naude | Reimagining Education | Saxton Speakers
Explore how artificial intelligence is transforming education with Dawid Naude, an award-winning AI innovator and Chief AI Officer at Affinda. In this insightful session, Dawid delves into the potential of AI to revolutionise learning experiences, offering personalised support for students and enhanced tools for educators. Discover how AI can create a more inclusive, efficient, and effective educational landscape. Key Insights: - Personalised learning experiences through AI-driven tutoring - Empowering educators with AI-assisted planning and feedback tools - Real-world examples of AI integration in educational settings - Strategies for implementing AI to support both students and teachers Whether you're an educator, policymaker, or technology enthusiast, this talk provides valuable insights into the intersection of AI and education.Dawide Naude | Embracing AI and Innovation Keynote | Saxton Speakers
Dawid Naude | Australian Business Events Association Keynote
Dawid Naude | ADAPT Keynote | Saxton Speakers
In this fast-paced 20-minute ADAPT Digital Edge 2025 keynote, Dawid Naude, CEO and Founder of AFR Award-Winning Pathfindr, cuts through the AI noise by sharing 3 real-world use cases from leading brands doing it right. Taking a practical “AI-for-now” approach, Dawid will share insights on how his team has supported leading enterprises across APAC to reimagine what’s possible and achieve breakout innovation and growth. This keynote covers: – The Critical Role of Internal AI Champions Why building a dedicated AI taskforce isn’t optional—it’s the backbone of sustainable transformation and cultural adoption. – ChatGPT Excellence for Execs Why every senior executive team needs to master ChatGPT, now. It’s not just about productivity; it’s about credibility, vision, and unlocking the power of everyday, off-the-shelf AI.Audio
It was a pleasure to meet Dawid. He was incredibly professional and did a fantastic job tailoring his content to our audience. He provided really valuable insights and kept everyone engaged ... keep reading Sportsbet Pty Ltd
Dawid left us all inspired about how we could use AI, even the Googler's learned a lot.
One of our members said it was the best association presentation they've seen in 30 years. Dawid made all our members aware and excited about AI, there was a long queue to chat to him afterwards.
Dawid made us all realise that we've had our head in the sand - and that it's an exciting technology to embrace right now.
Dawid’s talk was a massive hit. He was engaging, funny, and brought to life AI for our entire audience, as well as challenging us to think bigger.
Dawid’s immersion sessions were fantastic - he has an art for showing what’s possible when it comes to identifying new capabilities.
It was an amazing experience working with Dawid. MBA books talk about the qualities of a good leader and few meet those qualities like he does - i.e. technical, smart, inspiring, cool under pressure, open to new ideas, reasonable, and above all, gives you freedom to drive a project to success.
Dawid has an exceptional ability to understand complex challenges, and then build optimal solutions through strong trust & credibility with all stakeholders. He consistently demonstrates collaborative enterprise behaviour.
Dawid's story, from his global transitions to his evolution from finance to technology and entrepreneurship, exemplifies a profound commitment to personal growth, professional excellence, and the pursuit of innovation. His story continues to unfold with the development of Pathfindr so I’d recommend you buckle up because Pathfindr is no doubt going to be a brand to watch!
The presentation was exceptional. Dawid demonstrated outstanding flexibility by tailoring the content specifically to our team's needs. His engaging delivery style, combined with insightful content, resonated strongly with the audience. His enthusiastic approach and expertise generated overwhelmingly positive feedback from the attendees. We greatly appreciated both his professional insights and his time commitment to this session.
Dawid opened our eyes to the power of AI, the exciting changes coming to business banks, and the future of lending!
