Bryony Cole

Founder at Future of Sex

Bryony Cole is the world’s foremost authority on sextech, renowned for her groundbreaking work exploring how technology shapes our most intimate experiences. As the creator and host of the acclaimed podcast Future of Sex, she has become a sought-after speaker, captivating audiences worldwide with her insights into emerging trends at the intersection of sexuality and technology. Governments, tech giants, and entertainment leaders rely on Bryony’s expertise to navigate this rapidly evolving industry. With an impressive portfolio of research, globally recognized sextech hackathons, and the Future of Sex podcast, Bryony has set the gold standard for thought leadership in the field. In 2020, she founded Sextech School, a pioneering pre-accelerator program that equips entrepreneurs and investors with the tools to innovate and succeed in the sextech space. Bryony’s work not only highlights the possibilities of technology in fostering intimacy but also inspires a new wave of creativity and innovation in one of the most dynamic sectors today. She has written, spoken, and consulted on the topic extensively and frequently appears in media and television discussing the impact of technology in relationships and sexuality including The Today Show, The Money Channel, Fox Business News, Netflix, Viceland and Technopia, Wired, TechCrunch, The New York Times, Playboy, Mashable, Motherboard, ABC, Financial Review, Forbes and other global media. Bryony's podcast and events feature interviews with experts and innovators from the fields of technology, sex education, and sex therapy, discussing the intersection of technology and human sexuality, The show also covers sextech news and trends, and gives a platform for start-ups and experts in the field to talk about their work. Bryony has been awarded places in the Google-Walkely Media Incubator for Innovation in Journalism and Australian Advance Queensland HotDesQ accelerator. Her mission is to make the conversation about sex more inclusive, open and accessible, and to give people the tools they need to make informed decisions when it comes to sex and technology.

Sunrise Sessions

(
Colissions Stage
)
Frictionless Dating: Swipe Left on Apps, Swipe Right on Chaos

Dating apps promised endless romance, connection at your fingertips, and love without the hassle. But perhaps we've misunderstood friction all along. What if friction—the awkward first dates, the nerves, the serendipitous encounters—is actually the secret sauce to meaningful connections? Have dating apps made us too efficient for our own good, stripping away the mystery, uncertainty, and excitement essential to human romance? Or is friction overrated, and are we romanticising chaos? This playful yet insightful session brings together a panel of dating app experts, relationship thinkers, tech sceptics, and chaos enthusiasts to explore the paradox of frictionless romance. Prepare to debate, laugh, cringe, and reconsider the ways technology shapes how we love, connect, and navigate the messy, beautiful chaos of relationships.