Travels From Victoria
Speaker Topics
Automation and AI
The future of work is increasingly tech heavy, but AI won’t displace jobs. Rather, AI will make the world of work more human, more inter-personal. Repetitive technical tasks will be taken over by AI while interpersonal tasks will remain in human hands.
Read lessDecentralising Australia
Record high migration and unaffordable capital cities provide a massive opportunity for regional Australia. The nation must decentralise at scale.
Read lessDemographic certainties
The closest thing we have to a crystal ball is demographics and a few global megatrends. Simon combines these perspectives to draw a picture of the future.
Read lessFuture of housing
Housing remains the hottest discussion topic in Australia. Demographics allow us to tackle the topic from countless angles. Housing affordability impacts consumer spending. Housing availability and the national age profile dictate what type of housing will be in demand and where such demand will spike.
Read lessGenerational reshuffle
The next decade sees huge generational shifts that permanently change Australia. Millennials start families, leave the inner suburbs in search for family-sized homes, and enter the highest spending phase of the lifecycle.
Read lessGlobal demographics
Will China come out of the crisis strengthened? Is the US losing ground? How is the world changing and how is Australia positioned to succeed in such a world?
Read lessRethinking marketing
As generations enter new stages of the lifecycle, they bring along a predictable set of core values. Marketing messages must be adjusted accordingly.
Read lessShifting consumer values
Besides generational shifts, the consumer landscape is being reshaped by an ever more demanding customer cohort. Simon explains why your customers are harder than ever to satisfy.
Read lessSkills shortage
The skills shortage isn’t going away. It’s baked into the demographic pie. The next decades see the big Baby Boomer cohort retiring while only a small cohort enters the workforce.
Read lessThe ageing of Australia
Our nation ages at a much faster rate than most people realise. The population aged 85+ is doubling to 1.1 million people in the next 12 years. This isn’t just an expensive but also a labour-intensive demographic development.
Read lessSimon Kuestenmacher
Illuminating Australia’s Future Through Data and Demographics
Simon Kuestenmacher is a Director and Co-founder of The Demographics Group based in Melbourne, Australia. With degrees in geography from leading universities in Berlin and Melbourne, Simon began his career as a business consultant with KPMG Australia before co-founding The Demographics Group in 2017 alongside Bernard Salt. The group provides specialist advice on demographic, consumer and social trends for business.
Simon is renowned for his captivating presentations on demographic and global trends, delivering insights that resonate with corporate, government, and industry audiences worldwide. His engaging style, backed by data and evidence, has made him a highly sought-after speaker across diverse sectors including financial services, property, government, education, technology, retail, and professional services.
As a columnist for The New Daily and regular contributor to The Australian newspapers, Simon is a respected media commentator on demographic and data matters. He has cultivated a significant online following, with over 300,000 global followers, and a monthly reach exceeding 25 million people, ranking him among the Top 10 influencers in data visualisation globally. His social media channels, particularly Twitter, offer a continuous stream of insightful maps and data that illuminate the complex workings of our world.
Simon’s expertise extends to addressing pressing issues such as the impact of COVID-19 on consumer behaviour, global trends shaping Australia’s economic landscape, and strategies for revitalising regional Australia through innovative demographic approaches. Whether speaking on-stage, in boardrooms, or via digital platforms, Simon’s presentations are tailored meticulously to suit each audience, ensuring both relevance and impact.
In addition to his speaking engagements and media contributions, Simon advocates for rebuilding a stronger Australia post-COVID, emphasising opportunities in local manufacturing, infrastructure development, and nurturing a more resilient middle-class. He believes in harnessing demographic shifts to foster economic growth and societal well-being, making him a pivotal figure in understanding and shaping Australia’s future.