6PM
3rd February 2026
AI is changing how decisions get made. The leaders who win are the ones who can spot threats earlier, keep judgement in the driver’s seat, and act with clarity when information is incomplete.
This session is different because you will feel the tension of real, top-level chess moments, then see exactly how the same decision patterns show up in boardrooms, deals, and growth calls.
David will give you a simple, memorable chess-based framework you can apply immediately to make cleaner, faster decisions in an AI accelerated world.
Event details
Date: Tuesday 3 February 2026
Time: 6:00pm to 8:00pm (doors open 5:40pm, talk begins after 6:10pm)
Location: Rydges South Bank, Brisbane.
What you will take away
A repeatable framework for clearer decisions under pressure
Practical ways to think about strategy and risk when the information is incomplete
A sharper lens for competitive advantage and leadership judgement in an AI-accelerated world
Three clear ideas you can explain to your team the next day
What to expect on the night
David’s sharp perspective on how AI has quietly reshaped top-level chess and what that signals for business
Three chessboard lessons that translate into better strategy, risk control, and leadership judgement
A practical way to think about when to trust AI, when to challenge it, and how to keep judgement in the driver’s seat
An interactive “choose the move” moment that shows how strong teams miss winning lines in plain sight
Live Q&A, then a short close from Adam with a simple pathway for those exploring follow-up bookings
Who should attend
Business owners and founders building toward $10M plus valuations
Accountants, brokers, lawyers, and advisors who want sharper judgement and stronger advisory conversations
Leaders who want to make better calls, faster, when the stakes are real
Books and signing
David will have books available for purchase and signing after the session, with time for photos and informal conversations.
Hosted by Investors Forum
Curated connections for growth-focused owners, advisors, and active investors.
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Your ticket ensures you don't miss valuable insights from our keynote speaker, and includes a drink on arrival with canapés.
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David Smerdon is an Australian chess Grandmaster and Associate Professor in economics at the University of Queensland. On the chessboard, David has represented Australia at the Chess Olympiad eight times, four of those as Australia’s top player, and is a former Oceania Continental Champion and Commonwealth bronze medallist. In 2016, he drew with World Champion Magnus Carlsen at the Olympiad in Baku. Off the board, David’s work sits at the intersection of decision-making, incentives, and human behaviour. Prior to academia, he worked as a policy analyst at the Australian Department of Treasury. He is also the author of widely read chess books including The Complete Chess Swindler (winner of the English Chess Federation’s Book of the Year) and Smerdon’s Scandinavian.
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Come and join us
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Book now to hear real stories from business pioneers, and meet experts and professionals making waves and innovating their industries.
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