Knowledge at work in 2014: The Global Brain

This year’s At Work event saw eight speakers across three themes - Knowledge, Connectivity and Technology - exploring how these are transforming industries and making ‘business as usual’ anything but. The first theme of the event, Knowledge, comprised three talks – Steve Vamos on leadership in the digital era, Dr Sam Gandy on dementia in athletes and Ayesha Khanna on STEM education. View the full series of At Work talks on knowledge below.
 

Steve Vamos Non-executive Director, Telstra

In our technologically advanced world, people and the value of shared knowledge is more important than ever before. Continued innovation requires more flexible workplace structures that encourage employees to make the mistakes that allow them to quickly gain necessary new knowledge in unchartered realms.

 

Dr. Sam Gandy Director, Centre of Cognitive Health and NFL Neurological Care, Mount Sinai Hospital

Dementia is often associated with the ageing process, however research from Dr. Sam Gandy and his team at Mount Sinai Hospital highlights the link between repetitive brain injury in sport and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). CTE was formerly known as Dementia pugilistica because it was commonly found in boxers, but Gandy’s research shows that any athlete who regularly experiences brain trauma, NFL players for example, are susceptible to the disease. Learn more about the generative brain disease shaking football to its core in our Q&A with Gandy here.

 

Ayesha Khanna Editor, The Economist, Look Ahead

Why is Ayesha Khanna passionate about encouraging students to study science, technology, engineering and science? No matter where they live, Khanna knows that STEM education will equip kids today with the knowledge they will need to navigate the world in their adult lives. Read our Q&A with her here.