MDN x REA Immersion Day: Bridging Industry and Education

A Day of Learning and Collaboration

On February 28th, Monash DeepNeuron (MDN) had the privilege of stepping into the world of REA Group for an Immersion Day at their Melbourne office. This event was a unique opportunity for our postgraduate AI students to connect with industry leaders and gain firsthand insights into how AI is shaping the future of property experiences in Australia.

The day began with Nyan Kyaw sharing the successes of MDN Technical Projects, highlighting how partnerships with industry leaders like REA Group mark an exciting new chapter for MDN. Following this, Ingrid Russell and Anton Wintergerst provided an inspiring overview of REA’s mission, community initiatives, and sustainability programs, reminding us of the power of collaboration in creating meaningful impact.

One of the most engaging sessions was led by Danni Garcia and Diego Marinho, who took us behind the scenes of AI/ML at REA. They showcased how REA applies AI theory at scale to deliver value to millions of Australians every month. Yicheng Guo and John Hannebery also shared their experiences and offered valuable advice on how they hope to support MDN members in their AI research projects.

A standout moment of the day was the Entry to REA Showcase, where REA’s 12.0 Grad & 9.0 Springboard cohort presented their recreated REA brand websites. The MDN members were highly engaged, sparking rich discussions on teamwork, pair programming, and the rapid acquisition of new skills.

Thank You to REA Group

We’d like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to REA Group for organizing this incredible event. A special thanks to Anton Wintergerst, Danni Garcia, Diego Marinho, Yicheng Guo, John Hannebery, and the CX AI team for their insightful presentations and support. Special thanks to Sarah Murray for her support and Drew Pearse for sponsoring the event.

We’re also deeply grateful to Ingrid Russell for her exceptional efforts in making the day a success, and to Fabian Serruto and the eTech team for ensuring a seamless research journey for MDN members.

Thank you to Grace Sendjaja, Gio Basrewan, Aurelia Iskandar, and Vincent Frascello for welcoming our members and making them feel at home. And finally, a big congratulations to the 12.0 Grads and 9.0 Springboarders for their impressive showcase – your hard work and creativity were truly inspiring!

Looking Ahead

This Immersion Day was a testament to the power of collaboration between industry and education. We’re excited to continue building on this partnership and exploring new opportunities to learn, grow, and innovate together.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this day possible, including Jayus Kion, Nikhil Chalisgaonkar, Sophie Xu, the MDN leadership team and members for their active participation. Here’s to many more collaborations that push the boundaries of AI and technology!

Stay tuned for more updates from MDN as we continue to bridge the gap between academia and industry. 🚀

Monash DeepNeuron x REA Group

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Monash DeepNeuron x REA Group 〰️

Author: Ha Hoang

Special thanks to: Regina Lu & Sophie Xu