Canberra Chapter Monthly Meeting
Tuesday 21 July 2026
In-Person 6.00 pm & Online 7.00pm (AEST)
AGENDA
PLEASE REGISTER FOR IN-PERSON and ONLINE ATTENDANCE
6.00 – 6.10pm - Members Share Portfolio Competition – Gabriel Spacca
6.10 – 6.20pm – ASX Review – Bruce Taylor
6.20 – 6.30pm – Tea/Coffee/Snack Break
7.00 – 8.00pm – Online Presentation: AI: There is still nothing new in Trading – Phil Johns
8.00pm – Canberra Members and guests Dinner
AI: There is still nothing new in Trading – Phil Johns
The market is long until it is short—and short until it is long.
On 10 November 1957, in a syndicated newspaper article titled Work With New Electronic “Brains” Opens Field for Army Math Experts, U.S. Army Specialist William D. Mellin used the phrase GIGO—Garbage In, Garbage Out. He was explaining that computers cannot correct sloppy programming or poor-quality input.
Nearly 70 years later, nothing has changed. AI is only as useful as the instructions it receives—and the hardest part is knowing what to ask when you do not yet know what you need to ask.
Phil will work through two practical, bolt-on AI projects that can improve your trading strategies—regardless of the strategy type, trading platform or AI engine you use.
- The first project focuses on leveraging the existing capabilities of your trading platform to reduce risk.
- The second uses AI to improve trade analysis across strategy backtests and live trading results.
- Attendees will be provided the instructions on ‘how to’ for both case studies.
Biography – Phil Johns - Director, Quantitative/Algo Trader, AlgoAi Labs and ATAA Board member.
Phil has his own trading company, exclusively trading company funds. Phil began manually trading Forex, indexes, and some metals around 2012. Initially, Phil made significant profits and then lost the same amount by 2014. With a background in coding and software development, Phil dedicated two years to acquire extensive knowledge on building automated trading systems.
Over the last 10 years, Phil has designed:
- various proprietary systems that allow strategy builders to visually create, test, and trade strategies without the need for coding;
- custom indicators using non-standard mathematical formulas;
- Multiple strategies backtested, coded and trading using AI
Date: Tuesday, July 21 at 6.00pm in person, Online at 7.00pm
Location: Board Room, Eastlake Football Club, 3 Oxley St, Griffith (Free Parking onsite)
Further Information: mark.gleeson@ataa.asn.au
Next Meeting: Tuesday, August 18, 2026@ Eastlake Football Club Topic: TBA.
Canberra Chapter meetings are usually held on the 3rd Tuesday of the Month.