Adam Spencer, Drawcard MC
A math genius, radio and television presenter, author and TEDx speaker whose talk attracted over two million views, Adam has interviewed bestselling authors, astronauts, CEOs, and CIOs of some of the world’s largest companies, winners of Nobel Prizes, and every Prime Minister on-stage since Gough Whitlam, among others.
Adam Spencer has been a breakfast radio announcer on Triple J and ABC Sydney, TV personality on everything from comedies Good News Week and The Glasshouse to weekly sports wrap The Back Page, and is a member of the Sleek Geeks Science Team with Dr Karl Kruszelnicki.
David Walker, Group Chief Technology Officer, Westpac Group
David Walker joined as Westpac Group’s Chief Technology Officer in 2019. David commenced his technology career in 1987 as an engineer, coding systems for various Australian based companies. After a decade of evolving his software engineering craft, David founded a consultancy specialising in the use of data, in what is now known as data science. For the last 15 years, David has been in large, complex organisations. He worked in ANZ across a number of executive roles, in both Australia and Singapore. It was in Singapore where David subsequently joined DBS, which transformed from a traditional bricks and mortar bank to be recognised as the Best Bank in the World and the Best Digital Bank in the World by Euromoney.
Leonie Valentine, CEO & Co-Founder, CX Guardian AI (Former Chief AI Officer at Regional AI Network & MD at leading companies including Google, Australia Post & Telstra)
Leonie Valentine is a distinguished executive with extensive experience in technology and telecommunications and is the CEO and co-founder of CX Guardian AI. She was previously with the Australian Regional AI Network and has held c-level executive leadership positions at Telstra, Google and Australia Post. Leonie is a digital industry leader with 30 years’ experience in general management, sales, marketing and operations, including 20 years in digital technology and telecommunications. Over the years Leonie has been an active member of a number of boards including Not For Profits and ASX-listed Pro-Pac Packaging Ltd. She currently serves as a board member for Save the Children Australia.
Chris Fechner, Chief Executive Officer, Digital Transformation Agency
Before joining the Australian Public Service, Chris was the Queensland Government Chief Customer and Digital Officer throughout 2020 and 2021. Chris was previously the Chief Digital and Product Officer at Service NSW. Prior to that, Chris held a number of senior positions across the NSW and Queensland governments as well as in freight and rail organisations. As CEO, Chris is responsible for leading the DTA to ensure it delivers on the Government’s digital transformation agenda, in accordance with the agency’s executive order and the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013. Chris is also the Head of the Digital Profession; he started his two-year term in January 2023.
Su Jella, Director Data & Insights, Tennis Australia & Winner of Women in AI 2025 APAC
Su is a visionary leader who harnesses the power of data and AI to drive innovation and transform challenges into enlightening journeys of discovery. Her work fuels smarter business decisions and catalyzes transformative growth in top-tier organizations. Recognized globally for her contributions, Su has received numerous prestigious awards, including being named among the Global Top 100 Innovators in Data and Analytics, winning the Women in AI (Asia Pacific) award, and being listed as one of the Top 25 Leaders in Australia.
Martin Granell, Domain Lead for Generative AI, Commonwealth Bank
At CBA, Martin is responsible for enabling the safe and effective use of Generative AI across the group. This domain will develop tools, platforms and frameworks to power Generative AI based solutions supporting more personalised experiences for our customers and our people. We bring a customer first mindset into every decision; every day, whilst taking a holistic change management approach to drive organisational adoption.
Amanda Fleming, Chief Digital and Transformation Officer, Viva Energy Australia
Amanda Fleming has over 20 years of experience across Retail, Fast Food and FMCG leading business-wide transformations, as well as Human Resources, Merchandise, Operations and Commercial functions. Prior to Viva Energy, Amanda was the Chief Transformation Officer (CTO) and Managing Director, Commercial, for Super Retail Group, the owners of Super Cheap Auto, Rebel, Boating, Camping, Fishing (BCF) and MacPac. Previously Amanda has held executive roles including Director of Human Resources for Coles Group in the Wesfarmers organisation, Chief Operations Officer and Chief People Officer for Pizza Hut USA, and Human Resources Director for Mars in Australia (where she also served as European Organisational Development Manager for Mars in the UK and Europe).
Adam Carthew, Chief Information Officer, Service Victoria
Service Victoria is transforming the way public sector agencies interact with citizens by creating new digital channels to make it faster and easier to get things done with government. Adam is an experienced IT professional with executive management experience in large IT and architecture teams, with a strong focus on strategy and outcomes. Adam brings a breadth of industry experience to Service Victoria, with previous technology executive roles at ANZ heading up architecture functions as well as delivering and managing retail platforms. At Coles Financial Services he helped guide the customer technology direction of the emerging business. His previous role was at Target Australia within the Kmart Group where he oversaw eCommerce and store technology focusing on bringing the customer experience across channel together through technology solutions. In 2021 – 2023, Adam was selected in the top 50 CIO’s in Australia.
Annie South, Executive, Data and Artificial Intelligence Management, Telstra Corporation
Annie has a distinguished career specialising in creating Data & AI teams in both Australia and the UK. She is noted for her pragmatic approach and ability to deliver impactful business outcomes by leveraging a disciplined approach to governance. Annie joined Telstra as Chief Data & AI Officer in 2023. Prior to this, Annie was at RMIT University as Director, Data Management CoE, ME Bank as the inaugural General Manager for Data, and a number of other roles across different specialisms of data and analytics.
Dr Greg Adamson, Chief Information & Security Officer, Department of Transport Victoria
Dr Greg Adamson has worked in cybersecurity since 1993. Greg is also the chair of IEEE Meta Issues in Cyber Security, Board member of the Australasian Cyber Law Institute, and Technical Activities VP in IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology. He has tertiary qualifications in engineering, IT and law, and a PhD in Internet e-business. He is a published researcher on shortcomings of explainable AI and is an honorary associate professor at the Nossal Institute of Global Health, University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.
Michelle Fitzgerald, Group Chief Digital Officer, St Vincent's Health Australia
Michelle leads the digital innovation and tech agenda for St Vincent’s Health Australia. Michelle is recognised as a high performing digital strategy executive and non-executive director with a proven track record in leading and governing strategy, design, testing and implementation of high impact, customer-led change in purpose-driven organisations that operate in disruptive environments. Michelle balances strategic foresight and vision with practical implementation, builds high performing teams, and has been recognised as a leading digital innovator in Australian government and industry.
Priyanka Paranagama, Chief Technology Officer & EGM, AI Transformation, Suncorp Group
Priyanka leads the development and activation of Suncorp’s technology strategy, in alignment with the business strategy, priorities and customer objectives. He also leads formulation of Suncorp’s AI, advanced analytics and data strategies and is accountable for delivering AI-enabled operational transformation across the enterprise. Priyanka has over 25 years’ experience as a Data and Technology leader working across a number of industries, organisations and roles. He has led data and analytics strategies and transformation programs in many large institutions in financial services and the public sector. Prior to joining Suncorp, Priyanka held a Partnership at Ernst & Young Australia. Previously, he has been a Partner at IBM Global Business Services, and held leadership positions at National Australia Bank (where he was NAB’s first ‘head of data’), ANZ Banking Group (Divisional CIO for Corporate Centre) and Ansett/Traveland (CIO, Traveland, Australia’s largest travel agency at the time).
Matthias Hansen, Group Chief Technology Officer, Dominos Pizza Enterprises
Matthias Hansen joined Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Limited (Domino’s) as the company’s Group Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in 2021, and his responsibility spans the company’s twelve markets. As a member of the Global Leadership Team, Matthias puts Domino’s digitalisation at the centre of the company’s aggressive growth and innovation strategy globally. Matthias is a highly accomplished leader in the technology space, with more than 30 years’ global experience in technology and digital leadership roles with Verisure, Telstra, Centrica Plc, T-Mobile, Dell Corporation and Renault Financial Services.
Shannon Jurkovic, Chief Information Security Officer, Australian Retirement Trust
Shannon Jurkovic is Chief Information Security Officer for Australian Retirement Trust (ART). She joined ART in June 2024 after 5 years with Bendigo and Adelaide Bank as Chief Information Security Officer and Head of Technology and Data Risk, and 15 years in senior technology risk, cyber security and business resilience management consulting roles. Shannon is a strong advocate for taking a holistic approach to cyber security and resilience – one that encompasses culture, people, governance, process and controls, as well as technology.
Craig Rowlands, The General Manager Enterprise Data, Australian Unity
Craig’s role is to provide thought leadership, expertise in supplying pragmatic business focussed data, analytics, AI and automation solutions. Whilst leading highly skilled teams to deliver on Australian Unity’s strategic aim of delivering Real Wellbeing for Members, their communities and broader Australian society. As General Manager Enterprise Data & Analytics, Craig is the ultimate custodian of data strategy, governance, AI and capability for Australian Unity. This group wide role harnesses the power of advances in AI, data analytics and automation to deliver enterprise-wide digital and data ambitions and responsible for monetising and exploiting the information assets of Australian Unity. Craig worked for blue chip banking and finance industry leaders such as Barclays, First Direct, GE and Hbos in the UK. His first role in Australia was with ANZ as Head of Decision Systems. Craig has also held senior data roles at Bupa, Medibank, and Latitude Financial Services (formally GE) where he led large teams responsible for data strategy & design, data governance, data visualisation, data operations, data engineering and analytics.
Eloise Leaver, Industry Program Manager, National AI Centre
Eloise Leaver is an AI Industry Program Manager at the National Artificial Intelligence Centre (NAIC), part of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. In her role, Eloise is committed to advancing Australia’s AI ecosystem by designing and delivering industry-facing programs that drive capability development and collaboration. She has a strong background in working with startups, having supported early-stage businesses across various sectors to innovate, scale, and succeed. Eloise’s experience and passion for entrepreneurship underpin her work in building connections and fostering growth within the AI industry.
Andre Bertrand, Chief Information Security Officer, Transurban
Andre Bertrand has 22 years of technology experience with a number of cyber and information security and risk management roles. Currently Andre is the Chief Information Security Officer at Transurban where he has created a global Cyber capability and delivered risk outcomes. Previously he has held leadership positions in international digital, finance, technology and media organisations. Andre has experience creating world class, engaged teams to deliver complex cyber risk management programmes that adapt to changing regulatory, business model, risk and threat challenges.
Noel Toal, Chief Information Officer, DPV Health
Noel has over twenty-five years of ICT leadership experience, he brings his expertise to his current role at DPV Health, including a significant eleven-year tenure as an ICT Executive. His multifaceted career as an Executive, Board Chair, and Entrepreneur, who successfully sold a business to a company listed on the ASX, shaped his view of ICT as a key driver of transformation. As a sought-after speaker, Noel shares insights on Data Analytics, AI, Cyber Security, and Digital Transformation. His contributions to the field have been recognized by CIO Magazine, which named him one of Australia’s top fifty CIOs in their CIO50 list for 2022, 2023 and 2024. In 2023 and 2024 he was also listed in the CSO30 list as one of the top thirty cybersecurity leaders in Australia. In 2024 and 2025 his team was a finalist in the ITnews Benchmark awards for Best Health project and he was Highly Commended in the ITnews Benchmark Security awards in 2024.
Antony Ugoni, Chief Data Scientist, HCF Australia
Antony is a senior leader who is committed to providing better consumer experiences and making marketplaces better through the judicious use of data. Prior to joining HCF Australia, Antony served as Chief Data Officer at Go1, where he successfully built and established Go1’s inaugural data strategy, leading to numerous impactful outcomes. Seeking to give his analytical tribe a bigger voice at the table Antony has served time on the Boards of the Statistical Society of Australia and ADMA,and currently sits on the Advisory Board of the Centre for Business Analytics at Melbourne Business School and is the Chair of the Institute of Analytics Professionals, Australia advisory Board. Antony is also an advisor to 4 exciting Australian start ups.
Sinan Erbay, Chief Information Officer, RMIT University
A highly regarded Technology Executive with more than 25 years of experience, Sinan is an innovative and goal-oriented leader with a record of accomplishment in establishing advanced technology strategies in large scale business environments. A proven IT Executive driving results across the entire enterprise, Sinan aligns performance for success leading to improved quality, capability and risk reduction. Sinan has Technology and Business experience which spans industry sectors: Insurance, IT Outsourcing, Retail, Financial Services and Education to name a few. Enjoying fast paced environments, Sinan is highly experienced in leading sourcing strategy, transforming IT services and building teams for the future. Sinan’s skills cover IT Strategy, architecture, program and people management, service delivery and commercial negotiations. He has proven experience on both applications and infrastructure architecture, leading teams of 500+ across geographical and multicultural environments.
Simon Bush, CEO, AIIA
Simon represents both global and local companies to federal and state governments and media. Appointed to numerous government policy and industry advisory roles including the current Government AI Experts Advisory Committee that has developed the AI guardrails and proposed new laws for Australia. Simon has led major policy reforms in Australia driving legislative and regulatory changes in the digital, media and tech sectors on issues such as: tech skills, cyber security, sovereign procurement, AI, Quantum, R&D and tax policy, privacy law, copyright law and industry policy. He has authored major white papers that have generated significant policy changes and investments by governments. Prior to the AIIA, Simon ran his own successful business advisory practice for 20 years advising some of the world’s largest tech companies on how to grow their government business winning major procurements worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Clients included SAP, Accenture, Fujitsu, Telstra, Google among others. Simon was also CEO of the Australian Home Entertainment Distributors Association (AHEDA) representing the Australian home entertainment film and TV industry in a part-time capacity. Members included Disney, Sony, Roadshow, Paramount, Universal, Warner Bros, Foxtel, Telstra and Fox. Simon started his career as a senior adviser to a federal cabinet minister and 3 years working for Accenture helping grow its public sector consulting business in Australia driving major transformation deals and head of public affairs for AN/Z.