Events Speakers 6DAI Sydney 2026
Mark Jones, MC
Mark Jones is a globally recognised strategist, author and former journalist who spent over 20 years shaping narratives as a journalist, editor and publisher across Australia and Silicon Valley –including as IT Editor at The Australian Financial Review and senior roles at IDG and Fairfax.
Ranil Boteju, Chief AI Officer, Commonwealth Bank
Ranil is the Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer at the Commonwealth Bank. His focus is on industrialising and scaling AI capabilities to deliver world-class customer experiences, improve productivity and support faster delivery of AI-driven solutions. Ranil has over 25 years’ of global experience transforming organisations and creating measurable value through data, analytics and AI. He has held executive and senior leadership roles across leading financial services and telecommunications organisations across the Asia Pacific region and in London, including Lloyds Banking Group, Vodafone, Standard Chartered Bank and HSBC. He brings deep expertise in building and leading large, multi disciplinary and geographically distributed teams, and in operating within agile, cross functional environments.
Memo Hayek, Chief Infomation Officer, Zip Co
Memo leads the Zip Co’s global technology strategy, engineering, cyber security, data and technology operations, driving innovation across one of Australia’s leading digital financial services companies. With more than 30 years’ experience spanning banking, financial services, media and technology, Memo has held senior executive leadership roles at Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, NAB, Macquarie, Credit Suisse and Nine Entertainment. Renowned for leading complex enterprise transformations, she has extensive expertise across AI, cloud, cyber security, digital platforms and operational resilience. Memo is passionate about building high-performing teams, modern technology operating models and leveraging emerging technologies to deliver customer value, business growth and long-term competitive advantage.
Lee Hickin, Executive Director, National AI Centre
Lee has over 30 years’ experience in the technology industry, having been in technical, sales and business development roles. Most recently he was the CTO for Microsoft ANZ and then lead the Asia region for Microsoft’s global Responsible AI team. Lee has worked across the UK, Asia, and Australia, before joining the Federal Government. In addition to his time at Microsoft, Lee led the Internet of Things team for Amazon Web Services in Asia Pacific, he was a CISSP security architect with RSA Security and worked at both Tivoli and IBM as a software engineer. During his time in industry, Lee has supported Governments around the world as an independent contributor; having been a member of the Singapore AI-Verify Board and a founding member of the NSW AI Assurance Committee.Today Lee leads the Australian National AI Centre (NAIC), with a mission to enable and support Australian Industry and society in its adoption of and acceleration through AI technology and services. He has a clear focus on the need for consistent and appropriate responsible safety mechanisms to support AI, balanced with the need to empower Australians with the confidence and trust in the positive and transformative potential of AI.Lee brings the importance of technical understanding combined with the need for clear and unambiguous language as we help shape a future where AI will be a powerful enabler of productivity, growth and society broadly.
Maggie Shi, Chief AI Innovation Officer, Westpac
Maggie leads the bank’s AI innovation agenda, driving the incubation, development and enterprise-scale adoption of artificial intelligence, generative AI and agentic AI capabilities. Working across business, technology, data, risk and operations, Maggie is responsible for identifying and scaling high-impact AI opportunities that deliver practical, customer-focused outcomes. Prior to joining Westpac, she was a Distinguished Engineer at Commonwealth Bank, leading engineering teams responsible for the bank’s AI and data platforms, including MLOps, LLMOps, generative AI and agentic AI capabilities. Earlier in her career, Maggie spent almost six years at Meta, where she led Business Engineering across Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Korea, helping organisations harness machine learning and data-driven technologies at scale. With more than 25 years’ experience spanning software engineering, AI, product innovation and enterprise transformation, Maggie is recognised as one of Australia’s leading AI executives, helping shape the next generation of intelligent enterprises
Sid Baidwan, Chief AI Officer,Colonial First State
Sid leads enterprise AI and data strategy, governance, platforms and the AI Centre of Excellence at Colonial First State. With more than 25 years’ experience across banking, wealth and insurance, he has previously served as Chief AI Officer at Smartgroup, led Strategy, Innovation and AI Transformation at Suncorp, held senior leadership roles with HSBC across Asia Pacific and London, and advised global financial institutions with McKinsey & Company. Sid brings a rare combination of engineering expertise, commercial strategy and executive leadership in applying AI at scale
Jesse Arundell, General Manager, AI, Analytics & Data Science, Optus
Jesse leads the strategy, development and enterprise-scale adoption of artificial intelligence, analytics and data science to transform customer experiences, empower employees and accelerate business innovation. Previously, Jesse spent almost a decade at Commonwealth Bank leading Emerging Technology, where he was responsible for identifying, developing and scaling breakthrough technologies including AI, machine learning and advanced analytics across one of Australia’s largest financial institutions. Recognised as one of Australia’s leading enterprise AI executives, Jesse is passionate about translating emerging technologies into measurable business outcomes and helping organisations build practical, responsible and scalable AI capabilities.
Stela Solar, Chief Executive Officer, Stone & Chalk
Stela is Chief Executive Officer of Stone & Chalk, Australia’s largest innovation community, where she is leading the next generation of AI-driven entrepreneurship, startup growth and sovereign technology capability. A recognised leader in artificial intelligence and digital transformation, Stela previously served as the inaugural Director of Australia’s National AI Centre, where she developed the nation’s first AI adoption guidance, co-chaired the Commonwealth AI Consortium and helped shape the Voluntary AI Safety Standard. Prior to joining Stone & Chalk, she was Managing Director, Data & AI at Accenture ANZ and spent more than a decade at Microsoft in global AI leadership roles. With more than 20 years’ experience spanning government, enterprise, startups and big tech, Stela is widely recognised for helping organisations harness AI responsibly to drive innovation, productivity and long-term competitive advantage.
Ashish Khurana, Chief Data & AI Officer,Transurban
Ashish leads the Transurban’s enterprise data, artificial intelligence and digital capabilities to accelerate innovation, operational performance and customer outcomes across one of Australia’s largest transport infrastructure companies. With extensive executive leadership experience spanning infrastructure, financial services and insurance, Ashish has built a reputation for delivering large-scale business transformation through data, AI, cloud and modern technology platforms. He has led enterprise-wide modernisation initiatives that strengthen organisational resilience, improve decision-making and unlock measurable business value. Passionate about helping organisations move beyond AI experimentation, Ashish works closely with executive leadership to embed trusted, enterprise-scale AI capabilities that deliver measurable operational and customer outcomes, while establishing the governance, data foundations and technology platforms required to scale AI securely and responsibly across the enterprise.
Aurélie Jacquet, Expert on AI Classification & Risk, OECD; NSW Government AI Assurance Board
Aurélie is a senior cybersecurity and risk leader with extensive experience across financial services and critical infrastructure. She specialises in cyber strategy, resilience, and governance, with a strong focus on aligning security to business outcomes and regulatory expectations. Aurélie has led large-scale transformation initiatives, helping organisations strengthen their security posture while enabling innovation. She is known for her practical, business-first approach to managing cyber risk in increasingly complex and AI-driven environments.
Dr Tom Gao, Chief Technology & Digital Services Officer, City of Sydney
Tom is a seasoned digital and technology leader with deep experience across digital platforms and the Microsoft ecosystem, spanning both line management and large-scale transformation programs. He has led high performing teams in startup and enterprise environments, delivering complex, IT enabled change while building strong trust with executives and frontline stakeholders. In 2025, Tom was ranked among the Top 10 CIOs in Australia by CIO50 and recognised nationally as CIO of the Year by IDG, as well as CIO of Local Government of the Year by ITNews, reflecting his impact at both strategic and operational levels.
Abhi Kadian, Chief Process & Intelligent Automation Officer, Westpac
Abhi leads the bank’s intelligent automation strategy, driving the adoption of AI, automation and process transformation to enhance operational efficiency, customer experience and enterprise performance. Working across business and technology, Abhi is focused on scaling intelligent automation, embedding AI into core operations and helping shape the future operating model of one of Australia’s largest financial institutions. He brings extensive experience in business transformation, process optimisation and the practical application of emerging technologies to deliver measurable business outcomes.
Dr Simon Longstaff AO, Executive Director, The Ethics Centre
Dr Simon Longstaff AO is Executive Director of The Ethics Centre and one of Australia’s leading voices on ethics, governance and responsible leadership. For more than three decades, he has advised business, government and community leaders on navigating complex ethical challenges, building trust and strengthening organisational accountability. Simon is widely recognised for his work on the ethical implications of emerging technologies, decision-making and corporate responsibility in an increasingly complex world. In 2013, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to the community through the promotion of ethical standards in governance and business. He is an Adjunct Professor at the Australian Graduate School of Management at UNSW and a Fellow of CPA Australia, the Royal Society of NSW and the Australian Risk Policy Institute.
Luiz Pizzato, Distinguished AI Scientist, Commonwealth Bank
Luiz is a Distinguished AI Scientist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), where he is building foundation models and applied AI systems. With a PhD in Computer Science and more than 20 years of experience in machine learning and AI, he has turned research into products, patents, open-source contributions, and large-scale enterprise capabilities. Luiz pioneered reciprocal recommender systems, developing early algorithms for people-matching in online dating and talent recruitment, and has co-authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications. At CBA, he has led AI initiatives that protect vulnerable customers from financial abuse, support communities during natural disasters, and accelerate responsible AI adoption across the Group.
Andrew Friar, Chief Technology Officer, Macquarie University
Andrew is Chief Technology Officer at Macquarie University, where he is responsible for enterprise technology strategy, digital transformation, and the delivery of secure and scalable IT services that support teaching, research, and innovation. He has extensive experience across higher education and complex organisations, leading modernisation programs, cloud transformation, and the integration of emerging technologies to enhance student and staff experiences.
Devesh Maheshwari, Chief Technology Officer, Lendi Group
Devesh is Chief Technology Officer at Lendi Group, where he leads technology, product engineering, and platform innovation across one of Australia’s leading digital home loan marketplaces. He brings deep experience in building and scaling high-performance engineering organisations, with a focus on digital platforms, data-driven products, and delivering seamless customer experiences. Devesh is known for driving technology transformation in fast-growth environments and aligning technology strategy with business outcomes.
Alex Taylor, Global Head of Emerging Technology, QBE Ventures
Alex is the Global Head of Emerging Technology of QBE Ventures, the venture investment and development arm of QBE Insurance. Alex and the team invest in, build alongside and partner with early-stage technology companies that have the potential to reshape the insurance industry. Alex is an innovation and disruption specialist and futurist, helping established companies to see where the threats lie, and how they can play in the same field and with the same tools as the disrupters – and has spoken before a wide range of audiences on the Horizon 1 to Horizon 3 innovation and disruption journey, and how to navigate the bridge between. As the technology lead on a number of AI/ML investments in VC and CVC environments, Alex has lived the challenge of applying machine learning and related technologies in highly regulated environments – from visual and voice analytics, customer sentiment platforms and IoT to the challenges of vehicular automation. Before joining QBE, Alex was the Director of Emerging and Innovation Technology and also Entrepreneur in Residence at IAG.
Susan Gibson, Head of Data Analytics & AI, University of Technology Sydney
Susan is Head of Data Analytics & AI at the University of Technology Sydney, where she leads the University’s enterprise data, analytics and AI strategy. A respected technology leader, Susan combines strategic vision with deep technical expertise to drive data-informed decision-making, responsible AI adoption and large-scale digital transformation. She is a passionate advocate for ethical AI, AI governance and building AI capability across organisations, helping ensure emerging technologies deliver measurable value while balancing innovation with trust and risk. Susan is also recognised as one of Australia’s leading voices in data and AI leadership.
John Sutherland, Chief Digital & Information Officer, Calvary Healthcare
John Sutherland is currently Chief Digital Information Officer at Calvary Health Care, a large not-for-profit hospital and aged care provider. Prior to this, he was CIO at dementia specialist HammondCare and Ramsay Health Care and Cochlear, two of Australia’s most successful international healthcare success stories. John has over 30 years’ experience in various technology roles across a range of industries in Australia and the UK, including as board member and advisor, guest lecturer and mentor to students transitioning to industry. John was recognised as the Australian Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Year in 2020, acknowledging his role leading Ramsay Health Care through the COVID-19 pandemic response. In 2022 he made the Global CIO 100 list and became an Alumni Laurate of the Australian National University – his alma mater – at the 50th year celebrations of the School of Computer Science at the ANU.
Paul Arthur, Regional Vice President, ANZ, OutSystems
Paul serves as Regional Vice President for ANZ at OutSystems. He advises business and technology executives on accelerating digital transformation and shifting from siloed AI pilots to fully governed, enterprise-scale Agentic portfolios. Prior to OutSystems, Paul held senior leadership roles across ANZ and APAC, building high-performing teams, expanding market presence and driving growth for leading technology organisations.
Joe Locandro, EVP & Global Chief Information Officer, Rimini Street
Joe is responsible for leading Rimini Street’s global, mission-critical IT business applications and operations team and establishing strategic plans for the company’s current and future capabilities of IT. Joe is a seasoned business technology and transformation leader with over 25 years in senior IT executive roles including CTO, CIO, CDO and Chief Transformation Officer, a career spanning a range of complex industries from airlines, utilities, and manufacturing to building and construction. His extensive background includes working for many global organizations along with providing his expertise to advisory boards for governments, universities, and statutory authorities. With deep experience leading culturally diverse international environments such as mainland China, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East, Joe champions a culture of collaboration across internal and external stakeholders. Focused on delivering tangible and measurable results, he enjoys identifying business opportunities using a combination of contemporary and emerging technologies, and bringing together people, tools and a shared purpose in realizing the company vision. Previously, Joe served as CIO at Fletcher Building (Australia and New Zealand), Chief Digital & Business Transformation Officer at Austral Energy Market Operator, Vice President of Business Technology Services at Emirates Airlines, CIO of Cathay Pacific Airways and CIO of China Light & Power.
Kendal Cole, Senior Security Specialist, Splunk
Kendal is a Senior Security Specialist at Splunk. With over 25 years of experience in the field, Kendal is a seasoned cybersecurity strategist – specialising in SOC platforms, advanced cloud-native application protection, exposure management and identity security. Kendal has spent over two decades helping organisations keep pace with the accelerating rates of change required to defend against ever evolving risks. As a hands-on innovator, Kendal actively bridges the gap between legacy security structures and emerging tech by introducing real-world AI-driven automation workflows and agents. This unique combination of deep-rooted cybersecurity expertise and AI application offers a rare, highly grounded perspective on modern digital defense. With AI rapidly rewriting the rules of both enterprise risk and protection, navigating this new frontier requires a distinct strategic blueprint. Kendal’s forward-looking insights provide a timely roadmap for organisations aiming to securely harness the next wave of technological innovation.