Our Speakers

John has more than 20 years’ experience in a career that has covered the breadth of financial services (banking, payments, insurance, wealth, and markets) retail, government services and logistics.

Prior to joining Coles, John spent five years at Australia Post, as CIO and EGM for Transformation and Enablement with accountability for Strategy, Technology, Communications, Government Relations, Data Science and Transformation office. He spent eight years at NAB in a variety of roles, concluding as CIO for Banking and Markets. He started his career in Management Consulting at Accenture working on large scale business transformations in Europe and Asia. John focuses on culture to make sustainable change and innovating to create customer value.

Born in Australia, John has lived and worked in Australia, Germany, Scotland, and England and has managed teams across the globe. He is passionate about learning and the potential of education to change lives.

Digital disruption has transformed the business landscape, paving the way for new business models, service offerings, and emerging products. By joining Downer, Nicola helps clients understand how Downer Digital can enhance business operations, boost performance, and deliver exceptional customer and employee experiences.

With over 25 years of experience working alongside ASX-listed companies, global multinationals, and government departments, Nicola has led strategic transformations across business, finance, and technology. As Group CIO of Downer Digital, she collaborates with clients to design and implement digital transformations. Her passion for emerging technologies, strategic vision, digital finance leadership, and operational excellence drives her to deliver exceptional outcomes for clients and strategic partners, with a focus on SAP cloud solutions.

Nicola is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Accountants (ACCA) and holds an MBA in International Finance from Oxford Brookes University School of Management. She also teaches MBA courses on digital transformation at UNSW AGSM.

As Chair of CISR at the MIT Sloan School of Management in Boston, Peter’s work centres on the role, value, and governance of digitisation in enterprises. Peter works with several of Australia’s and the world’s leading CIOs, ExCos and Boards and is a senior advisor to the New York VC firm Insight Partners.

Peter was nominated for the 2023 Thinkers-50 based on his new book, Future Ready, and was ranked by Ziff Davis as the 24th most influential person in IT and the highest ranking academic. MIT CISR undertakes practical research on how firms generate business value from digital.

Dr. Michael G. Kollo is recognised as an accomplished executive leader and educator within the realm of artificial intelligence’s significance in business strategy and product development across various sectors including financial services, technology, and public services. Holding a portfolio of leadership roles, Michael has contributed his expertise to renowned institutional investors such as Blackrock, Fidelity, Renaissance Asset Management, Axa Investment Managers, and HESTA. Additionally, he served as a non-executive director for Clime Investment Managers, an ASX-listed entity.

In the entrepreneurial sphere, Michael has been involved with AI and software companies, notably as a key figure at Faethm Pty, an Australian AI software company that was acquired by Pearsons in 2021, and at the Blockchain company Clanz. Beyond entrepreneurship, he actively participates in mentoring and supporting fintech and cybertech startup ecosystems in London and Australia.

In the realm of academia, Michael boasts a PhD in Finance from the London School of Economics, coupled with extensive lecturing experience at esteemed institutions such as the LSE and Imperial College. He has also been invited as a speaker at TedX events, focusing on the responsible utilisation of AI. With publications addressing machine learning’s application in investment management and contributions to the World Economic Forum’s AI/Fintech panel, Michael’s expertise is widely recognised. Moreover, he has cultivated a global audience through educational podcasts like “Curious Quant.”

As well as Director of AI at ADAPT, Michael is also the CEO of Evolved AI, a distinguished executive education and software development firm dedicated to empowering individuals through effective and responsible AI usage, thereby fostering resilient, transparent, and rapidly evolving enterprises.

Melissa Bischoping is a dedicated security advocate who blends an academic background in human psychology with extensive technical expertise to address complex technical challenges for businesses and individuals. Melissa’s research focuses on creative ways to leverage telemetry and technology to improve responses to emerging threats and vulnerability trends. She excels in leveraging data-driven insights to enhance threat mitigation strategies, optimize risk and vulnerability management, and excel in digital forensics and incident response methodologies.

Andrew is a CIO who is people-focused, engaging, and authentic. He is passionate about building strong relationships with business leaders and creating high-performing teams to drive business transformation.

With extensive experience in tackling a wide range of business challenges across all technology areas, Andrew demonstrates a keen ability to understand complexity and pursue simplicity. He thrives on the energy of challenging transformations and is committed to making impactful changes.

Andrea encourages people to be ‘future fit’ for their careers – through writing, speaking, and delivering high-impact leadership programs. She founded Future Fit Learning in 2012 – a small business that builds leaders who drive innovation, growth and cultural change by accelerating the ‘real skills’ needed to lead with impact. Through her programs, Andrea and her team have helped major businesses and global organisations (Rio Tinto, NBN, THALES, Orora & Austrade) develop leaders at all levels.

Prior to her move into learning, Andrea was a career television news reporter based in Washington D.C., covering major breaking news for major media outlets including Reuters, the Seven Network and Al Jazeera English. While in the US, she also worked across human rights; firstly helping to generate grants to rebuild Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan & Georgia with funding from USAID & the US State Department. And secondly; leading the communications team when the ‘Save Darfur’ advocacy movement lobbied the Obama administration to appoint a US Special Envoy to end the genocide in Darfur, which was achieved at the UN General Assembly in New York in 2009.

One year before the pandemic, Andrea released her first award-winning book, Future Fit: How to Stay Relevant and Competitive in the Future of Work’ – winner of the Australian Business Book of the Year 2019 and finalist in the UK Business Book Awards 2020. Andrea has been a member of the Australian HR Institute’s Future of Work Advisory Panel and is currently working on her second book, to be released in March 2025.

Nathan has over 20 years of experience in the telecommunications and IT industry, leading sales of high-value, complex solutions that incorporate cutting-edge technology and challenging systems integration.

By working closely with the market’s tier 1 partners and customers, Nathan has developed a strong track record of high performance in business development for complex technology and networking, as well as Big Data and IoT solutions.

A talented senior executive, I have worked with market leaders in the digital sector, including highly matrixed and vertical organisations.

Throughout my career, I have established myself as an industry leader in technology and have been highly successful in driving highly successful business operations in a global context. I have conceptualised and delivered several large-scale business transformation initiatives that have had a significant impact on organisational performance and have enhanced the way that we do business. With my extensive leadership experience, I am skilled at aligning strategic business imperatives with operational activities.

A true people connector, I pride myself on my ability to establish andA talented senior executive, I have worked with market leaders in the digital sector, including highly matrixed and vertical organisations.

Throughout my career, I have established myself as an industry leader in technology and have been highly successful in driving highly successful business operations in a global context. I have conceptualised and delivered several large-scale business transformation initiatives that have had a significant impact on organisational performance and have enhanced the way that we do business. With my extensive leadership experience, I am skilled at aligning strategic business imperatives with operational activities.

A true people connector, I pride myself on my ability to establish and maintain productive stakeholder relationships that can be leveraged to achieve positive business outcomes. My communication style is open, authentic, and accessible, and I tailor my style to suit the audience at hand.

I thrive in a dynamic operating environment and can lead effectively during periods of change and ambiguity. I am passionate about balancing a strong customer focus with a desire to drive profitability, whilst driving efficient and effective business operations. Problem-solving is a passion for me, and I enjoy being able to develop creative solutions to complex issues even when faced with time or resource pressures. maintain productive stakeholder relationships that can be leveraged to achieve positive business outcomes. My communication style is open, authentic, and accessible, and I tailor my style to suit the audience at hand.

I thrive in a dynamic operating environment and can lead effectively during periods of change and ambiguity. I am passionate about balancing a strong customer focus with a desire to drive profitability, whilst driving efficient and effective business operations. Problem-solving is a passion for me, and I enjoy being able to develop creative solutions to complex issues even when faced with time or resource pressures.

Warren Jennings is the Head of Industry Growth in Telstra’s Enterprise division. For over two decades he has focused on helping customers and industries derive value from digitisation and create value through the use of innovative and emerging technologies to solve real world problems in sectors such as agribusiness, retail, logistics, health, financial services and mining.

Leader with 20 years experience in the IT industry. Repeatedly proven ability to manage business units addressing global clients’ business needs, with particular depth in multi-year operate solutions. Develops lasting relationships by consistently demonstrating integrity and earning trust. Recognised as a strong leader and coach, manages and inspires multi-national teams to deliver.

Also working with not for profits as a crisis supporter, board member and hands-on volunteer to try and make a difference in suicide prevention and support for people experiencing homelessness.

With over 15 years experience at Executive level, Stuart has led and built successful, profitable, high growth technology centric businesses across EMEA and Asia Pacific regions. Outstanding track record delivering on business commitments (Revenue Growth, EBITDA performance, Market Share, Employee & Customer Sat.). Stuart is naturally engaging in his approach with flexibility, creativity, business acumen, a customer-centric approach and ability to build partnerships having proven the key to Stuart’s success. Experience working as both a buyer and supplier of products and services gives Stuart a deep appreciation of the need to develop competitive sales offerings which are underpinned with the credibility to deliver and service the customer.

Alexey Goldov is a Partner at McKinsey & Company and is a leader in McKinsey’s Technology practice in Asia.

Alexey is specialising in large scale technology transformations in service industries – financial, telecommunication companies and public sector organisations.

A people-centric leader, Nick understands the importance technology plays in empowering people to thrive in their working lives and is passionate about delivering exceptional outcomes for our customers and their people. He’s on a mission to empower organisations by providing innovative and secure technology solutions that support their strategic initiatives. 

Having held senior roles in both the telecommunications and systems integration businesses over the last 20 years he has empathy for the complex challenges businesses face and understands the importance that a technology partner plays in assisting customers to achieve their goals.  

He is a member of CPA Australia, holds a Master of Commerce and an MBA and is a member of Brennan’s executive leadership team, where he is responsible for delivering on the strategic growth goals of the organisation.  

With over 20 years of experience in enterprise architecture, transformative strategy, and advanced tech domains, I am a visionary technology leader who bridges the gap between cutting-edge technology and business objectives. Currently, as the Chief Technology Officer for Healthcare & Life Sciences at Dell Technologies, APJ, I take an active role in the development of technology, engineering standards, and strategic roadmaps for healthcare products and solutions.

I am passionate about building the knowledge economy by helping people rethink, retool and reskill their business for the digital age.

Executives work with me when they are looking for transformational growth that’s customer-led, digitally-enabled and data- powered.

My work delivers new ways of connecting brands with their customers, helps employees to become more productive and gives leaders the data and tools to make smarter decisions.

Jim is known for exceeding expectations in execution.His entire career has been spent connecting the right people at the right time in roles across Europe and Asia Pac. ​
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He founded ADAPT to deliver quality outcomes with integrity – with a vision to help Australia thrive commercially, now and for the future.To enable that, Jim leads ADAPT’s mission to connect, inform and equip our local business and tech leaders. ​
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At the centre of agenda creation and strategic partner management for two decades, Jim is uniquely experienced to be the voice of the end-user, the customer and the vendor. ​
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He satisfies C-suite attendees with all agendas across ADAPT Edge events. He also regularly presents “Know your Customer” webinars and guides the world’s largest vendors with their GTM and content strategies.​
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Through entrepreneurial product development and a servant leader mentality with his team and clients, ADAPT grows annually with clearly differentiated value for all stakeholders.

Currently studying a Masters of Business Analytics at Deakin University, Gabby works closely with the Analyst team to identify trends in technology and business that help shape Australia. 

With a passion for statistics and data visualisation, he enables ADAPT to present the right insights at the right time to the right people. Using modern analytics techniques, Gabby provides ADAPT and their customers with confidence in the accuracy and validity of the information used for ADAPT’s Research, Advisory and Events. 

Gabby expertise extends to: 

– Descriptive and inferential statistica
– Regression techniques and forecasting
– Data Visualisation and customisation through PowerBI and Tableau  

Peter Hind has spent the last 25 years as an analyst and commentator on the ICT industry. He says his primary areas of interest are the potential of technology to transform the way organisations operate, the change management obstacles executives encounter in realising this potential and the tactics and techniques leaders have deployed to overcome these difficulties.

Peter now takes on multiple roles within ADAPT including the moderation of private events and roundtables, interviewing business executives about the strategies they are pursuing and assisting with the structuring of our delegate surveys and the interrogation and analysis of ADAPT’s treasure trove of end-user and C-level data