Agenda

Thursday, 29 August 2024

“Achieving Operational Excellence”

Please note that 1:1 meetings will be running throughout the day.

07:45 - 08:30

Registration & Check-In

Secure your seat in the keynote room for the day.

Jim Berry

CEO & Founder

About

Jim founded ADAPT 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.

Leading the development of ADAPTs agenda’s and content strategy whilst also advising executive leadership teams from global technology service providers, Jim is uniquely experienced to be the voice of the end-user, the customer and the vendor.

Bringing his deep knowledge of the local market, Jim regularly presents “Know your Customer” webinars and guides the world’s largest vendors with their G-T-M and content strategies.

Through entrepreneurial product development and a servant leader mentality with his team and clients, ADAPT grows annually with clearly differentiated value for all stakeholders.

08:30 - 08:45

Welcome to the 26th CIO Edge: Achieving Operational Excellence

Jim Berry - CEO & Founder Read More

Modern CIOs must lead with confidence and visibility, while articulating the value of technology to secure resources, deliver on business outcomes, and enable growth. Join us to debate which IT operating models will help you to achieve more outcomes with less in the digital age?

How can CIOs lead and deliver exceptional CX, EX and operating efficiencies?

What cost optimisation strategies can ensure you have the backing you need?

What is possible – what is the future – what is the opportunity if we get it right over the next 5-10 years? What will be the cost if we get it wrong?

CIOs responsible for 30% of our GDP join experts and ADAPT for the day to find answers to these critical questions.

Gabby Fredkin

Head of Analytics & Insights at ADAPT

About

Gabby’s primary role is managing ADAPT’s overall strategy for Data Analytics. He has extensive experience in using data to identify trends in technology that help shape Australian organisations. Utilising modern Data Science techniques, he provides ADAPT and their customers with confidence in the accuracy and validity of the information used for ADAPT’s Research, Advisory, and Events.​

With a passion for creating stories with data, Gabby is consistently rated as one of the top speakers at ADAPT Events. In round table discussions, he specialises in using statistics to initiate thought-provoking discussions. Gabby is effective in translating information into insights, enabling ADAPT’s customers to become more data-driven.​

Gabby’s primary areas of expertise are: ​

  • Advanced AI and ML practices, including AI ethics.​
  • Building models to benchmark and predict IT performance.​
  • End-user behaviour and human-centred design.​
  • Cross-functional team design and value, such as DevSecOps.​
08:45 - 09:05

ADAPT Research: The Collective Intelligence: Insights from CIO Surveys

Gabby Fredkin - Head of Analytics & Insights at ADAPT Read More

ADAPT’s research and advisory team reveal the latest local fact-based insights from over 350 detailed surveys of our region’s top CIOs in 2024. Insights will also draw upon 20,000 conversations with the CFOs, Digital, Data and Security leaders. This session will assist you in comparing the resource allocation, investment priorities and unique challenges of Australian CIOs for you to benchmark and validate your priorities and thinking. Gabby will reveal the core findings distilled from your aggregated pre-event surveys and examine the technology strategies that are generating value.

Tenar Larsen

Head of People & Performance, Executive Programs

About
09:05 - 09:10

Get an Edge: Making the Most of Your Day

Tenar Larsen - Head of People & Performance, Executive Programs Read More

Peter Weill

Chairman & Senior Research Scientist at MIT CISR & ADAPT Senior Advisor

About

Peter Weill’s work centers on the role, value, and governance of digitization in enterprises. Weill joined the MIT Sloan faculty in 2000 to become director of MIT Sloan’s Center for Information Systems Research (CISR).

MIT CISR is funded by approximately 100 corporate sponsors and patrons, and undertakes practical research on how firms generate business value from Information Technology (IT). As chair, Weill focuses on globalizing the center’s research and delivery. In 2008, Ziff Davis recognized Weill as #24 of The Top 100 Most Influential People in IT, the highest-ranked academic. In Dec 2019, his 2015 MIT SMR article Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Era was recognized as one of The Best 10 SMR Articles in the 2010s.

Peter has worked on digitization issues with the Executive Committees and Boards of more than 40 companies globally. He conducts workshops for key conferences, including the CEO Summits for Microsoft, IBM, and SAP, and the International Monetary Conference.

09:10 - 09:30

MIT CISR Research: What’s Next? ...Real-Time Business

Peter Weill - Chairman & Senior Research Scientist at MIT CISR & ADAPT Senior Advisor Read More

In new MIT research they asked, “what’s next after digital transformation?”

The answer: becoming a ‘Real-Time’ Business (RTB).

RTBs operate more in real-time with transparent and automated decision-making, with seamless digital customer and employee journeys, while managing and reducing operating and costs – all risk based on a foundation of real-time data.

In a world of increased volatility, firms that can operate in ‘real-time’ outperformed their peers on both margin and growth with better customer experience and greater organisational efficiency.

Peter will share the RTB framework, case studies and the latest global MIT CISR performance insights.

As Chair of CISR at the MIT Sloan School of Management, Peter’s work centred on the role, value, and governance of digitisation in enterprises and he consults several of Australia’s and the world’s leading CIOs, ExCos and Boards. Peter 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.

Karen O’Driscoll

CIO at Cochlear

About

Karen is an experienced Technology Executive and Enterprise leader with extensive digital transformation skills and a proven track record of delivering innovative solutions that drive successful outcomes in complex environments.

As a passionate people leader, she is committed to building diverse teams and nurturing a collaborative and inclusive culture. She is an advocate of ‘digitising with diversity,’ opening up career opportunities for a broader range of people, particularly those who are neuro-diverse. This diversity significantly increases their ability to innovate, as well as their overall performance and engagement.

09:30 - 09:50

Cochlear: Transformation in Action & Lessons Learned

Karen O’Driscoll - CIO at Cochlear Read More

Cochlear is one of Australia’s success stories – and their transformation journey has led to operational excellence, record growth, profits, engagement and purpose. They also excel at digital ecosystem – embedding partners to added value. Peter talks with Karen 1-1 about the lessons learned in their transformational tech strategy.

Raj Sundarason

Senior Vice President (APAC) & Chief Evangelist at WalkMe

About

Raj Sundarason is the Chief Evangelist in Asia Pacific and Japan. He is responsible for building and helping customers realize value in their digital transformation programs. With 20 years of experience, Raj works with customers and prospects to understand how digital adoption programs can impact their P&Ls. Built on the ideology of the Power of How, he collaborates with senior digital transformation leaders to match business problems with adoption solutions that impact a combination of revenue, cost and risk imperatives. 

Adam Dinneen

Director, Sales Engineering APAC at WalkMe

About

Adam Dinneen brings more than 15 years of experience working in business and technology roles. Throughout his career, he has excelled in digital product development, technical presales, and leading projects that generated business and customer value using a broad range of technologies and delivery methods. 
 
With a passion for delivering great digital experiences that meet the product vision, business objectives and user needs, Adam is skilled at collaborating with business, design and development teams, as well as building strong stakeholder and customer relationships. 

09:50 - 10:20

Navigating AI Transformation with Digital Adoption

Raj Sundarason - Senior Vice President (APAC) & Chief Evangelist at WalkMe Adam Dinneen - Director, Sales Engineering APAC at WalkMe Read More

AI transformation is the biggest change to how we work in our lifetime.

But just like digital transformation, AI transformation success is far from guaranteed. When applications, workflows and the people using them constantly change, how do you adapt to maximise impact? Digital adoption is the answer.

See our live demonstration of WalkMe(X), the only copilot that has the context to meet every user with the next best action for any workflow, across any application.

10:20 - 10:40

Morning Break

Refreshments, snacks & connections

Peter Hind

Principal Research Analyst

About

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

John Hunt

CIO & Director of Group Enablement at Woolworths

About

John Hunt was appointed Chief Information and Replenishment Officer on 1 September 2021. John initially joined Woolworths Group in 2017 as Chief Information Officer. John spent over 25 years at Woolworths Holdings, South Africa where he held a range of senior IT and core retail leadership roles, including CIO and Senior Executive for Food Planning and Value chain.

A graduate from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Cape Town, John is a retailer through and through and is passionate about how information technology and technology innovation is being optimally used in enabling the business to support both the front line team members as well as ensuring our customers have the best shopping experience.

Memo Hayek

CIO & CTO, Executive Leader, previously Nine Entertainment & CBA

About

A visionary and value-oriented Chief Information Officer with extensive global experience in planning, developing, and implementing cutting edge technology strategies that digitise, transform and enable business differentiation, optimisation and sustainable growth. As an executive leader collaborates with executive teams to align technology strategy with businesses and the wider corporate vision.

With a career spanning leading financial institutions globally, including Credit Suisse, CBA, Westpac, Macquarie, and NAB, has extensive experience in design and delivery of cost-effective technology solutions to address complex business problems, embed robust operational risk management, digitise and drive customer experience. This is combined with business intelligence, commercial acumen, and cyber security to enable market-attuned growth, future-proof businesses, and innovation with deep expertise in all aspects of project lifecycle, from feasibility analysis and conceptual design, through to implementation.

A track record of building and leading large teams high performance teams that are industry-leading, multidisciplinary, and geographical dispersed with deep skills across IT and businesses that are engaged and focused with vast experience in insourcing and outsourcing models. A strong advocate for and fosters inclusive, diverse and continuous learning cultures.

10:40 - 11:10

CIO Panel: How to Achieve Operational Excellence?

Peter Hind - Principal Research Analyst John Hunt - CIO & Director of Group Enablement at Woolworths Memo Hayek - CIO & CTO, Executive Leader, previously Nine Entertainment & CBA Read More

How can IT leaders win the resources and executive support they need to help modernise and transform their business?

We explore:

  • What are the nuances of modern IT operating models that will help you outperform?
  • How to prioritise spend to deliver on the multiple asks, compliance, and security across the business?
  • What are proven ways to execute on operational excellence?
  • How to understand the Board’s risk appetite, and articulate the narrative to the ELT?

Leading local CIOs will give frank advice and practical tips on how to get it right.

Sakshee Kohli

Head of Engineering & Site Infrastructure at Coles

About

I am an experienced and accomplished transformation executive with a deep passion for delivering “Business Value” and providing thought leadership.

My global 20+ years of experience in managing IT and business transformation-focused portfolios enables me to drive sustainable improvements across the technology services delivery process. By leveraging my skills in delivering positive business outcomes across banking, insurance, healthcare, and logistics domains, I successfully facilitate value-driven solutions to customers through measurable operational uplift and a keen ability to recover challenging at-risk programs and projects. I focus on uplifting the quality of business outcomes, the reliability of delivery commitments, and the implementation of standard practices for delivery governance and controls.

I invest time and effort into mentoring, developing, and inspiring a high-performing team, in addition to ensuring the success of my teams through effective management of financials, vendors, and resources.

Andrew Hinde

Regional Sales Manager at Delphix by Perforce

About

As a Regional Sales Manager at Delphix by Perforce, Andrew Hinde drives continuous data and compliance transformation programs for clients as well as leading the growth of strategic partnerships in Australia and New Zealand.

With an extensive career working at the intersection of data and enterprise technology, Andrew has previously held roles at Tibco, Oracle and Clarivate. These roles have covered a range of technologies, including advanced analytics, big data platforms, data integration, data quality and ERP systems. At Delphix, Andrew shares what’s possible when organisations embrace DevOps efficiency by tackling the final automation frontier, their data.

11:10 - 11:30

Coles: Accelerating Feature Releases and Speed to Value Through Test Data Engineering

Sakshee Kohli - Head of Engineering & Site Infrastructure at Coles Andrew Hinde - Regional Sales Manager at Delphix by Perforce Read More

Join Sakshee Kohli for a discussion on how Coles is transforming test data engineering with Delphix. Discover how Coles is accelerating feature releases and speed to value, ensuring compliance and security, and reinforcing their “Accelerated by Digital” strategy. Learn how robust Tech and Data Foundations are driving operational efficiency and enabling Coles to stay ahead in the competitive retail landscape.

Angela Logothetis

Executive Group Owner Network and Business Application Services at Telstra

About

At Telstra, Angela and her team have a mission to help the Australian government, enterprise, and businesses transform to digital, transform to the cloud, and transition to Industry 5.0. Angela and her colleagues bring the best of global technology to Australia, integrating it with the country’s best network. They deliver these solutions through Australia’s largest technology integration practice and the largest practice of data and AI scientists.

To simplify the complexity of technology and instill confidence in customers adopting new technologies, Angela ensures that Telstra’s products and services are offered As-a-service, Secured by Telstra, and Managed by Telstra.

With 20 years of experience in the tech industry gained across four continents, Angela has worked with market leaders such as Amdocs, Cramer, Clarity, and Price Waterhouse Consulting to deliver transformation, automation, and monetization to the telco industry. One-third of her career has been spent working onsite with customers, collaboratively achieving business outcomes.

In addition to her role at Telstra, Angela serves as a growth advisor to innovative startup and scale-up companies, playing a crucial role in developing impactful technologies. She also has the privilege of mentoring women in technology and coaching star performers. Actively participating in community groups, Angela contributes to creating a better future for the next generation through initiatives related to mindfulness, the future of work, and climate change.

Passionate about travel and outdoor activities, Angela enjoys exploring the world and making it a point to find the ocean in almost every country she visits. Proudly working for Telstra, Angela is dedicated to growing the Australian tech sector for the next generation, including her two digital-first kids.

11:30 - 11:50

Delivering Exceptional Customer and Employee Experiences: the Path to Operational Excellence​

Angela Logothetis - Executive Group Owner Network and Business Application Services at Telstra Read More

Join us for an insightful session to hear how Telstra is delivering customer and employee experiences. How Telstra leverages innovative solutions, and personalised services to enhance customer interactions, while fostering a positive work environment and optimising operations for efficiency and sustainability.

11:55 - 12:55

ADAPT Executive Insight Roundtables

Attend your pre-selected roundtable to participate in a peer discussion with confidence under Chatham House Rule moderated by an ADAPT analyst with subject matter experts.

Peter Tsakissiris

Lead Partner, AI Experience Consulting at Alyve

About

Peter T brings over 25 years of extensive experience in technology and business leadership across the Asia-Pacific region. Based in Sydney, Peter heads Alyve’s AI – Humankind Consulting Practice, where he leads a team of expert consultants to deliver strategic business outcomes with efficiency and speed. Throughout his career, Peter has demonstrated a strong ability to scale consulting businesses, achieving revenues of up to $200 million. His expertise spans leading digital transformation initiatives, providing strategic advice to senior executives, and cultivating high-performing, diverse teams. His client-centric approach and unwavering focus on delivering exceptional results in fast-paced environments have been key drivers of his success.

Peter’s professional journey includes leadership roles at prominent companies such as Gartner, DXC, Avanade, IBM, and PwC Consulting. He has played a pivotal role in digital transformations for iconic Australian companies, including Qantas, Telstra, and Sydney Water. Additionally, Peter is a recognised thought leader, committed to mentorship and the development of future leaders, particularly through programmes like Sydney University’s Lucy programme. His areas of expertise include integrating artificial intelligence capabilities, operating model and business transformation, cost and process efficiencies, and enhancing customer and employee experiences. Peter’s contributions have significantly impacted key industries such as water and utilities, retail, and education.

Daniel Cameron

Partner at Alyve

About

Daniel Cameron is a seasoned technology and transformation leader with a distinguished career spanning several high-profile roles across various sectors. With a wealth of experience at the most senior levels of technology management, Daniel has consistently demonstrated his ability to drive significant organizational change and deliver outstanding results.

Daniel’s career includes serving as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for New Zealand’s largest private healthcare provider, where he successfully led the organization through a period of substantial technological advancement and digital transformation. His strategic vision and leadership were instrumental in modernizing the healthcare provider’s IT infrastructure, enhancing patient care through innovative solutions, and optimizing operational efficiency.

In Australia, Daniel spearheaded the transformation of one of the country’s largest aged care providers. His leadership in this role was pivotal in implementing new technologies and processes that improved service delivery, increased resident satisfaction, and positioned the organization as a leader in the aged care industry. His ability to navigate the complexities of large-scale transformation in a highly regulated environment underscores his expertise in aligning technology with business goals.

In addition to his roles in the healthcare and aged care sectors, Daniel has also provided expert consultancy services to mid-market and government organizations throughout Australia. His consulting work has involved guiding these organizations through complex technology transformations, helping them leverage technology to achieve strategic objectives, enhance operational performance, and stay competitive in an increasingly digital world.

Roundtable 1

How to Unlock Greater Value From Your Technology Investments

Peter Tsakissiris - Lead Partner, AI Experience Consulting at Alyve Daniel Cameron - Partner at Alyve Read More

With increased pressure to find cost savings in the current climate, leaders are looking for every opportunity to improve operational efficiencies through strategic cost-cutting and efficiency gains, enabling your organisation to achieve more with less.

During this conversation, we will explore:

  • Innovative methods designed to streamline processes, enhance productivity, and reduce expenses without compromising on quality or performance.
  • How evolving operating and aligning IT strategy with business metrics ensures measurable and impactful outcomes.
  • Why streamlining vendor management is critical to ensuring you receive the best possible service quality and return on investment.
  • How to identify and eliminate duplication within the workforce, optimising roles and responsibilities to enhance overall efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Strategies to manage and reduce technical debt, ensuring long-term scalability and maintainability of your technology infrastructure.

By integrating advanced automation and AI tools, we significantly reduce manual workloads and operational costs.

Join us to learn how to drive sustainable growth and operational excellence in today’s competitive landscape.

Shan Moorthy

Chief Technology Office APAC at Workday

About

Shan Moorthy is the Chief Technology Officer for Asia Pacific at Workday.

Shan is a change agent who has led technology and data functions as a senior IT executive, CTO and CDO with grand success in key enterprises across ANZ and APAC. He has achieved digital revolutions within the media, retail, banking, and telecommunications industries by retiring sprawling, monolithic business management platforms (ERP, HCM, CRM etc.) and data systems and replacing them with modern, cloud platforms. Based in Melbourne, Australia, Shan loves combining deep technical knowledge of Software Engineering, Data and Artificial Intelligence, with business strategy and commercial acumen. Prior to joining Workday, Shan was Software Engineering GM at Telstra, CTO and Head of Data at Latitude Finance, CTO at Stratton Finance and Head of Technology APAC at Bertelsmann.

Roundtable 2

Ethical and Responsible AI Technologies – For Business Impact

Shan Moorthy - Chief Technology Office APAC at Workday Read More

We are in the midst of an unprecedented wave of technological innovation with AI fundamentally redefining how we work.

AI promises the ability to transform how work gets done. However, people won’t use technology they can’t trust. Implementing responsible AI is the key to unlocking adoption and the impressive productivity gains offered by this technology. Join us for a conversation to discuss the approach to Responsible AI, and the foundations needed for business outcomes.

Chris Russo

GM Enterprise & Government Customer Sales & Solutions at TPG Telecom

About

Chris has thirty (30) years’ experience in the telecommunications industry and is currently the GM of Enterprise and Government Sales and Customer Strategy at TPG Telecom. She is a passionate leader focused on Customer Experience and helping teams understand the critical importance of putting the customer at the centre of everything they do.

Chris has held a number of key roles covering Strategic Selling, Customer Success, Service Management & Delivery, Program Mgt, Supply Chain Industry Sales, Industry Business Development, Enterprise Marketing, business transformation, change management, major IT deployments and customer innovation roles.

Chris has a practical understanding of core business disciplines including process design and governance, program management, IT execution/implementation and business bench marking. With over a decade of experience in all facets of Strategic Selling, Industry Vertical Specialisation and Strategic Account Management, Chris is an asset to any executive team.

She has a history of success with an unrelenting focus on delivering customer value across the B2B landscape.

Her specific expertise is in the field of enterprise sales & marketing, business transformation, customer success, value differentiation, innovation and business development, including idea generation, solution delivery, human centred design thinking, go-to-market and product life-cycle methodologies.

Chris lives in Sydney with her husband Andy and their three children, India, Tully & Heidi. Chris has enjoyed running her whole life and continues her great passion for Bikram yoga.

Paul Tremlett

GM Technology Strategy & Innovation at TPG Telecom

About

As General Manager of Technology Strategy and Innovation I am responsible for the setting and executing the strategy across TPG Telecoms Technology portfolio including our service and product offerings, Infrastructure and Access network.

In my 12 years with TPG Telecom (previously Vodafone Australia) I have held roles in Programme Management, Commercial and planning, Project Initiation and have run several large strategic initiatives.

Prior to this I have worked in Engineering and Programme Management roles for large network vendors.

Roundtable 3

Enhancing Business Growth Through Advanced Mobile Connectivity

Chris Russo - GM Enterprise & Government Customer Sales & Solutions at TPG Telecom Paul Tremlett - GM Technology Strategy & Innovation at TPG Telecom Read More

In the digital age, mobile connectivity emerges as a pivotal driver of business growth. The advent of 5G technology empowers enterprises with unparalleled speed, reliability, and security, positioning them competitively.

This discussion delves into how advanced mobile connectivity accelerates business expansion and operational efficiency.

  • 5G Technology: Revolutionises enterprise mobility with ultra-fast speeds and low latency, enabling real-time data transfer and communication.
  • Cost Efficiency and Workforce Flexibility: Implementation of 5G reduces operational costs and offers workforce flexibility, facilitating remote work and cloud service access.
  • Network Coverage and Accessibility: 5G’s wide-spectrum bands ensure comprehensive coverage, vital for urban and rural business activities.
  • Strategic Partnerships: Collaborations with tech leaders fortify network infrastructure, ensuring secure and dependable connectivity.
    • Digital Transformation and Automation: Innovative automation enhances network performance, security, and customer experience, fuelling overall business growth.

Michael Camarri PhD

Practice Lead AI&A (Artificial Intelligence & Analytics) APAC + Japan at Cognizant

About

Michael is a practice lead for APJ for Cognizant’s AI&A (Artificial Intelligence & Analytics) practice. Michael started his career in the 90’s as a Decision Scientist and has worked across Advanced Analytics, Predictive Modelling, Data Science, AI / ML and now Gen AI. However that first title is the most accurate: Michael has a strong interest in helping our clients drive better decisions through data. He is particularly interested in what it takes to drive real business value from these technologies and approaches. Michael has a PhD in Statistics from the University of California, Berkeley and an Honours degree in Pure Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Western Australia.

Roundtable 4

Rewiring The Enterprise For Pervasive AI

Michael Camarri PhD - Practice Lead AI&A (Artificial Intelligence & Analytics) APAC + Japan at Cognizant Read More

AI is disrupting and transforming organisations at an unprecedented pace. Cognizant recently surveyed enterprise adoption of AI across the APJ and EMEA regions to understand how organisations are approaching this rapid change.

To begin this roundtable discussion, we will share some top line insights from this research to help you gain a deeper understanding of the current landscape, drawing comparisons between Australian enterprises and global counterparts:

  • AI Strategies: Exploring the prevalence and maturity of AI strategies within organisations.
  • Investment in AI: Examining the levels of investment dedicated to AI initiatives across various industries.
  • Use Cases: Uncovering the diverse applications and use cases of AI within enterprises.
  • Expectations of Disruption: Assessing the anticipated impact of AI on business models and industry dynamics.
  • Value Creation: Evaluating the tangible and intangible benefits of AI adoption on operational efficiency, customer experience, and revenue generation.

We will also share recommendations for organisations seeking to build, grow and scale AI within enterprise, to be explored further as we open up the discussion around the table.

Join us for a lively conversation and gain a clearer vision of how to best move forward with your organisational AI strategy.

12:55 - 13:55

Peer Networking Seated Lunch

Join us for relaxed peer networking and great food, upstairs in the Heritage ballroom

13:00 - 13:55

Lunch Session: Maximise Your Research ROI with ADAPT: Ensuring Business Outcomes

with ADAPT Read More

Many senior executives, including those using Global providers, are critically assessing the value received for their research spend.

They struggle with limited time to consume research, restrictive licensing access, periods of disengagement, and high costs for advisors and analysts.

In a fast-paced moving business environment leaders need:

  • Rapid access to SMEs with proven real-world experience
  • Insights from executive peers who have executed similar projects
  • A framework to prioritise activities linked to top-line business outcomes
  • Data and insights that enable them to rally stakeholders for budget and resources

For the past 5 years, ADAPT has been helping organisations lower their Research and Advisory spend while measurably increasing the impact and value they receive.

Join us for lunch and a roundtable discussion to explore how ADAPT provides affordable access to AU/NZ-centric IT research and a network of seasoned CxO advisors and peers.

13:55 - 14:55

ADAPT Executive Insight Roundtables

Attend your pre-selected roundtable to participate in a peer discussion with confidence under Chatham House Rule moderated by an ADAPT analyst with subject matter experts.

Nick Sone

Chief Customer Officer at Brennan

About

Nick Sone is a results-oriented leader with a proven track record of delivering against high-growth sales targets and strategic business objectives. He believes that technology is best implemented when all stakeholders have a clear understanding of how it fits together and can be optimised for an organisation’s goals and the benefit of their customers and clients.

Nick’s background as a systems integrator and cloud computing specialist, combined with his certification as a practising accountant, provides him with a deep empathy for his customers’ challenges. He ensures that any technology solution delivered meets business goals within the framework of tightly defined capital and operational expenditures.

Roundtable 5

The AI Learning Curve: How CIOs Benefit from an MSP Already Savvy in AI

Nick Sone - Chief Customer Officer at Brennan Read More

Is Australia all in on AI? With 50% of firms already using Generative AI, 71% planning on increasing AI investment (FIS Global Innovation Report), and CSIRO and Deloitte Access Economics reporting Australia may need up to 161,000 new specialist AI workers by 2030, it’s clear the AI appetite is only set to grow.

In what promises to be a fascinating discussion, join us as we unpack:

  • AI’s growing role in digital transformation
  • How, and where, Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and AI intersect
  • Our AI approach – how we use it, what we’ve learned
  • How our customers benefit – in efficiencies, automation, risk, and security

George Harb

Managing Director at OpenText

About

George Harb is responsible for driving growth of OpenText in the ANZ region. In addition to leading the business in the ANZ region, as an experienced B2B integration and software business leader, he has been spearheading the Business Network unit for OpenText within the Asia-Pacific region. In both roles he works with customers and partners to help them derive value from OpenText’s offerings and solve business challenges. Having joined in 2016, George has held a number of senior sales leadership roles at OpenText. As an internationally experienced business executive, he has spent significant time residing overseas and working with customers across Asia and Southern Africa, his appointment at OpenText bringing him back home to Australia. With over 20 years of experience in Technology, B2B integration and Software (On and Off Cloud) sales leadership, he has a proven track record in accelerating growth, delivering improvements in operational efficiency and raising customer satisfaction. George’s expertise lies in helping companies transform in a digital first world.

Ian Poulton

Director, Solution Consulting at OpenText

About

Based in Sydney, Ian Poulton manages the OpenText Australia and New Zealand pre-sales organisation. This team covers the wide range of industries and solutions that OpenText supports. Having started nearly 15 years ago in a hands-on role within the team, Ian has been managing the team for 7 years.

Roundtable 6

How AI is Just Like Us – It Becomes What It “Eats”

George Harb - Managing Director at OpenText Ian Poulton - Director, Solution Consulting at OpenText Read More

Game-changing AI results relies on the underlying data to learn and improve, to transform decision-making and productivity. If your data is not accurate, reliable, and well-organised, you are unlikely to fully tap into your organisation’s most valuable asset – corporate data – to deliver the actionable insights to get ahead. In fact, a recent CIO Market Pulse survey shows that data management issues are at the top of the respondents’ AI challenges and warns that poor data quality can lead to wasted time, money and resources on AI initiatives. To harness AI’s full potential, organisations must first maximise the value of their data, by prioritising effective information management.

Join us for this discussion on:

  • The essential steps to establish a modern information management platform to pave the way for successful AI adoption.
  • The key elements that will lay the foundation with robust data governance, data security and integration processes and data quality assurance.
  • Why the time and effort spent categorising, organising and securing your data it is going to pay dividends, when you infuse AI capabilities such as large language models (LLM) with information management.

Geoff Andrews

APAC Enterprise Sales, Australia at Canonical

About

I am a high-energy, disciplined, hands-on sales leader with a track record helping customers, colleagues and shareholders to create and achieve their goals.

I have:

  • Led $20-30m USD dollar sales organisations across APJC
  • Managed, outsourced and developed networks, created new products
  • Created major revenue streams for customers, and helped them change their business for the better
  • Trained multi-disciplinary sales teams of up to 200 professionals
  • Given keynotes to audiences of 1,000+
  • Consulted on major outsourcing projects and designed technology and people solutions
  • Sold, created &/or delivered truly fantastic technology solutions
  • Delivered and grown Major Global Accounts and Partnerships
  • Re-defined routes to market, and turned struggling businesses around
  • M&A evaluations, integrations, and create growth through collaboration.
  • Travelled the world and done great business on 4 continents

I have transformed market performance, and developed and led high-performing sales teams.

I am lucky; my broad experiences on the journey (so far) have taught me that learning, teaching, selling and collaborating are actually all the same thing.

I am excited by strategically significant opportunities to improve the ways that companies do business.

Roundtable 7

Future-Proofing the Enterprise: The Role of Open Source in Driving Innovation and Agility

Geoff Andrews - APAC Enterprise Sales, Australia at Canonical Read More

This interactive Roundtable will challenge and inspire CIOs to envision the future of their enterprises, emphasizing the role of open-source solutions in driving innovation, scalability, and agility, and showcasing examples of how Canonical can be a pivotal partner in this journey.

Discussion Points:

  • Embracing open-source solutions as a catalyst for innovation and digital transformation, to stay ahead of technological advancements
  • Ensuring the scalability and flexibility of IT infrastructure with open-source technologies.
  • Fostering a culture of continuous improvement and agility through open-source practices.
  • Strategies to integrate emerging technologies (such as AI, IoT, and blockchain) with open-source platforms.

Michelle Teis

Managing Partner at GWI

About

Michelle is a data and digital executive and thought leader focused on leveraging data and information ecosystems to transform business operations and reduce complexity. She is a leading business strategist who works extensively across all dimensions of strategic data management including strategy, architecture and governance, ethics, quality management, analytics, literacy, data exchange, privacy and security. In 2021, Michelle was awarded by Women in Digital as the National Data Leader of the Year.

Tim Sheehan

Partner at GWI

About

Tim Sheehan brings to the GWI team over 20 years of experience advising clients across a broad range of industry sectors. Throughout his career, Tim has managed a number of large-scale digital transformation projects involving the strategic update of cloud, product, web and program-related business assets.

Tim possesses a high degree of understanding of the strategy and execution of data-driven multi-channel campaigns and is an expert in interactive reporting solutions.

Tim also brings extensive experience in using a mixture of technology to develop an SCV, Segmentation and ETL processes to unlock the potential in his client’s data. Throughout his career, he has also led the implementation of a number of interactive dashboards for several major retail companies.

Roundtable 8

Actionable Strategies to Foster Digital Literacy for Competitive Advantage

Michelle Teis - Managing Partner at GWI Tim Sheehan - Partner at GWI Read More

ADAPT research proves the correlation between literacy and modernisation success. Join us for a roundtable session on digital literacy, focusing on its critical role in today’s tech-driven enterprises.

We’ll discuss:

  • Practical tips and shared experiences to foster digital literacy across your organisation.
  • Why digital literacy is pivotal for driving innovation and competitive advantage.
  • Discover actionable strategies to kickstart digital literacy initiatives.
  • How to deliver success and future-proof your organisation in the digital age.
14:55 - 15:10

Afternoon Break

Michael Kollo

CEO at Evolved AI

About

Michael is an experienced business leader with a strong technical foundation in statistical AI systems. He began his career with a PhD in Finance from the London School of Economics, eventually moving into institutional asset management and quantitative research (Blackrock, Fidelity, AXA). Later, transitioning to the development of AI systems for institutional investment programmes, while continuing to teach Masters courses in quantitative techniques and analysis at LSE and Imperial College.

15:10 - 15:40

How Organisations are Getting AI Wrong

Michael Kollo - CEO at Evolved AI Read More

GenAI is a breakthrough, but often human misunderstanding means we feel there’s too much hype about its capability.

Adoption of AI is tough, mainly because companies face big gaps:

  • They don’t fully understand AI’s potential
  • They struggle to execute AI projects well
  • Their teams aren’t ready to use AI effectively
  • They overestimate it’s potential and are disappointed

The question also emerges as to who should own AI capabilities and adoption? Should it go to the Head of Data or CIO, or elsewhere?

Reality is businesses who harness the AI capability for operational efficiency and new business models will excel in the next 5 years. So, one thing is for sure: the CEO and Board want to know how to get past the hurdles and truly benefit from AI, no matter what stage of the adoption cycle.

  • What are the proven use cases to make operations more efficient?
  • How can you make AI projects succeed and align with strategic business goals?
  • How can you identify, understand, and adopt the right AI tools to propel growth?

With an impressive career and capabilities in quantitative finance, the impact of automation, and the future of work, Michael is focused on solving the problems of industry AI adoption.

Michael is an experienced business leader with a strong technical foundation in statistical AI systems. He began his career with a PhD in Finance from the London School of Economics, eventually moving into institutional asset management and quantitative research (Blackrock, Fidelity, AXA). Later, transitioning to the development of AI systems for institutional investment programmes, while continuing to teach Masters courses in quantitative techniques and analysis at LSE and Imperial College.

David Gee

Global Head Technology, Cyber & Data Risk at Macquarie Group

About

David J. Gee has 20+ years experience as CIO and CISO. He joined Macquarie Group in early 2021 as Global Head Technology, Cyber and Data Risk. David is responsible for protecting Macquarie Group using his significant expertise in technology and cybersecurity. He has served as CISO for HSBC Asia Pacific, based in HK and responsible for the most critical and profitable countries for this large investment bank. David drove the cybersecurity maturity uplift and led all aspects of cyber for HSBC in these 19 countries. Prior to HSBC, David had an extensive Transformational CIO experience across numerous significant roles.

At MetLife Japan, David was Statutory Executive Officer, Senior Vice President and CIO. This is the second largest market for MetLife – a US$70B enterprise. David led the digital transformation for this large insurer with a significant focus on digitizing end to end customer engagement processes. At MetLife Japan managed a team of 230 IT Staff supported by 1200-1300 external resources, with an Annual IT spend in excess of U$300m.

David is Board Advisor to Sekuro, a successful cybersecurity company.

He is also past CIO at Credit Union of Australia where he successfully led a major transformation of all systems and technology. In this role he won CIO of the Year for Financial Services in Australia.

David has also been Executive Advisor for large scale transformation with KPMG, Ernst & Young and ICG. He has deep experience with Fintech and innovation ecosystems. Mentor at Stone & Chalk and Tyro Fintech Hub. Venture Partner with Sapien Ventures and Advisory Board of Venturetec.Accelerator. David also has been Fintech Advisor for a number of startups.

He is a digital industry thought leader and regular columnist with ITnews, CSO (Cyber), CIO Magazine and Computerworld, with more than 100+ articles published.

David was Information Officer and CIO for Lilly USA ($12B sales) & member of Lilly USA management. He has also enjoyed international expatriate assignments in Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Kobe and in the USA.

15:40 - 16:10

Aspiring to be a World class CIO & CISO

David Gee - Global Head Technology, Cyber & Data Risk at Macquarie Group Read More

David has over 25 years’ experience in CIO and CISO roles across different industries and countries. At Macquarie Group David served as Global Head Technology, Cyber and Data Risk. Previously served as CISO for HSBC Asia Pacific which accounts for 80% of their global profits. His career as a CIO spans across multiple industries and geographies including – Metlife, Eli Lilly and Credit Union Australia. David was winner of CIO of the Year 2014, at CUA where successfully completed a significant Transformation with new Core Banking, Online and Mobile Banking systems.

He is past Chairman for the FS-ISAC Strategy Committee and awarded Global Leaders Award in 2023 for his contributions to the cybersecurity industry. A regular conference keynote speaker and 150+ published articles for CIO Australia, Computerworld, ITNews and CSO (Cyber Security), David now writes for Foundry CIO.com and AICD.

David has been a Partner-level Strategic IT consultant with KPMG, EY and ICG. Also has been a VC Partner, Fintech Advisor and Innovation Consultant.
David’s most recent book – the Aspiring CIO & CISO was published in July 2024. David is writing his second – A Day in the Life of a CISO with CISOs from around the world.

  • How to be a World Class CIO & CISO.
  • How can you hire a World Class CIO & CISO.
  • What I will do in my first 90 Days.
  • The Elevator for my next CIO & CISO role.

Peter Weill

Chairman & Senior Research Scientist at MIT CISR & ADAPT Senior Advisor

About

Peter Weill’s work centers on the role, value, and governance of digitization in enterprises. Weill joined the MIT Sloan faculty in 2000 to become director of MIT Sloan’s Center for Information Systems Research (CISR).

MIT CISR is funded by approximately 100 corporate sponsors and patrons, and undertakes practical research on how firms generate business value from Information Technology (IT). As chair, Weill focuses on globalizing the center’s research and delivery. In 2008, Ziff Davis recognized Weill as #24 of The Top 100 Most Influential People in IT, the highest-ranked academic. In Dec 2019, his 2015 MIT SMR article Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Era was recognized as one of The Best 10 SMR Articles in the 2010s.

Peter has worked on digitization issues with the Executive Committees and Boards of more than 40 companies globally. He conducts workshops for key conferences, including the CEO Summits for Microsoft, IBM, and SAP, and the International Monetary Conference.

16:10 - 16:55

MIT & CIO Workshop: Activating the RTB Framework for Impactful Outcomes

Peter Weill - Chairman & Senior Research Scientist at MIT CISR & ADAPT Senior Advisor Read More

To close the day, Peter will lead a peer workshop with actionable insights on how CIOs can deploy the Real-Time Business framework he discussed in the opening keynote. With recommendations also developed from work with Insight Partners and live polling, Peter will help you to self assess where you are today and brainstorm in table top peer groups where to start and how to engage your peers on this important journey.

16:55 - 17:00

Closing Comments

17:00 - 18:00

CIO Edge Peer Networking Drinks

Read More

An opportunity to stay, mingle and meet other attendees over drinks and food and discuss the day

Register your interest

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