Our Speakers Include...

Chris Crozier was appointed Chief Information Officer (CIO) on 1 August 2023, leading the Defence Digital Group (DDG).

Prior to joining Defence, Chris Crozier was the Group CIO for Orica International, the world’s largest manufacturer and supplier of explosives for mining and civil construction. As the Group CIO, Chris Crozier was accountable for global digital technology strategies and operations across a footprint of the organisation spanning 120 countries, covering business (IT), customer (internet of things), and manufacturing (operational technology) systems, including the governance of Orica’s digital ecosystems, architecture, data and cyber posture.

Prior to this, Chris Crozier held executive roles within Orica as Vice President of Australia-Pacific region, Chief Digital Officer and Global Vice President Supply Chain, and BHP as Global CIO and Global Chief Procurement Officer.

As a 35 year veteran of the mining and resources sector, having commenced his professional life with Rio Tinto as a Research Engineer, Chris Crozier has experienced the highs and lows of the commodity cycle. He has worked in Asia for more than 25 years, residing in Singapore for 18 years.

Charles McHardie leads the largest technology group in the Australian government. Charles oversees the technical and digital infrastructure that delivers government services and support to millions of Australians.

In his role as CIDO Charles is responsible for driving digital and technology transformation within Services Australia and delivering whole-of-government transformation programs. He oversees significant investment in programs for Centrelink, Medicare, Child Support and myGov, and has led the delivery of major transformation programs such as Enhanced myGov. Charles led the delivery of technology and business solutions that positioned the Australian government to be able to respond rapidly to the global pandemic.

Marek Kowalkiewicz is a Professor and Chair in Digital Economy at QUT Business School. Listed among the Top 100 Global Thought Leaders in AI by thinkers360, Marek has led global innovation teams in Silicon Valley, was a Global Research Program Lead and Founding Research Manager of SAP’s Machine Learning lab in Singapore, and a Research Fellow at Microsoft Research Asia. His newest book, “The Economy of Algorithms: AI and the Rise of the Digital Minions”, is an international bestseller, recently released as an audiobook.

I have over 24 years’ experience across the Australian Federal Government sector, having fulfilled a number of senior leadership roles in the Australian Bureau of Statistics, ComSuper, Department of Immigration and Border Protection, the Department of Education and Training, Department of Education, Skills and Employment, and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Lucy leads the Strategy, Planning and Performance Division which focuses on providing whole-of-government strategic leadership to the development and implementation of digital policies, the Australian Government Architecture, and the Data and Digital Government Strategy.

Lucy oversees the management of the government’s digital investment pipeline to ensure an integrated and coordinated approach to government’s investment in digital and ICT. A key priority for Lucy is driving the achievement of the Australian Government’s vision to implement world class digital capabilities to deliver outstanding outcomes for all.

Lucy also manages the Digital Transformation Agency’s development of policies, governance models, and assurance frameworks for the implementation and use of Generative Artificial Intelligence technologies across the Australian Public Service.

Prior to joining the Digital Transformation Agency, Lucy held senior executive roles at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Australian Public Service Commission where she led several transformation programs. Lucy has experience across a range of sectors including Australian federal and state governments, the private sector and the UK civil service.

As Telstra’s Global Chief Information Security Officer Asia Pacific, Narelle is responsible for the company’s cyber security operations, intelligence, risk, governance, compliance, development, engagement, national security, law enforcement liaison and physical security. Narelle balances her work commitments with raising her children Lily and George with husband, Michael.

Narelle joined the Royal Australian Navy at 17, qualifying as a Principal Warfare Officer in 2001. She eventually assumed the role of the Navy’s first Director Cyber Warfare before leaving in 2016 to pursue her next chapter in the public service where she was appointed the Chief Information Security Officer for the Department of Human Services. In the four years in this role, she transformed the cyber organisation, building a new state-of-the-art Cyber Security Operations Centre and uplifting the capability from 25 to 250 personnel.

Narelle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Information Systems and English, a Master of Science in Information Technology, a Master of Systems Engineering and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is an Adjunct Professor at Deakin University, is a Fellow of the Australian Information Security Association and holds Director positions on the Boards of Telstra Australia Networks and Telstra International Networks.

Narelle was awarded a Conspicuous Service Medal on the 2016 Australia Day Honours List in recognition of meritorious achievement as the Deputy Director – Cyber (Maritime) in Joint Capability Coordination Division.

Tim is the Assistant Secretary – Commonwealth Security Policy (CSP). Tim leads a team responsible for the coordination and administration of whole-of-government cyber and protective security policy.

Commonwealth Security Policy implements the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF); the Hosting Certification Framework (HCF); and the Systems of Government Significance regime on behalf of the Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs) and enables the governance and assurance of protective security policy arrangements for Government. He leads for policy development for Cyber Security hardening of Australian Government IT through the coordination of the Commonwealth Cyber Security Uplift plan – part of the 2023–2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy.

Prior to his role as Assistant Secretary and before joining the Department of Home Affairs in March 2024, Tim held the roles at Microsoft, as the digital transforming & cyber Security advisor to the Turnbull Government at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and Defence.

Tim started his career with the Department of Defence.

Tim has a Masters in International Security, Bachelors in Politics and is Graduate of the Defence Intelligence Training Centre.

Dave is the founder and Managing Director of Brennan, responsible for the overall strategic direction and management of the company. His passion for business and deep understanding of the needs and issues they face, have been instrumental in the success of Brennan, which is today recognised as one of the fastest growing technology businesses in Australia.

Nicholas Fletcher is a leader in McKinsey & Company’s AI practice, QuantumBlack. He serves clients across industries including the public sector, financial services, telecommunications, and energy. Nick is passionate about helping organisations to drive impact from AI, with a particular focus on improving customer experiences. Nicholas spent a year in San Francisco at the McKinsey Global Institute in 2017 conducting economic research on the impact of AI on jobs, skills, and wages. Nick has a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford.

David is a digital strategist and design leader known for delivering innovative, human-centred digital solutions across public and private sectors. With experience at DXC Technology, BCG, and various start-ups, he blends creativity with strategic thinking to drive transformation that is technically feasible, commercially viable, and deeply user-focused.

Nicholas (Nick) Flood was appointed General Manager for Australia & New Zealand in January 2024. In this capacity, Nick is one of twenty-two (22) global market leaders, where he leads the IBM Corporation and its talented employees – in defining strategies for clients to solve pressing business and societal issues – and seize opportunities – in a period of unprecedented technological change.  

This appointment builds upon a highly successful period as Vice President IBM Technology & Managing Director IBM Australia, where from January 2022 to December 2023, Nick revitalised IBM’s business in Australia.  

Prior to this, as Director and General Manager for Federal Government, he led IBM’s engagement with the Australian Federal Government supporting them toward their aspiration to be a top three (3) digital government globally by 2025.
 
Since joining IBM as a graduate, Nicholas has held a range of strategic client leadership roles across Federal Government and Financial Services. During this time, he played a key role in establishing IBM’s Whole of Government Agreement, in particular leading establishment of the innovation agenda underpinning this agreement.
 
Outside of IBM, Nicholas is an active member on a range of industry associations and boards, including: (i) The Australian Information Industry Association’s ACT and Federal Council and; (ii) The University of Sydney’s Board of Advice. In this capacity, Nicholas helps shape the role technology can play and government’s response to address challenges and enable opportunities across the digital economy.
 
Nicholas holds an MBA from the University of Sydney completed as recipient of the Business School Business Leader Post-Graduate Scholarship and received the Gold Lion Award at graduation.
 
He also holds an Undergraduate degree, a Master of Commerce and a Master of Business Research with Honours completed as recipient of an Australian Postgraduate Award scholarship. 

Sarah Sloan is Senior Director, APAC Government Strategy at Splunk, where she leads public sector engagement across the region. She drives strategic initiatives that strengthen government relationships, operationalise public policy, and position Splunk as a trusted cybersecurity and technology partner. Prior to Splunk, Sarah led Government Affairs and Public Policy for Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia at Palo Alto Networks.

With over 15 years’ experience across government, industry, and consulting—and more than a decade specialising in cyber and technology policy, operations, and delivery—Sarah has held senior roles in the Australian Government and at some of the world’s most influential technology companies, leading strategic policy development, strengthening public sector partnerships, and advancing national cybersecurity priorities.  She holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Asia-Pacific Studies from ANU, and postgraduate qualifications in legal practice, international law, and Japanese studies.

Founder, Principal Analyst and Managing Director of independent advisory firm Intermedium. Intermedium focuses on emerging trends in public sector use and funding of information and communication technology, particularly digital transformation and service delivery-enhancing initiatives across Australia and New Zealand.

Prior to Intermedium, 20 years of senior and executive IT related positions in government and 5 years of senior business development and sales experience in the IT industry concentrating on the public sector.

As Deputy CEO and Chief Customer Officer at Services Australia, I lead a group responsible for optimising, improving and transforming critical services to millions of Australians every day. I have over ten years of senior executive experience in driving technology-enabled business transformation, including digital identity, and strategy in the public sector.

My mission is to apply design, innovation, customer experience, and digital capabilities to transform government services and create positive outcomes for our customers. I have a strong background in agile leadership, digital delivery, and strategy. I am passionate about fostering a culture of collaboration, empowerment, and excellence within Services Australia and across government.

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.

As Director of Strategic Research at ADAPT Matt Boon, is responsible for directing and developing ADAPTs research content and positions. In his role at ADAPT Boon advises C-Suite executives across the end-user and technology provider landscape. Boon is also responsible for bringing together groups of C-Suite leaders to discuss and prepare for the myriad of challenges and opportunities they face.

ADAPT host’s numerous industry leading IT focused events annually and Boon is responsible for hosting, chairing and delivering ADAPT independent content and positions to help attendees make informed IT decisions.

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.​

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

Byron is a highly experienced technology and business journalist, editor, corporate writer, and event producer.

Prior to joining Adapt, he was the editor-in-chief at CIO Australia and associate editor at CSO Australia. He also created and led the well-known CIO50 awards program in Australia and The CIO Show podcast.

Byron creates valuable insights for our community of senior technology and business professionals that help them reach their organisational and professional goals. He has a passion for uncovering stories about the careers and personal philosophies of Australia’s top technology and digital executives.

When he is not working, Byron enjoys hot yoga, swimming, running, and spending time with his family.