Agenda

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 g-t-m 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.

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.​

Rachel has spent the last few years building a strong understanding and knowledge around the government landscape, where she has successfully worked across Federal Government IT Departments. Now as a Program Director at ADAPT, Rachel works with both Leading Enterprise and Government Organisations to help enable C-Level Executives with the tools and Australian based data to make informed decisions.

With an educational background in Big Data Coding, Rachel will happily nerd out on Infrastructures and technology, however, is more likely to get caught up in a conversation around life, dogs & travel. Having only relocated from the USA three years ago, you’ll have to excuse the American accent and mispronounced Australian slang (we’re working on it).

David has just retired in July 2024 and is building out his portfolio. He is an Advisor with Bain Advisory Network and also an Advisor to JS Careers (Cyber Recruitment) and Emertel (Software Commercialization).

He is a seasoned technology executive with significant experience and 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 was CISO for HSBC Asia Pacific. His career as a CIO spans across multiple industries and geographies including – Metlife, Eli Lilly and Credit Union Australia. He was winner CIO of the Year 2014, at CUA where he successfully completed a significant Transformation of Core Banking, Online and Mobile Banking systems.

David 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.

His most recent book – the Aspiring CIO & CISO was published in June 2024 and David is writing his second – A Day in the Life of a CISO with a number of CISOs from around the world for 2025.

One of Australia’s top security leaders join a fireside chat on being “brilliant at the basics” and defending national-scale assets effectively when budgets are tight

One of Australia’s top security leaders join a fireside chat on being “brilliant at the basics” and defending national-scale assets effectively when budgets are tight

Working with many customers to ensure they have a strong security posture and ensure they get the best business returns for their investment.

Specialties: Technical Solutions for IT Security.

Sam is rethinking retail security for the “super-agent” era, sharing how she governs autonomous AI tools to enable rapid marketing sprints without compromising customer data.​

Andre unpacks the challenge of securing long-life critical infrastructure against fast-moving threats, managing third-party risk where a single failure stops national transport.​

Darren Kane has been the Chief Security Officer at nbn™ since March 2015. Under his leadership the Security Group has become a converged centre of physical and cyber security enabling nbn to better protect its people and assets against evolving threats.

Darren’s career history includes, 13 years with the Australian Federal Police, 6.5 years with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission, the last role as Assistant Director of National Enforcement. Darren moved to Telstra in 2004 where he completed 11 years in varied management roles culminating in 4.5 years as the Director, Corporate Security & Investigations.

Darren has a Master’s in Business Administration, a Diploma of Financial Markets and is a Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors.