2025-10-21.22 CEDA AI Leadership Summit

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Summit Opening and Welcome

21 October, 8:40am - 9:00am AEST

Opening Keynote Address + Fireside Chat

21 October, 9:00am - 9:30am AEST Keynote address:

  • The Hon Dr Andrew Charlton MP, Cabinet Secretary and Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy
  • Melinda Cilento, Chief Executive, CEDA
Panel: AI: The New Arms Race — Are we Ready to Compete?

21 October, 9:35am - 10:15am AEST As AI rapidly redefines global competitiveness, Australia must decide whether to lead, follow, or fall behind. This panel explores Australia’s global AI standing, and how strategic investment in innovation, workforce development, energy, and ethical leadership will shape our economic growth and resilience.

Keynote Address + Fireside Chat

21 October, 10:20am - 10:50am AEST Keynote address:

  • Professor Michelle Simmons AO, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Silicon Quantum Computing
  • Lee Hickin, Chief Executive Officer, National AI Centre
Morning Refreshment Break

21 October, 10:55am - 11:20am AEST Research Alley

  • Tracking regulatory restrictions by industry | Andrew Barker, Head of Research, CEDA
  • AI Ecosystem Report 2025 | Emma Haller, Program Manager, Industry Growth, National AI Centre + Dr Alexandra Bratanova, Phd, Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO
  • Generative AI upskilling | Claire Mason, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO
  • Safe and responsible AI for small to medium enterprises | Angela Wong, Senior Consultant. elevenM


Mini ShowcAIse

  • AI Recruitment Engine | Daisy Liu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Starplan AI
  • AI Test Drive | Takumi Ohashi, Technical Sales Support Specialist, Fujitsu Australia Limited
  • G1-E1 Humanoid Robot | Professor Jonathan Roberts, Professor of Robotics Queensland University of Technology and Chief Technical Officer, ARM Hub
  • Harnessing Data to use AI | Dr Roozbeh Derakshan, Founder, Data and Knowledge Enterprise
Panel: AI Sovereignty: Australian Made?

21 October, 11:25am - 12:05pm AEST What does true AI sovereignty look like for Australia? This panel tackles the challenges of building secure local AI capabilities to reduce foreign reliance while shaping Australian-trained models that drive innovation and reflect our values, economy and talent.

  • (Facilitator) Mahesh Krishnan, Chief Technology Officer, Fujitsu Australia Limited
  • David Dzienciol, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, NEXTDC
  • Professor Kimberlee Weatherall, Co-Director, Centre for AI, Trust and Governance, University of Sydney
  • Jake Wilczynski, Head of Communications, APAC, OpenAI
  • Geoff Pryde, Chief Technical Director, PsiQuantum
Keynote Conversation with NVIDIA

21 October, 12:10pm - 12:40pm AEST Keynote conversation:

  • Dr Tomasz Bednarz, Director, Strategic Researcher Engagement, NVIDIA
  • Lee Hickin, Chief Executive Officer, National AI Centre
Panel: Beyond Productivity: AI for Strategic Innovation

21 October, 12:45pm - 1:25pm AEST AI is reshaping how organisations think, build, and lead. This panel explores how leaders can move beyond productivity and drive strategic innovation while balancing trust, privacy and regulation.

  • (Facilitator) John Munnelly, Chief Digital Officer and Global Microsoft Business Applications Lead, KPMG Australia
  • Simon Newcomb, Partner, Clayton Utz
  • Professor Nicole Gillespie, Professor of Management and Chair of Trust, The University of Melbourne
  • Louis Martin, General Manager, Privacy and Customer Trust, Wesfarmers OneDigital
Networking Lunch

21 October, 1:30pm - 2:15pm AEST Research Alley

  • Tracking regulatory restrictions by industry | Andrew Barker, Head of Research, CEDA
  • AI Ecosystem Report 2025 | Emma Haller, Program Manager, Industry Growth, National AI Centre + Dr Alexandra Bratanova, Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO
  • The Responsible AI Index and Self Assessment Tool | Dr Steve Nuttall, Director, Fifth Quadrant
  • Therapeutic Discovery with MedGemma & txGemma | Vikram Bahl, Principal Architect, Google Cloud

Mini ShowcAIse

  • AI Recruitment Engine | Daisy Liu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Starplan AI
  • AI Test Drive | Takumi Ohashi, Technical Sales Support Specialist, Fujitsu Australia Limited
  • G1-E1 Humanoid Robot | Professor Jonathan Roberts, Professor of Robotics Queensland University of Technology and Chief Technical Officer, ARM Hub
  • Harnessing Data to use AI | Dr Roozbeh Derakshan, Founder, Data and Knowledge Enterprise
Breakout: From Hype to Impact: Making AI Work in the Real World

21 October, 2:15pm - 2:55pm AEST AI ambition is everywhere, but real-world impact is harder to achieve. Drawing on cutting-edge research and hands-on experience, this workshop explores what it takes to embed AI in complex environments - where teams are stretched, expectations are high, and technology is evolving fast – to build capability and drive lasting behavioural change.

  • David Diviny, Chief Data and Analytics Officer and Head of AI, Nous Group
Breakout: Closing the AI Skills Gap: Preparing Grads and Employers for an Evolving Workforce

21 October, 2:15pm - 2:55pm AEST As AI reshapes the workforce, how can universities and employers co-design learning to meet emerging capability needs? This panel explores how industry and education can close the skills gap together—treating AI as foundational, rethinking succession planning, and building a future-ready talent pipeline.

  • (Facilitator) Professor Sherman Young, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Education and Vice-President, RMIT University
  • Professor Rahil Garnavi, Director RAIsE Hub (RMIT Artificial Intelligence Advanced Innovation Experience), RMIT University
  • Yasminka Nemet, Future Skills Lead, Australia and NZ, Microsoft
  • Patrick Kidd OBE OAM, Chief Executive Officer, Future Skills Organisation
  • Max Templeton, RMIT Student; Product and Marketing Lead, Time Under Tension
Breakout: Deepfakes, Misinformation, Phishing & Data Poisoning: Managing AI-Generated Threats

21 October, 2:15pm - 2:55pm AEST AI-generated threats like deepfakes, data poisoning and misinformation are escalating into global business risks. This panel of cyber, communications and policy experts unpack the economic, reputational and democratic risks and challenge leaders to act decisively to protect trust and strategic resilience.

  • (Facilitator) Feyi Akindoyeni, Founding Partner, Communications, SEC Newgate
  • Alastair MacGibbon, Chief Strategy Officer, CyberCX
  • Tom Rogers AO, Former Australian Electoral Commissioner
  • Richa Arora, Partner | IBM Cybersecurity Services Leader, IBM Australia
AI Discovery Stage

21 October, 2:15pm - 2:55pm AEST Multiple TED-talk style presentations that spotlight AI entrepreneurs and thought leaders who offer a glimpse of some of the ways AI technologies can drive change and innovative thinking for a positive impact.

  • Facilitator: Bec McIntosh, Associate Director Communities, CEDA
  • Advancing Medical Frontiers with AI: A/Professor Sudanthi Wijewickrema, Principal Research Fellow, ACAMI (Australian Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Medical Innovation), La Trobe University
  • Marine Debris Taskforce: Dr Kelvin Ross, Chairman, KJR
  • YouFor2032 App: Dr Alex Roberts, Head of Talent, Queensland Academy of Sports + Chloe Lindsay, Head of Operations, Queensland Academy of Sport
Afternoon Refreshment Break

21 October, 2:55pm - 3:20pm AEST Research Alley

  • Tracking regulatory restrictions by industry | Andrew Barker, Head of Research, CEDA
  • AI Ecosystem Report 2025 | Emma Haller, Program Manager, Industry Growth, National AI Centre + Dr Alexandra Bratanova, Phd, Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO
  • The Responsible AI Index and Self Assessment Tool | Dr Steve Nuttall, Director, Fifth Quadrant
  • Therapeutic Discovery with MedGemma & txGemma | Vikram Bahl, Principal Architect, Google Cloud

Mini ShowcAIse

  • AI Recruitment Engine | Daisy Liu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Starplan AI
  • AI Test Drive | Takumi Ohashi, Technical Sales Support Specialist, Fujitsu Australia Limited
  • Harnessing Data to use AI | Dr Roozbeh Derakshan, Founder, Data and Knowledge Enterprise
Breakout: Moving from AI Pilots to Scaled Business Impact

21 October, 3:20pm - 4:00pm AEST Scaling AI demands more than tech, it requires bold leadership, strategic build-vs-partner decisions, and a culture shift toward AI-native thinking. This panel explores how to empower technical talent to transition into executive roles and drive cultural transformation from the top.

  • (Facilitator) Elayne Grace, Chief Executive Officer, Actuaries Institute
  • Victor Bajanov, Executive, AI Transformation, Quantium
  • Dr Kellie Nuttall, AI Executive, Kellie AI
  • Craig Price, Head of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Suncorp Group
Breakout: Agentic AI 2025 & Beyond: Risks & Opportunities of Autonomous Decision-Making

21 October, 3:20pm - 4:00pm AEST As autonomous AI systems gain agency, who's really in control? This expert panel tackles the legal, ethical, operational and governance minefield of delegating decisions to machines.

  • (Facilitator) Sarah Kaur, Human Centred AI Lead, Portable
  • Donna Forlin, AI Governance Expert, NBNCo
  • Dr Stefan Hajkowicz, Chief Research Consultant, Data61, CSIRO
  • Simon Burns, Partner, Gilbert + Tobin
Breakout: SMEs in the Supply Chain: Can a Rising AI Tide Lift all Boats?

21 October, 3:20pm - 4:00pm AEST Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of Australia’s economy and vital to larger organisations as customers, suppliers and partners. How does supporting SMEs to adopt AI help shape stronger supply chains, new market opportunities and national growth? Hear from Australia’s AI Adopt Centres about challenges and successes experienced by SMEs and how the entire business ecosystem can benefit.

  • (Facilitator) Eloise Leaver, Manager, Industry Growth, National AI Centre
  • Professor Cori Stewart, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, ARMHub
  • Ben Finkel, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Regional AI Network (ARAIN)
  • Myfanwy Wallwork, AI Governance Lead, University of Technology Sydney, Human Technology Institute
  • Matthew Tobin, Founder | Managing Director, UAP Group
AI Discovery Stage

21 October, 3:20pm - 4:00pm AEST Multiple TED-talk style presentations that spotlight AI entrepreneurs and thought leaders who offer a glimpse of some of the ways AI technologies can drive change and innovative thinking for a positive impact.

  • Facilitator: Bec McIntosh, Associate Director Communities, CEDA
  • Advancing Medical Frontiers with AI: A/Professor Sudanthi Wijewickrema, Principal Research Fellow, ACAMI (Australian Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Medical Innovation), La Trobe University
  • Marine Debris Taskforce: Dr Kelvin Ross, Chairman, KJR
  • YouFor2032 App: Dr Alex Roberts, Head of Talent, Queensland Academy of Sports + Chloe Lindsay, Head of Operations, Queensland Academy of Sport
Panel: Australia’s AI Skills Revolution

21 October, 4:15pm - 4:55pm AEST Australia’s AI skills revolution is underway. This panel maps the current and future workforce needs, exploring the shift from traditional roles to AI-augmented capabilities, and the evolving social compact in an AI-driven economy.

  • (Facilitator) Andrew Barker, Head of Research, CEDA
  • Chris Eigeland, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Go1
  • Nathan Bines, Executive Director, Data and AI, Queensland Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business
  • Meredith Hodgman, Head of Strategy, TPDi
International Closing Keynote Address: The Future of Work in the Age of AI

21 October, 5:00pm - 5:30pm AEST Keynote address:

  • Dr Daniel Susskind, Bestselling Author on AI; Research Professor, Oxford University, Stanford Digital Economy Lab
  • Melinda Cilento, Chief Executive, CEDA
Summit Closing and Wrap Up

21 October, 5:30pm - 5:35pm AEST

  • Melinda Cilento, Chief Executive, CEDA
  • Lee Hickin, Chief Executive Officer, National AI Centre

Speakers

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