Turning AI Ambition into a Sustainable Technology Roadmap
The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne, Australia
Hosted by Factor
238 attendees
4 hours
Overview
In 2026, one of the defining challenges for technology leaders is closing the gap between the Board’s ambition for rapid AI transformation and the reality of legacy infrastructure, fragmented data and growing technical debt. While organisations are under pressure to deliver immediate ROI and market-shaping innovation, technology teams must balance modernisation with cybersecurity, operational resilience, governance and ongoing talent shortages.
This theme explores how technology leaders can translate high-level business goals into a practical and sequenced roadmap—strengthening the foundations required to scale AI, modernise securely and ensure transformation progresses at a pace the organisation can realistically sustain.
What we will cover
Enterprise Support The latest strategies in enterprise support with cost optimisation in mind.
Operational Productivity Investigating ways to streamline processes and optimise internal operations, reducing inefficiencies and improving overall output.
Data Analytics Exploring how data-driven insights can guide strategic decisions and improve business outcomes across departments.
Digital Acceleration Exploring how to accelerate digital transformation efforts to drive growth and adapt to new market demands.
Cyber Priorities Emphasising proactive approaches to cybersecurity, integrating security measures into projects from inception to minimise risk.
AI & Automation Examining how automation and AI are enhancing decision-making, reducing manual tasks, and improving business outcomes.
Enterprise Agility Focusing on building agility and resilience into business operations to quickly respond to market shifts, disruptions, and emerging opportunities.
ESG Goals Investigating how CIOs can support organisational sustainability efforts, aligning IT with environmental and social governance (ESG) metrics.
Talent Development Addressing the challenge of upskilling IT teams and attracting digital talent, focusing on leadership in a tech-driven world.
Executive Partnerships Exploring the evolving role of CIOs as strategic partners within the executive team, driving cross-functional collaboration and innovation.
Security Investments Discussing the increasing need for investments in cybersecurity to protect against evolving threats and secure sensitive business data.
Customer Experience Exploring strategies to elevate customer interactions, personalisation, and engagement, ensuring competitive differentiation and loyalty.
Agenda
Networking Breakfast(Technology Day - Plenary) Informal arrival with open time for peer introductions. Sets the tone for a working day built on shared priorities and practical exchange.
Opening Address: What Boards Now Expect from Technology Leaders(Technology Day - Plenary) Drawing on Factor’s latest CIO and board-level research, the VP Analysts outline how expectations of technology leaders have shifted in the past year. Covers what directors now look for in resilience reporting, IT cost transparency, and transformation outcomes, and how leading CIOs are adjusting their communication to match.
Technology Leadership at the Crossroads: Balancing Growth, Resilience and Trust(Technology Day - Plenary) This session explores the current Australian enterprise landscape, marked by regulatory change, global pressures, constrained budgets, and the urgent need for measurable transformation. Drawing on the latest CIO and board-level research, we’ll examine how expectations of technology leaders have shifted, what boards now look for in resilience, cost transparency, and transformation outcomes, and how leading CIOs are adapting their strategies and communication to succeed in this changing environment.
The Modern Technology Leader: Succeeding in an Era of Accelerating Change(Technology Day - Plenary) The role of the CIO has never been more complex or more critical. In a rapidly changing environment shaped by accelerating technology, evolving customer expectations, and constant disruption, success demands more than technical expertise. It requires a new leadership mindset. This session explores what it means to be a Modern CIO, anchored in five defining capabilities: curiosity to continually learn and adapt; collaboration to lead across business, product and technology boundaries; context to balance delivery, resilience and risk in decision-making; courage to challenge legacy thinking and lead through uncertainty; and customer centricity to ensure technology investment delivers tangible value. Together, these Five C’s form a practical framework for CIOs navigating complexity while driving sustainable, long-term outcome.
From Risk-Exposed to Resilient: Aligning Technology, Cybersecurity and the Business(Technology Day - Plenary) Australian organisations are being targeted by cyber criminals at rates unmatched globally. The fallout is no longer just technical—it’s strategic, financial, and reputational. Yet, by working together, CIO’s and CISO’s can transform cyber resilience into a shared, business-wide mission. The CIO’s New Mandate: Bridge the Boardroom and the Security Operations Centre: Today’s CIOs must step up as the vital link between business strategy and cyber defence, working hand-in-hand with CISOs to ensure resilience is embedded across the enterprise. From Silos to Synergy: The most resilient organisations are those where CIOs and CISOs break down silos, align on rapid recovery, and present a united front to the board, regulators, and customers. Leadership success will be defined by the ability to recover quickly and securely—not just prevent incidents. AI and automation are game-changers—if you close the trust gap: By championing automation, and AI-driven recovery, CIOs can help CISOs move beyond fire-fighting, to strategic risk management.
Who Owns Transformation? Aligning Risk, Investment and Execution Across the C-Suite(Technology Day - Plenary) This panel explores the shift from siloed transformation programs to a shared executive mandate, examining how organisations align strategy, data, applications, workflows and operations to deliver measurable business outcomes. As enterprises modernise increasingly complex technology estates, leaders must ensure systems and data are connected across the business, while balancing cyber, regulatory and operational risk with the need to move faster, unlock innovation and create lasting enterprise value. Discussion Points: Aligning Technology Investment with Business Outcomes How the C-suite ensures transformation initiatives deliver measurable enterprise value, not just isolated digital projects or disconnected platform upgrades. Connecting Data, Applications and Workflows Across the Enterprise Breaking down system and organisational silos to improve visibility, interoperability and decision-making across complex enterprise environments. Balancing Innovation with Enterprise Risk Navigating cyber, regulatory, operational and financial risk while enabling faster modernisation, automation and AI-readiness. Building True Cross-C-Suite Ownership of Transformation Creating shared accountability between technology, finance, operations and business units so transformation is governed as an enterprise-wide mandate
Networking Lunch & Executive Connections(CIO Day - Plenary) Morning Team Strategy and Collaboration Session
Interactive Executive Debate: What Should Technology Leaders Prioritise Next?(CIO Day - Plenary) A: Unified IT Department vs. Distributed Tech Capability In an era where technology is the business, should the CIO maintain a centralised IT function to ensure security and standards, or should technology capability be dissolved and distributed directly into business units? Discussion Prompts: When technology is embedded in every department, what is the role of the central CIO? How do organisations maintain unified governance and architecture with a distributed workforce? Does distributing talent improve business alignment or institutionalise technical fragmentation? B: Innovation Budget vs. Modernisation Reality Should IT budgets prioritise high-impact Agentic AI growth initiatives to stay competitive, or should the focus be on modernisation over novelty to fix legacy complexity and avoid bill shock from inefficient cloud scaling? Discussion Prompts: How do CIOs justify re-platforming existing infrastructure when the board only wants to discuss AI? Is technical debt always a liability, or is it sometimes a strategic asset for stability? At what point does the cost of cloud flexibility outweigh the benefit of architectural agility? C: Centralised Data Governance vs. Federated Data Products Should CIOs centralise data assets into unified environments to eliminate operational blind spots, or empower domain experts through federated data products to accelerate AI adoption across business units? Discussion Prompts: At what point does centralised data governance become a bottleneck for business-led innovation? How do you maintain data quality and compliance standards in a fully federated Data Mesh? Is the biggest barrier to AI scale technical capability or fragmented data control? D: Autonomous Agents vs. Human Oversight Is it time to hand over real-time operational decisions to Agentic AI systems to match the velocity of AI-driven cyberattacks, or must we maintain human-in-the-loop governance even if it creates a near-zero response window? Discussion Prompts: If cyber-threats move at machine speed, is human oversight actually an operational risk? Where is the red line for autonomous decision-making in highly regulated Australian sectors like finance or healthcare? Does removing the human from the loop accelerate efficiency or create black box liability? E: Ecosystem Partnership vs. Vendor Lock-In Should CIOs pursue deep, single-stack partnerships with primary platform vendors to maximise integration, or maintain a multi-vendor strategy to prevent hyperscaler power shifts? Discussion Prompts: Are Australian enterprises becoming tenants in ecosystems where they have zero negotiation leverage? Does the complexity of multi-cloud management negate the benefits of vendor choice? What defines a strategic partner vs. a high-risk third-party dependency in 2026? F: Sovereign Cloud vs. Global Hyperscale Should Australian organisations repatriate critical workloads to Sovereign-by-Design Architectures to ensure compliance with the SOCI Act and data residency, or double down on the innovation speed of global hyperscalers like Microsoft, AWS, and Google? Discussion Prompts: At what point does Cloud-First become a national security or compliance liability under Australian law? Can local sovereign cloud providers truly compete with the R&D velocity of global hyperscalers? How do CIOs balance board demands for cutting-edge AI with legal requirements for data residency?
Speakers
Burak Cankurtaran · Chief Technology Officer, Panelist Heading up the tech team at Panelist.
Anthony Emmanouil · Chief Marketing Officer, Macquarie Technology Group
Miranda Ratajski · Chief Information Officer, Group Business Units, Westpac Miranda is the CIO of Group Business Units for Westpac. She is a leader of large-scale and complex technological and digital transformations. Miranda has developed strategic and tactical direction, built high-performing teams, and enabled service to uplift customer experiences. Her leadership, focus, and business direction result in improved engagement and productivity through enhanced employee experience, delivering significantly engaged teams who have more time to delight customers. Driving excellence in product delivery is key to having systems that provide the right experience—Miranda has 25 years of global experience and is a master of this craft. Her experience spans Federal Government, Telecommunications, and Financial Services sectors across Europe, Asia, and Australia. Miranda is passionate about diversity and promoting women in technology. Community is a strong anchor for Miranda, and she is also a volunteer yoga teacher. Miranda’s recent awards and nominations include: WiBF Award for Inclusive Leadership Ranked #37 in the Top 100 Women in Finance Technology (Globally) Recognised #9 on the Power List
Peter Meliniotis · Group Chief Information Officer, The Star Entertainment Group Peter Meliniotis is the Group Chief Information Officer at The Star Entertainment Group, where he leads the organisation’s technology strategy and transformation agenda across its integrated resort, hospitality, and gaming operations. With over two decades of experience in technology advisory, implementation, and enterprise transformation, Peter has built a career at the intersection of innovation, governance, and business enablement. Since joining The Star in 2025, he has been instrumental in driving digital modernisation and strengthening the organisation’s information management and systems architecture to support operational excellence and regulatory integrity. Holding both an MBA and a Master of Information Technology, Peter combines commercial acumen with deep technical expertise; passionate about leveraging technology to deliver secure, efficient, and customer-centric business outcomes.
Carly Richards · Chief Risk Officer (CRO), Woolworths Group Carly Richard is Chief Risk Officer at Woolworths Group, where she oversees enterprise risk, resilience, and governance across one of Australia and New Zealand’s largest retail and supply chain networks. She plays a critical role in protecting operational continuity across complex logistics, digital, and customer-facing environments. Working closely with executive leadership, Carly ensures risk is embedded into strategic decision-making, enabling the business to grow and transform while maintaining trust, resilience, and regulatory confidence at scale.
Jacqui Lennon · Chief Technology and Transformation Officer, Zurich Insurance Australia Jacqui Lennon is Chief Technology and Transformation Officer at Zurich Insurance Group (Australia and New Zealand), where she leads enterprise technology, digital transformation, and operating model change. She is responsible for driving Zurich’s technology strategy, modernising core insurance platforms, and embedding agile, data-driven ways of working to enhance customer experience and business performance across the organisation. With over 20 years of experience in financial services, Jacqui has held senior leadership roles across product, digital, and customer transformation at organisations including Macquarie Group, IRESS, and Allianz Retire+. She is recognised for her expertise in insurance innovation, digital strategy, and large-scale transformation, with a strong focus on aligning technology, product, and customer outcomes to deliver sustainable business impact.
Deniz Molokov · Group Chief Information Officer / Chief Information Security Officer, Downer Deniz Molokov is the Acting Group Chief Information Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at Downer Group, where he leads both the organisation’s technology strategy and cybersecurity programs. In this dual role, he is responsible for driving enterprise IT transformation, modernising legacy systems, implementing scalable digital platforms, and safeguarding the business against emerging cyber threats across Downer’s diverse infrastructure and services operations. With over two decades of experience in technology leadership, Deniz has deep expertise in aligning IT strategy with business outcomes, managing risk, and delivering digital solutions in complex, asset‑intensive environments. He is recognised for fostering innovation, operational resilience, and a data-driven culture that balances technological advancement with security, governance, and measurable business impact.
Jean-Baptiste Bres · CISO, AMP Jean-Baptiste Bres is Chief Information Security Officer at AMP, where he leads the organisation’s cyber security, information security, and technology risk functions. He is responsible for protecting critical systems and customer data, strengthening cyber resilience, and embedding robust security frameworks across a highly regulated financial services environment. With more than 20 years of global experience, Jean-Baptiste has held senior security leadership roles across banking, fintech, and wealth management, including serving as CISO for HSBC Australia and Australasia. He is recognised for his expertise in zero-trust architecture, cyber risk management, and leading large-scale security transformations, as well as his commitment to building high-performing teams and advancing industry capability in cyber security.
Monique Dignan-smith · VP Analyst, Factor Monique Dignan-Smith is Editor – Research & Content at Factor and a versatile host and presenter with more than a decade of experience across corporate, sports, lifestyle, travel, health and automotive sectors. With a strong background in journalism, content creation and social media marketing, Monique brings a sharp editorial lens and audience-first mindset to every conversation she leads. She has delivered across live events, advertorial, interviews, UGC and digital platforms including TikTok Live, combining professionalism with an energetic, engaging on-stage presence.
The hon. john Howard · Former Prime Minister, Australia The Hon. John Howard OM AC served as Australia’s 25th Prime Minister from 1996 to 2007, leading one of the country’s longest-serving governments. A transformative figure in modern Australian politics, he oversaw a period of sustained economic growth, major tax reform including the introduction of the GST, strengthened national security, and landmark gun law reform following the Port Arthur tragedy. His leadership helped shape Australia’s role on the global stage through strong alliances and active participation in international affairs. Before his prime ministership, Mr Howard held key portfolios including Treasurer in the Fraser Government and represented the Sydney electorate of Bennelong for over three decades. Widely regarded for his steady leadership and pragmatic approach to governance, he remains an influential voice in public affairs and a respected commentator on leadership, policy, and Australia’s place in a changing world.
Shelley Rigg · VP Analyst, Factor Shelley Rigg is Executive Producer, Research & Content at Factor, where she draws on over two decades of experience producing commercially driven campaigns, broadcast content, and executive events for some of the world’s leading brands. An award-winning producer and BAFTA recipient, Shelley has overseen more than 30 primetime shows in the UK and US, led strategic campaigns for Netflix, BBC, Amazon Prime, Rio Tinto, and Optus, and executive produced major live events, including Optus’s award-winning coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. At Factor, she brings her expertise as a talk show host, moderator, and content strategist, supporting broadcast, editorial, and e-learning initiatives while shaping engaging conversations with senior leaders across industries.
Rachael Phelan · Chief Operating Officer NAB Business and Private, NAB Rachael Phelan is Chief Operating Officer at National Australia Bank, where she leads enterprise operations across one of Australia’s largest financial institutions. She is responsible for driving operational excellence, resilience, and large-scale transformation across core banking services and customer-facing platforms. A key member of the executive team, Rachael focuses on simplifying and modernising operations to improve customer outcomes, strengthen performance, and ensure the organisation can scale efficiently in a rapidly changing financial and technology landscape.
Callum Nelson · CISO, EBOS Group Limited Callum Nelson is Chief Information Security Officer at EBOS Group, where he leads the organisation’s cybersecurity, information security, and technology risk functions. He is responsible for safeguarding critical systems, protecting sensitive data, and strengthening cyber resilience across one of Australasia’s largest healthcare and pharmaceutical distribution businesses, operating in a highly regulated and operationally complex environment. With over two decades of experience in technology and security leadership, Callum brings deep expertise in cyber risk management, security transformation, and protecting large-scale, distributed operations. He is focused on embedding security as a core business capability, enabling EBOS to maintain trust, resilience, and continuity across its essential healthcare supply chain.
David Irecki · Chief Technology Officer, Boomi David Irecki is the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) for Asia Pacific / Japan (APJ) at Boomi, a category-leading, global software as a service (SaaS) company with more than 20,000 global customers and a worldwide network of 800 partners. As CTO, David leads the region’s efforts in advocating and evangelizing the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in business with intelligent integration and automation. He is instrumental in helping organizations across the APJ region thrive in the digital age and on their AI journeys. David leads a team of pre-sales professionals across APJ. Under his leadership, his team helps customers transform their business by solving integration and data management challenges. David is an IT veteran with over 20 years of experience in the enterprise integration and embedded computing markets. David joined Boomi in June 2015 as the first Solutions Consultant in APJ. Prior to Boomi, David worked for MuleSoft, where he led the APJ Solutions Consulting team. David is a graduate of New Zealand’s Massey University, majoring in Information Engineering.
Ed Falconer · Chief Data Officer, Bupa Ed Falconer is Chief Data Officer at Bupa, where he leads the organisation’s enterprise data, analytics, and AI strategy. He is responsible for transforming Bupa into a data-driven healthcare business, building advanced data platforms and deploying AI to enable more proactive, personalised care. His work focuses on using data to move beyond retrospective insights toward predictive and preventative health outcomes at scale. With a background spanning senior roles at Accenture and Coles Group, Ed brings deep experience in data transformation, commercialisation, and customer strategy. He has led large, multidisciplinary teams and complex transformation programs, and is recognised for driving the practical application of AI and analytics to deliver measurable business and customer impact.
Louiza Nutt · Group General Manager Network, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure, JB Hi-Fi Louiza Nutt is a senior technology executive at JB Hi-Fi, where she serves as Group General Manager for Network, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure. With a career spanning software development through to executive leadership, she brings deep expertise across cybersecurity, cloud, infrastructure, and enterprise operations. Louiza is responsible for ensuring the resilience, security, and scalability of core technology platforms, enabling the business to deliver reliable, customer-focused outcomes while navigating an increasingly complex risk landscape. An advocate for practical, outcome-driven innovation, Louiza is passionate about leveraging AI and emerging technologies to enhance both customer and employee experiences. Known for her strategic vision and high-performing leadership style, she combines strong technical depth with a pragmatic approach to transformation, focused on what it takes to operationalise change at scale. She is also a committed supporter of diversity in technology, serving as a board member for Women 4 STEM and championing initiatives that inspire the next generation of women in tech.
David Hackshall · Chief Information Officer (CIO), Sonic Healthcare David Hackshall is the Chief Information Officer (Australia) at Sonic Healthcare, where he leads the organisation’s technology strategy, digital transformation, and enterprise IT initiatives across one of the world’s largest medical diagnostics and healthcare services companies. He is responsible for modernising legacy systems, implementing scalable digital platforms, and leveraging data to drive operational efficiency and improved patient outcomes. With extensive experience in technology leadership across regulated and complex environments, David has held senior roles including Global CIO at Cochlear Limited. He is recognised for aligning IT strategy with business objectives, delivering large-scale transformation programs, and fostering a data-driven culture that enables innovation, accountability, and measurable business impact.
Richard Exton · Group Chief Technology and Data Officer, Aware Super Richard Exton is the Group Executive, Chief Technology and Data Officer at Aware Super, one of Australia’s largest superannuation funds. He leads the organisation’s enterprise technology, data, and AI strategy, overseeing platform modernisation, digital capability, and cybersecurity to support better member outcomes for more than one million Australians. With over 30 years of experience in financial services and technology, Richard has held senior leadership roles across organisations including Macquarie Group, ANZ, and Commonwealth Bank of Australia. He is recognised for leading large-scale digital transformations, including cloud and platform modernisation and the insourcing of critical technology capabilities, and for driving the adoption of data and AI to improve efficiency, personalisation, and customer experience.
Josh Heid · CEO, Panelist Josh brings with himself years of leadership experience as the driving force behind Factor and Panelist , where he has shaped the future of business strategy through his expertise in Product Design , Customer Experience , and Engineering . An innovator at heart, Josh excels in Product Design , where he combines aesthetic sensibility with functional purpose to create solutions that resonate with users and deliver measurable results. His approach bridges customer needs and cutting-edge technology, ensuring that every product is not only visually compelling but also highly effective in meeting market demands. In the realm of Customer Experience , Josh has consistently championed the importance of understanding user journeys and fostering engagement through intuitive design and seamless interactions. He has implemented frameworks that elevate user satisfaction, ensuring that Factor’s offerings remain at the forefront of customer-centric innovation. Josh's engineering mindset adds a unique layer to his leadership. His ability to translate complex concepts into actionable development processes has resulted in robust, scalable applications and systems. By integrating engineering principles with strategic thinking, Josh has driven operational excellence while maintaining a sharp focus on delivering top-tier solutions to clients. With a deep understanding of Leadership Strategy , Marketing , and Sales , Josh has built Factor and Panelist into trusted names in their industries, continuously setting new benchmarks for innovation and success.
Mark Brown · Chief Information Officer (CIO), Dyson Group of Companies Mark Brown is the Chief Information Officer at Dyson Group, where he leads the organisation’s technology strategy, digital transformation, and enterprise systems across its large-scale transport and logistics operations. In this role, he is responsible for modernising core platforms, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring technology enables safe, reliable, and data-driven transport services across the business. With extensive experience in IT leadership within complex, operationally intensive environments, Mark brings a strong focus on aligning technology with frontline business needs. He has a track record of delivering practical innovation across infrastructure, systems integration, and service optimisation, with an emphasis on improving performance, resilience, and customer outcomes in the transport sector.
Partners
NRI · Bronze
Cato Networks · Bronze Cato provides the world’s leading single-vendor SASE platform. Cato creates a seamless and elegant customer experience that effortlessly enables threat prevention, data protection, and timely incident detection and response. Using Cato, businesses easily replace costly and rigid legacy infrastructure with a modern, zero-trust SASE architecture based on SD-WAN, a purpose-built global cloud network, and an embedded cloud-native security stack to secure and optimize their global hybrid workforce and mission-critical applications and data on premises and in the cloud. With Cato, any organization can reap the full benefits of digital transformation and move at the speed of business. CatoNetworks.com @CatoNetworks.
Macquarie Telecom · Official Sovereign Partner We get our customers talking, emailing and connecting. But we do it in an #SoUnTelco way. We take care of data, voice, mobile and SDWAN. But we also take care of you. We work hard to be better.
Equinix · Silver Equinix (Nasdaq: EQIX) is the world’s digital infrastructure company®. Digital leaders harness Equinix’s trusted platform to bring together and interconnect foundational infrastructure at software speed. Equinix enables organizations to access all the right places, partners and possibilities to scale with agility, speed the launch of digital services, deliver world-class experiences and multiply their value, while supporting their sustainability goals.
Exabeam · Gold Exabeam is the leader in behavior intelligence for the agentic enterprise. As organizations deploy digital workers and confront machine-speed adversaries, Exabeam applies agent-powered analytics to understand and govern the behavior of both human and non-human insiders. With integrated Exabeam Nova cybersecurity agents, Exabeam delivers flexible, industry-proven solutions for insider threat coverage of humans and agents and faster, more accurate threat detection, investigation, and response (TDIR). As the pioneer of user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA) and the innovator behind Agent Behavior Analytics (ABA), Exabeam is trusted by more than 3,000 enterprises worldwide to reduce risk, secure the digital workforce, and accelerate security operations. Learn more at www.exabeam.com. Exabeam: Real Intelligence. Real Security. Real Fast.
ManageEngine · Platinum As the IT management division of Zoho Corporation, ManageEngine prioritizes flexible solutions that work for all businesses, regardless of size or budget. ManageEngine crafts comprehensive IT management software with a focus on making your job easier. Our 120+ award-winning products and free tools cover everything your IT needs. From network and device management to security and service desk software, we're bringing IT together for an integrated, overarching approach to optimize your IT.
Burak Cankurtaran · Chief Technology Officer, Panelist Heading up the tech team at Panelist.
Anthony Emmanouil · Chief Marketing Officer, Macquarie Technology Group
Miranda Ratajski · Chief Information Officer, Group Business Units, Westpac Miranda is the CIO of Group Business Units for Westpac. She is a leader of large-scale and complex technological and digital transformations. Miranda has developed strategic and tactical direction, built high-performing teams, and enabled service to uplift customer experiences. Her leadership, focus, and business direction result in improved engagement and productivity through enhanced employee experience, delivering significantly engaged teams who have more time to delight customers. Driving excellence in product delivery is key to having systems that provide the right experience—Miranda has 25 years of global experience and is a master of this craft. Her experience spans Federal Government, Telecommunications, and Financial Services sectors across Europe, Asia, and Australia. Miranda is passionate about diversity and promoting women in technology. Community is a strong anchor for Miranda, and she is also a volunteer yoga teacher. Miranda’s recent awards and nominations include: WiBF Award for Inclusive Leadership Ranked #37 in the Top 100 Women in Finance Technology (Globally) Recognised #9 on the Power List
Peter Meliniotis · Group Chief Information Officer, The Star Entertainment Group Peter Meliniotis is the Group Chief Information Officer at The Star Entertainment Group, where he leads the organisation’s technology strategy and transformation agenda across its integrated resort, hospitality, and gaming operations. With over two decades of experience in technology advisory, implementation, and enterprise transformation, Peter has built a career at the intersection of innovation, governance, and business enablement. Since joining The Star in 2025, he has been instrumental in driving digital modernisation and strengthening the organisation’s information management and systems architecture to support operational excellence and regulatory integrity. Holding both an MBA and a Master of Information Technology, Peter combines commercial acumen with deep technical expertise; passionate about leveraging technology to deliver secure, efficient, and customer-centric business outcomes.
Carly Richards · Chief Risk Officer (CRO), Woolworths Group Carly Richard is Chief Risk Officer at Woolworths Group, where she oversees enterprise risk, resilience, and governance across one of Australia and New Zealand’s largest retail and supply chain networks. She plays a critical role in protecting operational continuity across complex logistics, digital, and customer-facing environments. Working closely with executive leadership, Carly ensures risk is embedded into strategic decision-making, enabling the business to grow and transform while maintaining trust, resilience, and regulatory confidence at scale.
Jacqui Lennon · Chief Technology and Transformation Officer, Zurich Insurance Australia Jacqui Lennon is Chief Technology and Transformation Officer at Zurich Insurance Group (Australia and New Zealand), where she leads enterprise technology, digital transformation, and operating model change. She is responsible for driving Zurich’s technology strategy, modernising core insurance platforms, and embedding agile, data-driven ways of working to enhance customer experience and business performance across the organisation. With over 20 years of experience in financial services, Jacqui has held senior leadership roles across product, digital, and customer transformation at organisations including Macquarie Group, IRESS, and Allianz Retire+. She is recognised for her expertise in insurance innovation, digital strategy, and large-scale transformation, with a strong focus on aligning technology, product, and customer outcomes to deliver sustainable business impact.
Deniz Molokov · Group Chief Information Officer / Chief Information Security Officer, Downer Deniz Molokov is the Acting Group Chief Information Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at Downer Group, where he leads both the organisation’s technology strategy and cybersecurity programs. In this dual role, he is responsible for driving enterprise IT transformation, modernising legacy systems, implementing scalable digital platforms, and safeguarding the business against emerging cyber threats across Downer’s diverse infrastructure and services operations. With over two decades of experience in technology leadership, Deniz has deep expertise in aligning IT strategy with business outcomes, managing risk, and delivering digital solutions in complex, asset‑intensive environments. He is recognised for fostering innovation, operational resilience, and a data-driven culture that balances technological advancement with security, governance, and measurable business impact.
Jean-Baptiste Bres · CISO, AMP Jean-Baptiste Bres is Chief Information Security Officer at AMP, where he leads the organisation’s cyber security, information security, and technology risk functions. He is responsible for protecting critical systems and customer data, strengthening cyber resilience, and embedding robust security frameworks across a highly regulated financial services environment. With more than 20 years of global experience, Jean-Baptiste has held senior security leadership roles across banking, fintech, and wealth management, including serving as CISO for HSBC Australia and Australasia. He is recognised for his expertise in zero-trust architecture, cyber risk management, and leading large-scale security transformations, as well as his commitment to building high-performing teams and advancing industry capability in cyber security.
Monique Dignan-smith · VP Analyst, Factor Monique Dignan-Smith is Editor – Research & Content at Factor and a versatile host and presenter with more than a decade of experience across corporate, sports, lifestyle, travel, health and automotive sectors. With a strong background in journalism, content creation and social media marketing, Monique brings a sharp editorial lens and audience-first mindset to every conversation she leads. She has delivered across live events, advertorial, interviews, UGC and digital platforms including TikTok Live, combining professionalism with an energetic, engaging on-stage presence.
The hon. john Howard · Former Prime Minister, Australia The Hon. John Howard OM AC served as Australia’s 25th Prime Minister from 1996 to 2007, leading one of the country’s longest-serving governments. A transformative figure in modern Australian politics, he oversaw a period of sustained economic growth, major tax reform including the introduction of the GST, strengthened national security, and landmark gun law reform following the Port Arthur tragedy. His leadership helped shape Australia’s role on the global stage through strong alliances and active participation in international affairs. Before his prime ministership, Mr Howard held key portfolios including Treasurer in the Fraser Government and represented the Sydney electorate of Bennelong for over three decades. Widely regarded for his steady leadership and pragmatic approach to governance, he remains an influential voice in public affairs and a respected commentator on leadership, policy, and Australia’s place in a changing world.
Shelley Rigg · VP Analyst, Factor Shelley Rigg is Executive Producer, Research & Content at Factor, where she draws on over two decades of experience producing commercially driven campaigns, broadcast content, and executive events for some of the world’s leading brands. An award-winning producer and BAFTA recipient, Shelley has overseen more than 30 primetime shows in the UK and US, led strategic campaigns for Netflix, BBC, Amazon Prime, Rio Tinto, and Optus, and executive produced major live events, including Optus’s award-winning coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. At Factor, she brings her expertise as a talk show host, moderator, and content strategist, supporting broadcast, editorial, and e-learning initiatives while shaping engaging conversations with senior leaders across industries.
Rachael Phelan · Chief Operating Officer NAB Business and Private, NAB Rachael Phelan is Chief Operating Officer at National Australia Bank, where she leads enterprise operations across one of Australia’s largest financial institutions. She is responsible for driving operational excellence, resilience, and large-scale transformation across core banking services and customer-facing platforms. A key member of the executive team, Rachael focuses on simplifying and modernising operations to improve customer outcomes, strengthen performance, and ensure the organisation can scale efficiently in a rapidly changing financial and technology landscape.
Callum Nelson · CISO, EBOS Group Limited Callum Nelson is Chief Information Security Officer at EBOS Group, where he leads the organisation’s cybersecurity, information security, and technology risk functions. He is responsible for safeguarding critical systems, protecting sensitive data, and strengthening cyber resilience across one of Australasia’s largest healthcare and pharmaceutical distribution businesses, operating in a highly regulated and operationally complex environment. With over two decades of experience in technology and security leadership, Callum brings deep expertise in cyber risk management, security transformation, and protecting large-scale, distributed operations. He is focused on embedding security as a core business capability, enabling EBOS to maintain trust, resilience, and continuity across its essential healthcare supply chain.
David Irecki · Chief Technology Officer, Boomi David Irecki is the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) for Asia Pacific / Japan (APJ) at Boomi, a category-leading, global software as a service (SaaS) company with more than 20,000 global customers and a worldwide network of 800 partners. As CTO, David leads the region’s efforts in advocating and evangelizing the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in business with intelligent integration and automation. He is instrumental in helping organizations across the APJ region thrive in the digital age and on their AI journeys. David leads a team of pre-sales professionals across APJ. Under his leadership, his team helps customers transform their business by solving integration and data management challenges. David is an IT veteran with over 20 years of experience in the enterprise integration and embedded computing markets. David joined Boomi in June 2015 as the first Solutions Consultant in APJ. Prior to Boomi, David worked for MuleSoft, where he led the APJ Solutions Consulting team. David is a graduate of New Zealand’s Massey University, majoring in Information Engineering.
Ed Falconer · Chief Data Officer, Bupa Ed Falconer is Chief Data Officer at Bupa, where he leads the organisation’s enterprise data, analytics, and AI strategy. He is responsible for transforming Bupa into a data-driven healthcare business, building advanced data platforms and deploying AI to enable more proactive, personalised care. His work focuses on using data to move beyond retrospective insights toward predictive and preventative health outcomes at scale. With a background spanning senior roles at Accenture and Coles Group, Ed brings deep experience in data transformation, commercialisation, and customer strategy. He has led large, multidisciplinary teams and complex transformation programs, and is recognised for driving the practical application of AI and analytics to deliver measurable business and customer impact.
Louiza Nutt · Group General Manager Network, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure, JB Hi-Fi Louiza Nutt is a senior technology executive at JB Hi-Fi, where she serves as Group General Manager for Network, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure. With a career spanning software development through to executive leadership, she brings deep expertise across cybersecurity, cloud, infrastructure, and enterprise operations. Louiza is responsible for ensuring the resilience, security, and scalability of core technology platforms, enabling the business to deliver reliable, customer-focused outcomes while navigating an increasingly complex risk landscape. An advocate for practical, outcome-driven innovation, Louiza is passionate about leveraging AI and emerging technologies to enhance both customer and employee experiences. Known for her strategic vision and high-performing leadership style, she combines strong technical depth with a pragmatic approach to transformation, focused on what it takes to operationalise change at scale. She is also a committed supporter of diversity in technology, serving as a board member for Women 4 STEM and championing initiatives that inspire the next generation of women in tech.
David Hackshall · Chief Information Officer (CIO), Sonic Healthcare David Hackshall is the Chief Information Officer (Australia) at Sonic Healthcare, where he leads the organisation’s technology strategy, digital transformation, and enterprise IT initiatives across one of the world’s largest medical diagnostics and healthcare services companies. He is responsible for modernising legacy systems, implementing scalable digital platforms, and leveraging data to drive operational efficiency and improved patient outcomes. With extensive experience in technology leadership across regulated and complex environments, David has held senior roles including Global CIO at Cochlear Limited. He is recognised for aligning IT strategy with business objectives, delivering large-scale transformation programs, and fostering a data-driven culture that enables innovation, accountability, and measurable business impact.
Richard Exton · Group Chief Technology and Data Officer, Aware Super Richard Exton is the Group Executive, Chief Technology and Data Officer at Aware Super, one of Australia’s largest superannuation funds. He leads the organisation’s enterprise technology, data, and AI strategy, overseeing platform modernisation, digital capability, and cybersecurity to support better member outcomes for more than one million Australians. With over 30 years of experience in financial services and technology, Richard has held senior leadership roles across organisations including Macquarie Group, ANZ, and Commonwealth Bank of Australia. He is recognised for leading large-scale digital transformations, including cloud and platform modernisation and the insourcing of critical technology capabilities, and for driving the adoption of data and AI to improve efficiency, personalisation, and customer experience.
Josh Heid · CEO, Panelist Josh brings with himself years of leadership experience as the driving force behind Factor and Panelist , where he has shaped the future of business strategy through his expertise in Product Design , Customer Experience , and Engineering . An innovator at heart, Josh excels in Product Design , where he combines aesthetic sensibility with functional purpose to create solutions that resonate with users and deliver measurable results. His approach bridges customer needs and cutting-edge technology, ensuring that every product is not only visually compelling but also highly effective in meeting market demands. In the realm of Customer Experience , Josh has consistently championed the importance of understanding user journeys and fostering engagement through intuitive design and seamless interactions. He has implemented frameworks that elevate user satisfaction, ensuring that Factor’s offerings remain at the forefront of customer-centric innovation. Josh's engineering mindset adds a unique layer to his leadership. His ability to translate complex concepts into actionable development processes has resulted in robust, scalable applications and systems. By integrating engineering principles with strategic thinking, Josh has driven operational excellence while maintaining a sharp focus on delivering top-tier solutions to clients. With a deep understanding of Leadership Strategy , Marketing , and Sales , Josh has built Factor and Panelist into trusted names in their industries, continuously setting new benchmarks for innovation and success.
Mark Brown · Chief Information Officer (CIO), Dyson Group of Companies Mark Brown is the Chief Information Officer at Dyson Group, where he leads the organisation’s technology strategy, digital transformation, and enterprise systems across its large-scale transport and logistics operations. In this role, he is responsible for modernising core platforms, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring technology enables safe, reliable, and data-driven transport services across the business. With extensive experience in IT leadership within complex, operationally intensive environments, Mark brings a strong focus on aligning technology with frontline business needs. He has a track record of delivering practical innovation across infrastructure, systems integration, and service optimisation, with an emphasis on improving performance, resilience, and customer outcomes in the transport sector.
Equinix · Silver Equinix (Nasdaq: EQIX) is the world’s digital infrastructure company®. Digital leaders harness Equinix’s trusted platform to bring together and interconnect foundational infrastructure at software speed. Equinix enables organizations to access all the right places, partners and possibilities to scale with agility, speed the launch of digital services, deliver world-class experiences and multiply their value, while supporting their sustainability goals.