ACS QUEENSLAND TECH SUMMIT 2025 PROGRAM

In a world of accelerated change, what is possible is perpetually shifting and expanding. At the ACS Tech Summit 2025, brilliant minds will unite to harness the power of innovative solutions and redefine Queensland's digital horizons.

Dedicated learning streams will discuss the issues surrounding cybersecurity and digital leadership. And our emerging tech sessions will take a deep dive into future forging technologies.

Above all, the ACS Tech Summit will be an opportunity to connect and collaborate. To meet people, build relationships and realise new possibilities for the sector, businesses and personal careers.

Check out the program below and register today. Join the ACS community redefining Queensland's digital horizons. 

REGISTRATION OPEN - CRYSTAL PALAIS (LEVEL 2)

8am – 8:45am

Sign in at the registration desk and grab your complimentary barista coffee on your way to visit the sponsor trade booths in Alice Room.

 

 

WELCOME PLENARY - ROSE ROOM

8:45am – 9:30am

8:50am – 9am

Welcome Remarks

Helen McHugh, President, ACS

 

9am – 9:10am

Annual Minister’s Address

Andrew Powell MP, Minster for the Environment and Tourism and Minister for Science and Innovation (Invited)

 

9:10am – 10:05am

You can’t always choose your situation - But you can choose your attitude

Hear from inspiring industry speaker David Downs who has a high-profile career in the international tech sector including senior leadership roles in Microsoft. David has also had a remarkable personal journey, successfully beating a terminal cancer diagnosis. As David says, you can’t always ‘choose the room you’re in’, but you can choose your attitude and responses to challenges in life, health and business.

David Downs, Chief Executive Officer, New Zealand Story

This session is proudly supported by DELFOZ

 

10:05am – 11am

Annual Cyber Security Update – Strategies to keep your systems secure

Join us for an insightful discussion on the current cyber security threat landscape, the key observations and trends over the last 12 months, the interrelation with Australian privacy regulations and predictions around emergent threats. The panel will explore how your organisation can develop and sharpen it’s cyber security strategy to mitigate risk, hearing from leading industry and academic perspectives.

Panel:

  • Dr Jodie Siganto, Director, Privacy 108 Consulting;
  • Dr Leonie Simpson, Associate Professor, School of Computer Science, QUT;
  • More Cyber Experts to be announced soon... 

 

Welcome plenary Chair: Mathew Eames, Chief Information Officer, Protech; and Chair, ACS Queensland Branch Executive Committee

MORNING TEA - ALICE ROOM

11am – 11.30am

Network with like minded professionals and visit Exhibitor trade tables for your chance to win the Tech Summit prize draw.

 

TECH LEADERS AND PROFESSIONALS STREAM

11:30am – 12:25pm - Rose Room

11:30am – 12:25pm

How will AI reshape your tech team’s roles: Workforce and career planning for now and into the future

Will AI kill tech jobs, or will an abundance of new tech roles emerge over the next 10 years? As a tech professional and leader, this panel will explore how you can best position yourself and your team now and into the future.

Panel:

Chair : Nicola Steel, Founder, JJP Talent Solutions

Session proudly sponsored by:

TECHNICAL MASTERY STREAM

11:30am – 12:25pm - Moon Room

11:30am – 12:25pm

Real-world Microsoft Power Platform Solutions and their Governance aspects

Ryan will discuss how Microsoft Power Apps and Power Automate can transform modern organisations by streamlining processes and creating cost-saving solutions with low-code to no-code approaches. He will demonstrate several real-world use cases to highlight the simplicity and effectiveness of those solutions.

Additionally, Ryan will delve into the governance considerations critical to designing, implementing, and maintaining these solutions. This includes topics such as Solution Lifecycle Management, Change and Release Management, Solution Documentation, Ownership and Support, maintaining a Solution Register, managing Solution Environments, enforcing Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Policies, Backup and Disaster Recovery planning, Cost Management, Citizen Developer Oversight, and Performance Monitoring.

Speaker: Ryan Wilson, Co-Director & Lead Solution Architect, Pack of 7 Australia

Chair: Jonathan Nelson, Fullstack Developer, Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACCRM) ;and Committee Member, ACS Queensland Emerging Professionals Committee

Session proudly sponsored by:

 

LUNCH - ALICE ROOM

12:25pm – 1:45pm

Network with like minded professionals and visit Exhibitor trade tables for your chance to win the Tech Summit prize draw.

 

 

TECH LEADERS STREAM

1:45pm – 2:45pm - Rose Room

 

1:45pm – 2:45pm

Setting Up for Success: Sustainable Enterprise Architecture in the Digital Age

Current trends in Enterprise Architecture:

  • Digital Transformation Consultant: Insights on how digital transformation is shaping enterprise architecture.
  • Software Vendor: Latest technological advancements and tools.

Security challenges and solutions:

  • Cyber Security Expert: Common security challenges and strategies to mitigate risks.
  • Business CIO: Integrating security into enterprise architecture.

Implementation and integration:

  • Business CIO: Best practices for implementing enterprise architecture.
  • Digital Transformation Consultant: Strategies for successful integration.

Future of Enterprise Architecture:

  • Software Vendor: Emerging technologies and future trends.
  • Cyber Security Expert: Future security considerations and advancements.

Panel:

Chair: Karen Taylor (KT), Co-Founder, Kx2 Management

Session proudly sponsored by:

TECHNICAL MASTERY STREAM

1:45pm – 2:45pm - Moon Room

 

1:45pm – 2:45pm

Getting the most value from your portfolio in a limited budget environment - A focus on IT Initiative Prioritisation

The business landscape now emphasizes budgetary controls and ROI, leading to challenges in prioritizing initiatives due to a lack of structured approaches. This often results in decisions driven by instinct or internal politics, causing frustration and missed opportunities. BAPL has a solution to overcome these challenges and help increase your future budget spend to do more.

Key Features of our approach to Initiative Prioritisation include: 

  • Flexible Scoring System: Enhances priority ranking.
  • Standardised Criteria: Promotes objective decision-making.
  • Adjustable Weighting: Aligns with changing business strategies.
  • Structured Scoring: Minimizes bias with clear questions and answers.
  • Change Management: Evaluates business readiness for smoother transitions.
  • Strategic Alignment: Ties projects to business goals for maximum ROI.

Implementing this approach has led to greater transparency in initiative priorities, better alignment with organisational goals, and improved resource allocation. Leadership teams benefit from a holistic view of priorities, fostering agreement across units and allowing for quick adjustments to shifting priorities, while enhancing clarity and trust within the organisation.

Speakers:

  • Gareth Jones, General Manager of Service and Practice, Business Analysis (BAPL); and
  • Leann Nuen, Strategic Lead Business Analyst Consultant, Business Analysis (BAPL).

Chair: Zaya Bayarsaikhan, Business Analysis Consultant (BAPL); and ACS Queensland Branch Executive Committee Member

Session proudly sponsored by:

 

AFTERNOON TEA - ROSE ROOM

2:45pm – 3pm

Afternoon tea will be served in the Rose Room, a quick bite to eat and then back into session.

 

CLOSING PLENARY - ROSE ROOM

3pm – 5pm

3pm - 3:05pm

Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) 9 – What’s Changed and How ACS Can Help

The new ACS mySFIA platform for technology professionals and employers. Australian tech workers and employers need to identify skill gaps and strengths to identify development pathways and career opportunities. The new skills assessment platform delivers an improved user experience for teams and individuals to assess their skills and capabilities; with an improved ‘look and feel’, automation, and system integration. ACS will introduce stakeholders to the enhanced features of the mySFIA platform.

Speaker: Lisa Syrek, Workforce Development Manager, ACS

 

3:05pm – 3:15pm

QUT Gold Sponsor address - Safeguarding the future with post-quantum cryptography

Craig Costello PhD, Professor, School of Computer Science, QUT

This talk will use the case study of post-quantum cryptography to illustrate the importance of placing bets on hypothetical futures. Craig will speak about work the cryptographic community has been doing in anticipation of the future threat of an adversary equipped with a large-scale quantum computer.

 

3:15pm – 4:05pm

DNA of a Tech Leader

Panel:

  • Paul Bari, Chief Information Officer, Westpac;
  • Adam Cliffe, Managing Director, ADITS – South East Queensland;
  • Joshua Ho, Founder, Acenci; and 2023 Westpac Young Technologist;
  • More speakers to be announced soon...

Chair: Sarah Jane Peterschlingmann, Managing Director, ATech; and Vice-Chair, ACS Queensland Branch Executive Committee

 

4:05pm – 4:55pm

Building products zero to one and what it takes – A tech entrepreneur’s journey

Panel:

Emcee: Pauline Fetaui, Director, The Labs

Session powered by ACS Labs

 

4:55pm

Closing Remarks and prize draw announcements

Josh Griggs, Chief Executive Officer, ACS

 

Closing plenary Chair: Sarah Jane Peterschlingmann, Managing Director, ATech; and Vice-Chair, ACS Queensland Branch Executive Committee

 

Summit networking drinks and canapés - Cloudland Rooftop Brewery

5pm – 6:30pm

Attendees are invited to join the ACS Queensland Branch Executive Committee for post-event networking drinks and canapes.

A complimentary drink ticket will be provided as part of registration.

 

 
 
Thank you to our Event Sponsors

Gold Sponsor