Keynote Speakers
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Dr Karl Kruszelnicki
Dr Karl Kruszelnicki AM has been spreading the good word of Science in print, on TV and radio, and online via social media for more than thirty years. The author of 48 books (and counting) Dr Karl is a lifetime student with degrees in physics and mathematics, biomedical engineering and medicine and surgery.
He has worked as a physicist, labourer, roadie for bands, car mechanic, filmmaker, biomedical engineer, taxi driver, TV weatherman, and medical doctor at the Children’s Hospital in Sydney. Since 1995, Dr Karl has been the Julius Sumner Miller Fellow at the University of Sydney.
In 2019 he was awarded the UNESCO Kalinga Prize for the Popularisation of Science, of which previous recipients include Margaret Mead, David Attenborough, Bertrand Russell and David Suzuki.
Dr Karl's new television show "How Things Work" which can be viewed on ABC TV and ABC iView lifts the lid on how some of Australia's best loved products are made, stepping behind factory lines to uncover the intricate workings of some of our most productive manufacturing plants.
Dr Karl was named the 2025 NSW Senior Australian of the Year.
'Dr Karl Kruszelnicki AM’ appears by arrangement with Claxton Speakers International.'
Nils Vesk - Conference MC
Nils Vesk is a five-time author, innovation expert and keynote speaker who helps organisations use AI and modern thinking tools to make better decisions, solve complex problems and identify new opportunities.
For more than 20 years, Nils has worked with organisations around the world helping leaders and teams improve how they think, innovate and adapt in rapidly changing environments. His clients include Microsoft, IBM, HP, Nestlé, Pfizer and Telstra.
Today, Nils focuses on helping organisations use AI as a practical thinking accelerator—enhancing human judgement, improving strategic decision making and helping teams test ideas, analyse information and uncover opportunities faster.
A pioneer of Design Thinking in Australian business, Nils has delivered keynotes and workshops in more than 17 countries. He is known for making complex topics such as AI, innovation and strategy practical, engaging and immediately actionable through clear frameworks, real-world examples and a touch of humour.
Prior to his work in innovation, Nils worked as an urban designer and landscape architect, giving him firsthand experience navigating complex stakeholder environments and long-term strategic projects.
He is the founder of Ideas with Legs and the author of books including The Reinvention Sprint, Ideas with Legs, Innovation Archetypes and Life’s Little Toolbox.
Sam Bloom
Samantha Bloom is a four-time World Para Surfing champion, bestselling author and inspiration behind the #1 Australian box-office, and international global Netflix hit movie, Penguin Bloom starring Naomi Watts.
The movie is adapted from the international bestselling book, Penguin Bloom: The Odd Little Bird Who Saved a Family. Published in 14 languages, Penguin Bloom is a collaboration between Sam’s husband Cameron, a professional photographer, and New York Times bestselling author Bradley Trevor Greive.
Paralyzed in an accident in Thailand in 2013, Sam has since won two Oceania KL1 paracanoe championships, and is the four-time Australian, Hawaiian and World Para Surfing champion. In 2019, Sam was nominated for the Surfing Australia Female Surfer of the Year Award, and in 2022 was awarded the Surfing Australia Female Para Surfer of the Year.
Sam works with numerous spinal cord injury charities around the world and is a global ambassador for Wings For Life. She is an adventure traveler, ambassador for Tourism Australia and a former neurology nurse and mother of three boys.
'Sam Bloom’ appears by arrangement with Claxton Speakers International.'
David Gee
David Gee is a world-renowned technology executive, board advisor, and cybersecurity authority who delivers battle-tested insights from over 25 years of global C-suite experience, including roles as Global Head of Technology, Cyber & Data Risk at Macquarie Group, APAC CISO for HSBC, and CIO for MetLife Japan.
He has executed large scale digital transformations and cyber protections across 19 international markets, is an award-winning CIO of the Year, best selling author, sought after Board member and you may know him from his articles in CSO, CIO, Computerworld, AICD and/or ITnews.
'David Gee’ appears by arrangement with Claxton Speakers International.'
Conference Presenters
Tracy Whitelaw
Tracy Whitelaw is the Chief Digital Officer at the Local Government Association of Queensland. With over 25 years’ experience in digital transformation and data-driven strategy, she advises Queensland’s 77 councils on leveraging emerging technologies to improve community outcomes. Tracy is a sought-after speaker on digital government, AI, data and cyber.
Danijel Andric
With experience across commercial, non-profit, and government sectors, Danijel is a people focused technologist who strives to enable a collaborative and high-performing culture. Since joining Bayside, Danijel and the technology team have focused on modernising and migrating systems to the cloud, automating business processes, and strengthening council's cybersecurity posture.
Blyde Neser
Blyde Neser is a respected advisor on organisational change, digital transformation, project management and team performance. With more than three decades of experience across local government, regulatory bodies, financial services and the technology sector, she has extensive experience working with councils on complex change initiatives and digital transformation. Blyde has supported major system implementations including Sage VIP, TechOne, Pulse, Aurion and Employment Hero, bringing a practical, people-centred approach that helps organisations successfully build psychological safety, embed change and achieve sustainable results.
Amy Reynolds
Amy Reynolds is the Chief Technology Officer at Port Stephens Council, where she leads the Council’s Digital Transformation Program spanning cyber security uplift, cloud modernisation, information governance and AI enablement. She has overseen the design and delivery of PSC’s Digital Strategy Priority Framework, Cyber Security Strategy, AI Governance Framework and AI adoption and enablement program - positioning Port Stephens as a recognised leader in responsible, sequenced digital transformation within NSW local government. Drawing on two decades of experience across all tiers of government and large enterprise transformation programs as well as an active Board Director for ISACA’s Canberra Chapter, Amy brings a practitioner’s perspective to strategic ICT governance with a focus on building programs that are audit-defensible, community-centred and designed to last beyond the project lifecycle.
Jason Breton
Jason Breton is the Chief Executive Officer of Liverpool City Council, leading one of Australia’s fastest growing and most dynamic urban regions. With a career spanning law enforcement, major infrastructure, and executive leadership, Jason brings a unique blend of frontline operational insight and strategic governance expertise. Having held roles across transport and infrastructure organisations before joining Liverpool City Council as Director of Operations and now CEO, Jason is known for driving organisational transformation, strengthening frontline service delivery, and positioning cities for sustainable growth through strong governance, financial discipline, and community-focused outcomes.
Samita Rai
Samita never planned to work in tech, but somehow became an accidental techie and hasn't looked back. When she's not tackling technology and socio-economic development, she's showing off her cloverleaf tongue trick or being thoroughly entertained by her beloved British Shorthair cat, who firmly believes life should never be taken too seriously.
Chris Boadman
Chris Boardman is an Operational Technology Specialist, currently leading OT cybersecurity and critical infrastructure security efforts for Fortinet. He has been with the company since early 2023 and regularly speaks at cybersecurity events both locally and internationally.
Leanne Siveyer
Leanne has been the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Sutherland Shire Council for almost five years. During this time, she established the Council’s cyber security capability from the ground up and has led several major digital transformation initiatives.
Prior to joining Council, Leanne held a range of senior leadership positions within the NSW State Government, overseeing large-scale ERP platforms, complex system integrations, and machinery-of-government changes. Earlier in her career, she worked extensively in the banking and finance sector, specialising in risk management and IT service management.
Leanne is passionate about ensuring Councils become educated consumers of AI technologies. She actively seeks opportunities to explore and adopt AI through practical, risk-managed experimentation that delivers measurable business value.
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Aaron Jacobs
Aaron Jacobs is a Principal Solutions Engineer, specialising in Global Security Operations and Incident Response. With more than 25 years of experience in the IT industry, Aaron has delivered a variety of successful projects both with Sophos and as a general manager of a leading Australian Managed Services Provider. Aaron has enabled a range of organisations to grow in an ever-changing business and threat landscape, utilising his skills as a systems engineer and consultant to advise customers on cybersecurity and business continuity. He is an experienced speaker and established thought leader in the MSP space and cybersecurity industry.
Brad Gibson
Brad is an experienced IT professional with over 15 years of industry experience, including nine years in Local Government at Wollongong City Council. He specialises in delivering transformational technology projects and is passionate about implementing solutions that improve community outcomes. Brad has a strong interest in emerging technologies and smart city initiatives.
Matt Goganovski
With more than 14 years’ experience across data, analytics and spatial information, Matt brings a strong understanding of how quality information enables better local government outcomes. Since joining Wollongong City Council in 2020, Matt has led spatial capability uplift and now, as Information Manager, is responsible for Insights and Location Analytics, Records Management and Information Governance, ensuring data is accurate, trusted and fit for decision‑making.
Jason Jelicich
Jason Jelicich works in End User Effectiveness within the Digital team at Port Macquarie Hastings Council.
With a strong background in digital adoption, staff engagement, training and communication, Jason developed the MyTech Support program, which combines face-to-face support, targeted learning and accessible digital resources to connect with employees at every level.
In this session, Jason will share how the MyTech Support Program transformed PMHC’s approach to technology support, and supercharged digital confidence, capability and adoption across a diverse workforce of 750 staff.
Toby Bourke
Toby Bourke is a Presales Engineer at Cloud Context with over two decades of experience in IT infrastructure, networking and managed services. He has worked with councils and organisations across Australia to design practical technology solutions, helping teams modernise their environments and deliver successful technology outcomes.
Luke Harvey
After a decade in the private sector, Luke moved into Local Government in 2018 and has since held leadership roles across three councils as both Chief Information Officer and Director Corporate Services. Passionate about the potential of technology to transform organisations and improve community outcomes, Luke is particularly interested in digital transformation, data and artificial intelligence.
What keeps him engaged is the opportunity to help shape the future of Local Government while seeing the direct impact of innovation on the communities we serve.
John Hanlon
John Hanlon is the Chief Information Officer at Liverpool City Council, where he leads technology strategy, cybersecurity, data governance, records management, and enterprise service delivery across one of Australia's fastest-growing local government areas. He has extensive experience delivering large-scale digital transformation programs, modernising business systems, and using technology to improve organisational performance, governance, and community outcomes.
More profiles as available
This section is awaiting further speaker profiles and will be populated as these become available