Archives: Speakers

Recognised in the CIO50 in 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019 for innovation and leadership.

An executive leader with experience in digital transformational experience across a broad range of industries Professional Services, Finance, FMCG, Community Services, Transportation, Pharmaceuticals, Construction, Manufacturing, Utilities and Not for Profit.

Focusing on adding value to the organisation with continuous improvement to create a competitive advantage by linking business process improvements to technology and innovation.

Experience in building and leading high performing teams to create a culture that has the ability to understand business stakeholders and deliver in complex IT environments.

Simon Smith is a strategic and results-oriented CIO/CTO with over 15 years of experience driving technology transformation across diverse industries. Known for his ability to align IT strategy with business goals, Simon delivers outcomes that enhance customer experience, boost profitability, and enable enterprise-wide innovation. His collaborative leadership style, combined with a strong commercial mindset, makes him a trusted advisor and change agent across business units.

Simon thrives in organisations seeking technology turnarounds or the development and execution of strategic technology roadmaps. His expertise spans digital transformation, e-commerce, strategic consulting, program management, and cloud architecture. With deep knowledge in SaaS, AWS, Azure, and DevOps, Simon brings a pragmatic approach to complex integration, vendor negotiations, and scalable digital solutions that support sustainable growth.

Data science leader with 18 years direct experience in machine learning, prediction, databases, analytics, and AI. Proven experience in building and modernizing data science enterprises. Special focus on communicating complex technical material to all audiences from front-line staff to senior leadership. Established researcher with 20+ peer-reviewed publications.

Dan Chesterman is a seasoned technology leader with over 30 years of experience driving transformation across financial services, stock exchanges, consulting, and start-up environments. With a strong track record as a Chief Information Officer and Technology and Data Executive, Dan is passionate about leveraging technology and data to enable business growth, operational excellence, and customer-focused innovation.

He has held senior leadership roles in some of Australia’s most high-profile organisations, where he led large-scale domestic and international teams, managed complex commercial negotiations, and championed cultural and capability uplift. Known for his inclusive leadership style and strategic mindset, Dan excels in building high-performing teams, navigating regulatory complexity, and delivering digital transformation in fast-moving markets.

Dan brings a unique combination of commercial acumen, technical expertise, and personal resilience—driving tangible outcomes through clarity, collaboration, and vision. He is committed to shaping the future through technology and fostering environments that empower people and businesses to thrive in the digital age.

A problem solver at heart, focused on customer outcomes with a technology brain.
Experience across a variety of industries building strong relationships across technology and business delivering complex programs of work.

With 20 years of experience in the financial services and insurance sectors, I am a dynamic and energetic leader who combines a strong broad knowledge of technology with an ability to understand business priorities. I am passionate about identifying opportunities where technology can be used to drive transformation, maximise customer value and deliver business outcomes.

As the Head of Technology for Group Super at Commonwealth Bank, I lead the technology and cyber risk function for the corporate super fund of the largest bank in Australia. I work closely with various business and technology stakeholders, supporting them to define and execute the strategic direction and ensuring the architecture and roadmaps are in place to deliver on the vision. I am a TOGAF certified Enterprise Architect and an experienced leader, managing high performing teams, and empowering them to leverage their individual strengths and collaborate effectively. I am driven by delivering innovative and customer-centric solutions that align with the business strategy and goals.

Global technology executive delivering transformation, commercial value, and innovation at scale.

With experience across 10 countries—including the UK, Europe, USA and Australia, I align global enterprise technology with business growth. I’ve led in listed, private equity, and venture-backed environments, including within the Berkshire Hathaway Energy group.

I lead enterprise-wide modernisation across cybersecurity, digital platforms, and operations supporting a $21B energy infrastructure portfolio. Results include significant cost savings, 99.99% SCADA reliability, and a threefold increase in female leadership across the Technology function.

A passionate advocate for Women in STEM, I actively mentor emerging female leaders and have embedded diversity into the core of my leadership approach—raising female representation in senior technology roles from 12.5% to 34%.

Recognised among the top CIOs in both the UK and Australia, I bring a global perspective, commercial discipline, and inclusive leadership, ensuring technology is not just efficient and secure, but a strategic advantage.

Scott is a experienced cybersecurity professional with a strong track record of working across Africa, Europe, the UK, and Australia. Over the years, he has worked closely with both end customers and business partners, gaining a clear understanding of the challenges and needs of today’s changing workplaces and the constantly evolving threat landscape.

Scott is passionate about helping organizations of all sizes stay secure in a world where cyber risks are always changing. He focuses on bridging the gap between technical solutions and real-world business needs, ensuring the solutions he offers are practical, effective, and tailored to each unique situation.

With his experience across industries and regions, Scott is committed to providing the guidance and expertise companies need to stay ahead of security challenges. Please join Scott for an engaging session as he shares his knowledge and experience in cybersecurity!

With over three decades of experience across local, national, and international IT landscapes, Dennis leads Rimini Street’s Asia-Pacific team within its Global Service Delivery division. He’s known for his deep expertise in enterprise technology architecture, integration, and support—delivering innovative solutions across sectors including finance, healthcare, utilities, education, and government.

A certified Oracle ACE Director Alumnus, Dennis has specialized in areas such as SOA, BPM, middleware, ERP integration, and analytics. In recent years, his focus has shifted toward cloud, PaaS, SaaS, and data-driven transformation. His client portfolio includes major names like BMW, ANZ, the United Nations, and QLD Health.

In addition to being a published author and conference speaker, Dennis brings creativity into everything he does—even running a record label in his spare time.

Bio TBC