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Aruna Pattam
Head of AI Platforms
Zurich Insurance
Zurich Insurance
Carrie Hu
Chief Information Officer
New Aim
New Aim
Cheng Yeo
General Manager Architecture & Strategy
Crown Resorts
Crown Resorts
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Colleen Pender
Program Director
NAB
NAB
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Dominique Barker
Chief Information Officer
Australian Institute of Family Studies
Australian Institute of Family Studies
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Dominique Harrison-Bentzen
Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder
Luniate
Luniate
Ellenor Cox
Executive Master Coach
GAIA Coaching
GAIA Coaching
Emma Taylor
Chief Technology Officer – Airline Operations
Virgin Australia
Virgin Australia
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Forough Khandan
Chief Technology Officer
EMVision Medical Devices
EMVision Medical Devices
Gabriella Hepworth
Data Ethics & AI Governance Lead
Medibank
Medibank
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Gaby Carney
Senior Fellow, Strategic AI, UTS Human Technology Institute
University of Technology Sydney
University of Technology Sydney
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Hayley Sheppard
Head of Digital Solutions
TasNetworks
TasNetworks
Judith Powell
Chief Information Officer
Transgrid
Transgrid
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Katrina Troughton
Vice President & Managing Director
Adobe ANZ
Adobe ANZ
Lucy Poole
Deputy Chief Executive Officer – Strategy, Planning & Performance
Digital Transformation Agency
Digital Transformation Agency
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Margo Stephen
Chief Technology Officer
Yarra Trams
Yarra Trams
May Lam
Chief Information Officer
Australian Payments Plus
Australian Payments Plus
Miranda Ratajski
Chief Information Officer, Group Business Units
Westpac
Westpac
Mirella Robinson
Chief Technology Officer
Acenda
Acenda
Natalie Saunders
Head of Technology – Service Management
AGL
AGL
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Nicole Nixon
Chief Executive Officer
Five Faces
Five Faces
Pia Seeto
Technology Transition Lead & Head of Planning & Reporting Technology Governance
TPG Telecom
TPG Telecom
Renece Brewster
Co-Founder & Co-Managing Director
Her Tech Circle
Her Tech Circle
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Romina Sharifpour
Leader - Multi-Agent Product Engineering
Commonwealth Bank
Commonwealth Bank
Sam Love
Executive, Product & Technology
Quantium Telstra
Quantium Telstra
Sarah Carney
National Chief Technology Officer ANZ
Microsoft
Microsoft
Sarah Vale
Head of Technology Architecture
Domain
Domain
Shantell Williams
Chief Technology Officer
Tiimely
Tiimely
Stevie-Ann Dovico
Group Executive for Technology & Chief Information Officer
Beyond Bank Australia
Beyond Bank Australia
Suneetha Boddulur
Chief Technology Officer
Service NSW
Service NSW
Susan Gibson
Head of Data Analytics & AI
University of Technology Sydney
University of Technology Sydney
Suzie Cardwell
Chief Data Product & Technology Officer
Nine
Nine
Tracey Evans
Group Chief Information & Digital Officer
Virtus Health
Virtus Health
Ellenor Cox
Executive Master CoachGAIA Coaching
Ellenor has spent over 30 years breaking barriers across industries - from becoming one of QANTAS’s youngest female executives to producing Emmy™ award-winning films. Today, she brings that same blend of creativity, strategy and leadership into her coaching practice, helping executives navigate communication, influence and negotiation with confidence.
A certified Master Coach and leadership facilitator, Ellenor is known for unlocking the “zone of genius” in leaders facing high-stakes decisions and complex change. Her sessions combine brain-based tools with real-world experience, equipping professionals to lead with clarity, impact and resilience.
At Women in Tech Fest 2026, Ellenor will guide participants through practical strategies to sharpen their communication, strengthen negotiation skills, and expand their leadership presence with confidence, empowering them to future-proof their careers and create a lasting impact in a fast-changing tech landscape.
A certified Master Coach and leadership facilitator, Ellenor is known for unlocking the “zone of genius” in leaders facing high-stakes decisions and complex change. Her sessions combine brain-based tools with real-world experience, equipping professionals to lead with clarity, impact and resilience.
At Women in Tech Fest 2026, Ellenor will guide participants through practical strategies to sharpen their communication, strengthen negotiation skills, and expand their leadership presence with confidence, empowering them to future-proof their careers and create a lasting impact in a fast-changing tech landscape.
Speaking at
Masterclass
09:00
Masterclass A: Leadership, Communication & Negotiation for Women in Tech
Speaker
Speakers
Ellenor Cox,
Renece Brewster
Co-Founder & Co-Managing DirectorHer Tech Circle
I'm a strong advocate for empowerment, especially for women in their careers. I believe it's essential for all of us to have the confidence to articulate our value and bravely ask for what we want. This conviction drives my work as Co-Founder and Partner of March Collective, where we support women-led scale-up businesses with bespoke advisory services, community support, and growth opportunities. Our mission is to dismantle barriers and foster inclusive business growth.
Using technology to achieve amazing things is another area close to my heart. As Co-Founder and Co-MD of Her Tech Circle, I'm dedicated to fostering connections and growth for women in tech. My experience as Co-Founder of GoList and COO of Workinitiatives also highlights my belief in leveraging innovative solutions to drive success.
My commitment to innovation and impact has been recognised through honours such as being an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Finalist and a Telstra Business Awards Finalist. I often have the privilege of sharing insights on these themes – connection, business growth, supporting women, and the power of technology and networks – at various events.
Speaking at
08:50
Opening remarks from the chair
Speaker
Speakers
Renece Brewster,
08:50
Opening remarks from the chair
Speaker
Speakers
Renece Brewster,
Sarah Carney
National Chief Technology Officer ANZMicrosoft
From the Australian Army to Microsoft’s tech frontier, Sarah Carney’s journey is anything but ordinary. As the National Technology Officer for Microsoft in Australia and New Zealand, Sarah is the go-to for spotting emerging tech trends and helping the biggest enterprise and government customers navigate the future. She’s also the Responsible AI lead and a proud member of Microsoft’s regional AI product Red Team.
Sarah’s career has taken her across continents and industries—from think tanks in Europe to marketing in the Middle East, and even a stint attending ballet for a living!
Named the 4th most powerful woman in tech in Australia by B&T in 2025 and winner of ARN’s Rising Star award for 2024, Sarah brings a unique, adventurous lens to innovation and the power of technology.
Sarah’s career has taken her across continents and industries—from think tanks in Europe to marketing in the Middle East, and even a stint attending ballet for a living!
Named the 4th most powerful woman in tech in Australia by B&T in 2025 and winner of ARN’s Rising Star award for 2024, Sarah brings a unique, adventurous lens to innovation and the power of technology.
Speaking at
09:00
Career playgrounds not paths - lessons in growth, rejection and resilience
Speaker
Speakers
Sarah Carney,
Colleen Pender
Program DirectorNAB
Colleen is a technology leader with over 20 years working in various industries including IT, Finance, Logistics and Local/State Government. She has significant experience leading technology transformations large‑scale releases and projects. Colleen is currently working at the National Australia Bank on a large transformation and uplift program.
Colleen has worked with senior client and vendor stakeholders spanning over multiple international locations. She has a strong delivery focus and excels at finding solutions to challenges. Her strong communication and negotiation skills help her to operate effectively in complex environments and achieve the best outcomes for organisations and customers. She is a passionate leader and coach who empowers individuals and inspires teams to drive change and continuous improvement.
Colleen has a love of learning, with a Masters of Business Administration, a Masters of Information Systems Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Systems. She also holds multiple project management, technology and cloud certifications, with her latest accomplishment being a Diploma of Building and Construction.
Colleen has worked with senior client and vendor stakeholders spanning over multiple international locations. She has a strong delivery focus and excels at finding solutions to challenges. Her strong communication and negotiation skills help her to operate effectively in complex environments and achieve the best outcomes for organisations and customers. She is a passionate leader and coach who empowers individuals and inspires teams to drive change and continuous improvement.
Colleen has a love of learning, with a Masters of Business Administration, a Masters of Information Systems Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Systems. She also holds multiple project management, technology and cloud certifications, with her latest accomplishment being a Diploma of Building and Construction.
Speaking at
09:30
Concrete strategies to elevate women in tech: leveraging processes, programs and action to move from awareness to results
Speaker
Speakers
Colleen Pender,
Roundtables
Roundtable 8: Strategies to develop strategic and critical thinking
Speaker
Speakers
Colleen Pender,
Judith Powell
Chief Information OfficerTransgrid
Judith Powell is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Transgrid, Australia’s electricity transmission network operator. She joined the organisation in early 2023, reporting to the Chief Financial Officer as part of a newly reshaped Finance and Strategy division. Prior to joining Transgrid, Judith served as CIO at Endeavour Group, where she successfully led the technology function through the company’s demerger from Woolworths. Her career spans senior leadership roles across a range of industries including shipping, recruitment, and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG). Judith has delivered complex transformation programs in organisations with operations across the UK, India, and Australia, bringing a global perspective to her leadership in technology and change.
Speaking at
Panel Discussion
10:00
Panel discussion: Triumphs, failures & lessons learned on the path to diversity & career success
Speaker
Speakers
Judith Powell,
Tracey Evans,
Pia Seeto,
Mirella Robinson,
Tracey Evans
Group Chief Information & Digital OfficerVirtus Health
Tracey Evans is a visionary CIO at the forefront of digital transformation, known for driving large-scale change across complex, matrixed organizations. At the intersection of strategy and innovation, she harnesses disruptive and enabling technologies — such as AWS, Salesforce, SAP, Workday, Splunk, and Microsoft — to enhance business agility and deliver measurable outcomes.
With a ‘culture first’ leadership style, Tracey empowers teams through right-sized technology frameworks that fuel innovation, close capability gaps, and unlock new growth opportunities. She brings extensive experience engaging with Boards and executive teams to translate strategic vision into operational reality. Drawing on a broad industry background - including digital services, financial services, professional services, and Not-For-Profit.
Tracey offers an ‘outside-in’ perspective that’s uniquely suited to today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape. Tenacious, collaborative, and always future-focused, she’s a catalyst for meaningful and sustainable transformation.
With a ‘culture first’ leadership style, Tracey empowers teams through right-sized technology frameworks that fuel innovation, close capability gaps, and unlock new growth opportunities. She brings extensive experience engaging with Boards and executive teams to translate strategic vision into operational reality. Drawing on a broad industry background - including digital services, financial services, professional services, and Not-For-Profit.
Tracey offers an ‘outside-in’ perspective that’s uniquely suited to today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape. Tenacious, collaborative, and always future-focused, she’s a catalyst for meaningful and sustainable transformation.
Speaking at
Panel Discussion
10:00
Panel discussion: Triumphs, failures & lessons learned on the path to diversity & career success
Speaker
Speakers
Judith Powell,
Tracey Evans,
Pia Seeto,
Mirella Robinson,
Pia Seeto
Technology Transition Lead & Head of Planning & Reporting Technology GovernanceTPG Telecom
Pia Seeto is the Head of Planning and Reporting Technology at TPG Telecom. TPG Telecom’s ambition is to be Australia’s best telco, and Pia helps it achieves this by working with executive technology leaders to plan, structure and articulate the technology services that support TPG Telecom services to the community.
She is Alumni of UNSW Computer Engineering and currently chairs the Industry Advisory Board for the School of Computer Science and Engineering. Pia was awarded the UNSW Engineering, Dr Judy Raper Women in Leadership award in 2014 and has been an active advocate for the school and the work it does to further student careers and build a stronger industry.
Pia is an IT & Telecommunications Professional who loves enabling impact through technology. She is an active learner, passionate about "keeping it real" leadership and thought diversity. She enjoys working with high performing teams and people who are not afraid to try.
She is Alumni of UNSW Computer Engineering and currently chairs the Industry Advisory Board for the School of Computer Science and Engineering. Pia was awarded the UNSW Engineering, Dr Judy Raper Women in Leadership award in 2014 and has been an active advocate for the school and the work it does to further student careers and build a stronger industry.
Pia is an IT & Telecommunications Professional who loves enabling impact through technology. She is an active learner, passionate about "keeping it real" leadership and thought diversity. She enjoys working with high performing teams and people who are not afraid to try.
Speaking at
Panel Discussion
10:00
Panel discussion: Triumphs, failures & lessons learned on the path to diversity & career success
Speaker
Speakers
Judith Powell,
Tracey Evans,
Pia Seeto,
Mirella Robinson,
Mirella Robinson
Chief Technology OfficerAcenda
Mirella leads our technology business unit, overseeing technology, enterprise security, and data and analytics teams.
With over 20 years of experience as a senior technology executive, Mirella joined our business in February 2024. She brings a depth of experience spanning financial services, telecommunications, media, and retail energy industries. Most recently, Mirella worked at Cbus, where she served as Chief Information and Technology Officer.
Mirella is passionate about building strong teams and driving innovation, agility, and performance in diverse and complex environments.
Mirella has a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Mathematical Statistics from Monash University, an MBA from Swinburne University, and Certification in Digital Modelling and Practices from MIT Boston.
With over 20 years of experience as a senior technology executive, Mirella joined our business in February 2024. She brings a depth of experience spanning financial services, telecommunications, media, and retail energy industries. Most recently, Mirella worked at Cbus, where she served as Chief Information and Technology Officer.
Mirella is passionate about building strong teams and driving innovation, agility, and performance in diverse and complex environments.
Mirella has a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Mathematical Statistics from Monash University, an MBA from Swinburne University, and Certification in Digital Modelling and Practices from MIT Boston.
Speaking at
Panel Discussion
10:00
Panel discussion: Triumphs, failures & lessons learned on the path to diversity & career success
Speaker
Speakers
Judith Powell,
Tracey Evans,
Pia Seeto,
Mirella Robinson,
Miranda Ratajski
Chief Information Officer, Group Business UnitsWestpac
Miranda Ratajski is a trailblazing CIO with over three decades of experience delivering complex technical and digital business transformations.
She has worked across industries including finance, telecom, and government, leading initiatives that drive innovation, operational excellence, and customer engagement.
Miranda has developed strategic and tactical direction, built high performing teams and enabled service to uplift customer experiences.
Her leadership, focus and business direction results in improved engagement and productivity through enhanced employee experience, delivering significantly engaged teams who have more time to delight customers.
She is passionate about building people-centric cultures and embedding sustainability and diversity in tech strategy.
Community is a strong anchor for Miranda, and she is also a volunteer yoga teacher.
Miranda has been globally recognised as a Fintech Top 100 Woman and an Inclusive Leader.
Miranda’s recent awards and nominations include:
• 2025 Women Leading Tech Power List #15, presented by
Atlassian
▪ 2025 Top Women in Tech Australia, Womentech Network
▪ 2024 Fintech Top 100 women globally #28
▪ 2024 Women in Banking and Finance Inclusive Workplace Award
(team lead).
▪ 2023 Women in Banking and Finance Inclusive Leader award
▪ 2023 Women in Banking and Finance Diversity & Inclusion
Initiative of the Year (team lead)
She has worked across industries including finance, telecom, and government, leading initiatives that drive innovation, operational excellence, and customer engagement.
Miranda has developed strategic and tactical direction, built high performing teams and enabled service to uplift customer experiences.
Her leadership, focus and business direction results in improved engagement and productivity through enhanced employee experience, delivering significantly engaged teams who have more time to delight customers.
She is passionate about building people-centric cultures and embedding sustainability and diversity in tech strategy.
Community is a strong anchor for Miranda, and she is also a volunteer yoga teacher.
Miranda has been globally recognised as a Fintech Top 100 Woman and an Inclusive Leader.
Miranda’s recent awards and nominations include:
• 2025 Women Leading Tech Power List #15, presented by
Atlassian
▪ 2025 Top Women in Tech Australia, Womentech Network
▪ 2024 Fintech Top 100 women globally #28
▪ 2024 Women in Banking and Finance Inclusive Workplace Award
(team lead).
▪ 2023 Women in Banking and Finance Inclusive Leader award
▪ 2023 Women in Banking and Finance Diversity & Inclusion
Initiative of the Year (team lead)
Speaking at
11:20
Adapting to a world of robotics & the impact on tech roles & careers
Speaker
Speakers
Miranda Ratajski,
Carrie Hu
Chief Information OfficerNew Aim
Carrie Hu is the Chief Information Officer at New Aim. Carrie brings over 17 years of expertise in data, information technology, and project management. She joined New Aim in 2021 as Head of Digital Product and ascended to the role of Chief Product Officer in April 2024 and as of June 2025 became the Chief Information Officer. Prior to her tenure at New Aim, Carrie held project management roles at NAB, where she honed her skills in managing complex projects and driving digital innovation.
Carrie’s leadership in standardising the digital supply chain and driving marketplace transformation has earned her a strong reputation across the enterprise. Her contributions were recognised in 2023 when she won Digital Transformation Leader of the Year at the Women in Digital Awards. Carrie’s industry expertise is further evidenced by her participation in eCommerce strategy panel discussions at Online Retailer Expos and her role as a judge for the 2024 Women in Digital Awards.
Committed to nurturing future leaders, Carrie actively mentors team members and serves as a Director of Inspiring Girls Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) in Accounting and Finance from the University of Melbourne.
Carrie’s leadership in standardising the digital supply chain and driving marketplace transformation has earned her a strong reputation across the enterprise. Her contributions were recognised in 2023 when she won Digital Transformation Leader of the Year at the Women in Digital Awards. Carrie’s industry expertise is further evidenced by her participation in eCommerce strategy panel discussions at Online Retailer Expos and her role as a judge for the 2024 Women in Digital Awards.
Committed to nurturing future leaders, Carrie actively mentors team members and serves as a Director of Inspiring Girls Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) in Accounting and Finance from the University of Melbourne.
Speaking at
Skills Spotlight
12:10
Empowering your team, organisation & career through digital transformation leadership
Speaker
Speakers
Carrie Hu,
Dominique Barker
Chief Information OfficerAustralian Institute of Family Studies
After converting from a career in Journalism at Fairfax in a previous life in Auckland, Dominique cut her teeth in web at a digital agency in Melbourne, where she was exposed to over 50 website and application projects in just 4 years – pre-empting a move into Information Technology in the University sector. It was here she worked in an innovation hub at Deakin, as part of a broader technical team, building revolutionary online platforms from the ground up. Since then, she has lead the operations and strategy of the online learning environments at RMIT during the pandemic, and now works as the Chief Information Officer at Melbourne-based Federal Government agency, The Australian Institute of Family Studies, where she is continuing her journey of IT leadership, transformation and delivery as a public servant.
Speaking at
Skills Spotlight
12:40
Building resilience and adapting with agility
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Speaker
Speakers
Dominique Barker,
Roundtables
Roundtable 6: Overcoming imposter syndrome: strategies to build confidence and thrive
Speaker
Speakers
Dominique Barker,
Sam Love
Executive, Product & TechnologyQuantium Telstra
Dynamic technology and product leader with a proven track record of driving innovation and delivering impactful solutions across industries such as financial services, media, and retail. With deep expertise in data analytics and product management, I specialise in building high-performing teams and fostering a culture of collaboration, adaptability, and continuous improvement.
As an intellectually curious and results-driven professional, I thrive in fast-paced, high-growth environments, tackling complex challenges with a strategic mindset and a focus on long-term value creation. Passionate about aligning technology, data, and business strategy, I am committed to developing innovative solutions that enable organisations to achieve transformational growth.
As an intellectually curious and results-driven professional, I thrive in fast-paced, high-growth environments, tackling complex challenges with a strategic mindset and a focus on long-term value creation. Passionate about aligning technology, data, and business strategy, I am committed to developing innovative solutions that enable organisations to achieve transformational growth.
Speaking at
Skills Spotlight
14:10
Developing critical non-technical skills to open doors & improve project outcomes
Speaker
Speakers
Sam Love,
Suneetha Boddulur
Chief Technology OfficerService NSW
With over 20 years of experience as a technology leader, Suneetha is dedicated to driving digital transformation and leveraging cutting-edge solutions to advance businesses. Her career spans across various Government Departments and private companies, where she has consistently delivered strategic IT initiatives aligned with organizational goals, enhancing operational efficiency.
She is deeply passionate about creating exceptional experiences and unlocking potential by placing technology at the core of organizational enablement. She has successfully led national whole-of-government digital modernization and transformation programs, securing buy-in at the highest levels, including Ministerial levels. She specialises in building independent organizational structures focused on perpetuating customer experience, agile methodologies, innovation, and a strong commitment to delivery.
Thriving in dynamic environments, she blends technical expertise with business acumen to achieve impactful results. Her strengths include leading cross-functional teams, fostering cultures of innovation, and implementing scalable solutions that meet current and future needs. She excels in navigating complex challenges, optimizing infrastructure, deploying robust cybersecurity measures, and leveraging emerging technologies such as AI and cloud computing.
Throughout her career, she has developed a profound understanding of modern digital technologies, including DevOps, DevSecOps, FinOps, Privacy and Security by design, Service Management, Contract Negotiations, and Vendor Management. This expertise enables her to drive digital strategies that yield competitive advantages and foster growth. Committed to continuous learning, she stays ahead of industry trends to ensure my teams consistently exceed expectations.
She is deeply passionate about creating exceptional experiences and unlocking potential by placing technology at the core of organizational enablement. She has successfully led national whole-of-government digital modernization and transformation programs, securing buy-in at the highest levels, including Ministerial levels. She specialises in building independent organizational structures focused on perpetuating customer experience, agile methodologies, innovation, and a strong commitment to delivery.
Thriving in dynamic environments, she blends technical expertise with business acumen to achieve impactful results. Her strengths include leading cross-functional teams, fostering cultures of innovation, and implementing scalable solutions that meet current and future needs. She excels in navigating complex challenges, optimizing infrastructure, deploying robust cybersecurity measures, and leveraging emerging technologies such as AI and cloud computing.
Throughout her career, she has developed a profound understanding of modern digital technologies, including DevOps, DevSecOps, FinOps, Privacy and Security by design, Service Management, Contract Negotiations, and Vendor Management. This expertise enables her to drive digital strategies that yield competitive advantages and foster growth. Committed to continuous learning, she stays ahead of industry trends to ensure my teams consistently exceed expectations.
Speaking at
Skills Spotlight
14:40
Balancing tech expertise with commercial acumen: driving innovation from concept to commercialisation
Speaker
Speakers
Suneetha Boddulur,
Emma Taylor
Chief Technology Officer – Airline OperationsVirgin Australia
Emma Taylor is the Head of Technology at Virgin Australia where she leads a department of over 200 technology professionals overseeing critical enterprise platforms including AI/ML, data analytics, systems integration, automation, and digital engineering. She directs the Enterprise and Solution Architecture practice, delivering strategic value through innovative projects while ensuring platforms remain resilient, secure, and industry-leading.
With over 15 years of experience in Financial Services and 7 years in the airline industry, Emma has developed expertise in digital transformation, enterprise architecture, IT-business alignment, and value creation.
She excels in crisis management and communicating complex technology strategies at the board level.
Emma holds a degree in Information Technology - Business Systems and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Known for her adaptive leadership style, Emma combines strategic vision with agility in responding to industry changes. She fosters a culture of transparency and calculated innovation to drive business outcomes. Emma is a mother of 2 young teenagers, loves travelling, scuba diving and is a passionate about encouraging girls to pursue a career in IT.
Speaking at
Roundtables
Roundtable 1: Navigating new horizons: identifying & moving into new roles & career opportunities
Speaker
Speakers
Emma Taylor,
Shantell Williams
Chief Technology OfficerTiimely
Shantell Williams is the Chief Technology Officer at Tiimely, where she leads the development and scaling of its AI-driven credit automation platform. With over 20 years of experience across Europe, Africa, and Australia, Shantell has an outstanding track record in driving growth and transformation in the fintech sector through strategic leadership of software engineering, infrastructure, and data teams.
Since joining Tiimely in 2021, she has guided high-performing teams through scaling challenges, fostering innovative ways of working that enhance collaboration and delivery. Under her leadership, Tiimely’s platform has been transformed to support growth, scale, and innovation, delivering on the company’s vision for seamless, AI-powered financial solutions. She believes that cultivating great talent is the most powerful driver of innovation in technology.
Since joining Tiimely in 2021, she has guided high-performing teams through scaling challenges, fostering innovative ways of working that enhance collaboration and delivery. Under her leadership, Tiimely’s platform has been transformed to support growth, scale, and innovation, delivering on the company’s vision for seamless, AI-powered financial solutions. She believes that cultivating great talent is the most powerful driver of innovation in technology.
Speaking at
Roundtables
Roundtable 2: Wellbeing and work-life integration: how to make it work for you
Speaker
Speakers
Shantell Williams,
Skills Spotlight
15:10
Making transformation work: from personal edge to business impact
Speaker
Speakers
Shantell Williams,
Aruna Pattam
Head of AI PlatformsZurich Insurance
Aruna Pattam is Head of AI Platforms at Zurich Insurance, leading the adoption of GenAI and Agentic AI solutions across Australia and New Zealand. With over 25 years of experience in data, analytics, and emerging technologies, she has held senior leadership roles at two of Australia’s big four banks and global consulting firms.
Aruna specialises in building enterprise AI platforms, driving innovation, and developing scalable frameworks that deliver measurable business value. She is a recognised thought leader on AI, Agentic AI and its applications in financial services and insurance.
Passionate about ethical and responsible AI, Aruna focuses on shaping strategies that balance innovation with trust, ensuring technology enhances both business outcomes and human experiences. As a woman leader in AI, Aruna is passionate about advancing diversity in AI and creating pathways for more women in the field.
Aruna specialises in building enterprise AI platforms, driving innovation, and developing scalable frameworks that deliver measurable business value. She is a recognised thought leader on AI, Agentic AI and its applications in financial services and insurance.
Passionate about ethical and responsible AI, Aruna focuses on shaping strategies that balance innovation with trust, ensuring technology enhances both business outcomes and human experiences. As a woman leader in AI, Aruna is passionate about advancing diversity in AI and creating pathways for more women in the field.
Speaking at
Roundtables
Roundtable 3: Thriving in the AI age by leveraging the technology as an opportunity & not a challenge
Speaker
Speakers
Aruna Pattam,
Gaby Carney
Senior Fellow, Strategic AI, UTS Human Technology InstituteUniversity of Technology Sydney
Gaby Carney is a Senior Fellow at the UTS Human Technology Institute where she advises on AI corporate governance and responsible AI. Gaby is a lawyer and policy expert with extensive experience in legal and regulatory policy, and governance. She has been a Partner of management consulting firm, Partners in Performance and has held senior executive roles in the NSW Government.
Speaking at
Roundtables
Roundtable 4: Shaping high impact culture & high performance through leadership
Speaker
Speakers
Gaby Carney,
13:50
Harnessing the power of agentic AI & navigating the risks
Speaker
Speakers
Gaby Carney,
Hayley Sheppard
Head of Digital SolutionsTasNetworks
Hayley Sheppard is the Head of Digital, holding the CISO role at TasNetworks. Working in the Energy industry, Hayley is across the ever-changing security demands that operating critical infrastructure represents.
In her current role, Hayley focuses on digital tooling, architecture, and the security aspects of the energy industry transformation, specifically the intersection between Operational Technology and core IT. Having spent her career specialising in digital projects delivering organisational change, Hayley uses that experience to focus on digital adoption and identifying ongoing needs for customers and team members.
In her current role, Hayley focuses on digital tooling, architecture, and the security aspects of the energy industry transformation, specifically the intersection between Operational Technology and core IT. Having spent her career specialising in digital projects delivering organisational change, Hayley uses that experience to focus on digital adoption and identifying ongoing needs for customers and team members.
Speaking at
Roundtables
Roundtable 5: Interview power play: landing your next role in tech
Speaker
Speakers
Hayley Sheppard,
May Lam
Chief Information OfficerAustralian Payments Plus
May has 25+ years of technology leadership and business transformation experience across Banking and Financial services, Payments, Fintech and the Public Sector in Australia, Greater China and APAC Regions.
Speaking at
Roundtables
Roundtable 7: Strategies to succeed on a high-pressure, high stakes project
Speaker
Speakers
May Lam,
Panel Discussion
09:30
Panel discussion: Finding success in non-traditional tech paths: maximising diverse and non-linear career trajectories
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Speaker
Speakers
Cheng Yeo,
Romina Sharifpour,
Suzie Cardwell,
May Lam,
Nicole Nixon,
Lucy Poole
Deputy Chief Executive Officer – Strategy, Planning & PerformanceDigital Transformation Agency
Lucy leads the Strategy, Planning and Performance Division which focuses on providing whole-of-government strategic leadership to the development and implementation of digital policies, the Australian Government Architecture, and the Data and Digital Government Strategy.
Lucy oversees the management of the government’s digital investment pipeline to ensure an integrated and coordinated approach to government’s investment in digital and ICT. A key priority for Lucy is driving the achievement of the Australian Government’s vision to implement world class digital capabilities to deliver outstanding outcomes for all.
Lucy also manages the Digital Transformation Agency’s development of policies, governance models, and assurance frameworks for the implementation and use of Generative Artificial Intelligence technologies across the Australian Public Service.
Prior to joining the Digital Transformation Agency, Lucy held senior executive roles at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Australian Public Service Commission where she led several transformation programs. Lucy has experience across a range of sectors including Australian federal and state governments, the private sector and the UK civil service.
Lucy oversees the management of the government’s digital investment pipeline to ensure an integrated and coordinated approach to government’s investment in digital and ICT. A key priority for Lucy is driving the achievement of the Australian Government’s vision to implement world class digital capabilities to deliver outstanding outcomes for all.
Lucy also manages the Digital Transformation Agency’s development of policies, governance models, and assurance frameworks for the implementation and use of Generative Artificial Intelligence technologies across the Australian Public Service.
Prior to joining the Digital Transformation Agency, Lucy held senior executive roles at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Australian Public Service Commission where she led several transformation programs. Lucy has experience across a range of sectors including Australian federal and state governments, the private sector and the UK civil service.
Speaking at
09:00
Future-proof or fade out – reinventing your skills & career in the AI era
Speaker
Speakers
Lucy Poole,
Cheng Yeo
General Manager Architecture & StrategyCrown Resorts
Cheng is a visionary Chief Architect. She provides technology thought leadership across large and complex organisations in telecommunications, banking, supply chain and hospitality sectors. Cheng co-creates enterprise architecture blueprints with her stakeholders that unlock value for the organisation. She has a proven ability to deliver innovation and pragmatism to fuel business growth. As a strong advocate for inclusive and engaging work culture, she favours an intersectional approach to Diversity and Inclusion.
Speaking at
Panel Discussion
09:30
Panel discussion: Finding success in non-traditional tech paths: maximising diverse and non-linear career trajectories
Speaker
Speakers
Cheng Yeo,
Romina Sharifpour,
Suzie Cardwell,
May Lam,
Nicole Nixon,
Romina Sharifpour
Leader - Multi-Agent Product EngineeringCommonwealth Bank
Dr. Romina Sharifpour currently is leading the design and engineering of multi agent systems at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. With an extensive professional journey spanning technical roles at Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Deloitte, coupled with a Master's in Computer Science (AI) and a PhD in Decision Sciences, Romina brings a wealth of expertise in AI engineering, Large Language Models (LLMs) and generative AI. Her technical acumen, visionary approach, and dedication to innovation positions her as a driving force shaping the future of AI-driven solutions that transform industries.
Speaking at
Panel Discussion
09:30
Panel discussion: Finding success in non-traditional tech paths: maximising diverse and non-linear career trajectories
Speaker
Speakers
Cheng Yeo,
Romina Sharifpour,
Suzie Cardwell,
May Lam,
Nicole Nixon,
Suzie Cardwell
Chief Data Product & Technology OfficerNine
Suzie has a proven track record in leading digital transformation strategies and new data-led digital products for media organisations. With long experience in digital and date platform development, she has worked for some of Australia's largest media organisations including Foxtel, News Corp and Nine Entertainment.
In Her roles with Foxtel and New Corp, Suzie was responsible for developing new commercial data-driven digital products. At News Corp she launched he industry-first audience segmentation and intelligence platform, Intent Connect.
Currently, in her role as Chief Data, Product & Technology Officer, Enterprise for Nine Entertainment, Suzie is leading the development and implementation of Nine's data strategy, focusing on building value from Nine's AI strategy, she leads a team of date technologists, product managers and data scientists.
In Her roles with Foxtel and New Corp, Suzie was responsible for developing new commercial data-driven digital products. At News Corp she launched he industry-first audience segmentation and intelligence platform, Intent Connect.
Currently, in her role as Chief Data, Product & Technology Officer, Enterprise for Nine Entertainment, Suzie is leading the development and implementation of Nine's data strategy, focusing on building value from Nine's AI strategy, she leads a team of date technologists, product managers and data scientists.
Speaking at
Panel Discussion
09:30
Panel discussion: Finding success in non-traditional tech paths: maximising diverse and non-linear career trajectories
Speaker
Speakers
Cheng Yeo,
Romina Sharifpour,
Suzie Cardwell,
May Lam,
Nicole Nixon,
Nicole Nixon
Chief Executive OfficerFive Faces
Nicole provides the overarching strategic direction to lead Five Faces through rapid growth and innovation. She leads a team of nearly 30 to deliver consumer experience solutions accessed by four million Australians.
Empathy lies at the core of Nicole’s approach. With a deep understanding of human connection, she champions the importance of putting consumers at the forefront of every experience. She ensures equal opportunities to thrive in the digital age by supporting vulnerable consumers with easy, accessible technology. Internally, Nicole inspires and motivates the Five Faces team to deliver exceptional solutions and service, fostering a supportive culture of excellence and continuous improvement. She forges strong and enduring partnerships with clients, where goals, design and achievements are shared as one team.
These exceptional people skills are backed by a solid foundation of structure, process, and problem solving which Nicole acquired during her time in the Royal Australian Air Force and honed through diverse professional experiences in manufacturing, business consulting and entertainment. This rich background enables Nicole to lead with a unique blend of empathy and pragmatism, ensuring that innovation is not just a lofty ideal but delivered in a reliable and consistent fashion.
Nicole was the driving force behind Five Faces’ pivot during COVID-19 to focus on consumer experience solutions – initially on the frontline of the healthcare industry and then broadening to other complex service organisations such as education and government. She oversaw investment in the company’s new technology platform to ensure that the unprecedented innovation during COVID-19 would become the new normal.
Nicole is an empathetic entrepreneur, guiding Five Faces to fuel the growing appetite for digital transformation among complex service providers that provide essential services for society’s most vulnerable people.
Empathy lies at the core of Nicole’s approach. With a deep understanding of human connection, she champions the importance of putting consumers at the forefront of every experience. She ensures equal opportunities to thrive in the digital age by supporting vulnerable consumers with easy, accessible technology. Internally, Nicole inspires and motivates the Five Faces team to deliver exceptional solutions and service, fostering a supportive culture of excellence and continuous improvement. She forges strong and enduring partnerships with clients, where goals, design and achievements are shared as one team.
These exceptional people skills are backed by a solid foundation of structure, process, and problem solving which Nicole acquired during her time in the Royal Australian Air Force and honed through diverse professional experiences in manufacturing, business consulting and entertainment. This rich background enables Nicole to lead with a unique blend of empathy and pragmatism, ensuring that innovation is not just a lofty ideal but delivered in a reliable and consistent fashion.
Nicole was the driving force behind Five Faces’ pivot during COVID-19 to focus on consumer experience solutions – initially on the frontline of the healthcare industry and then broadening to other complex service organisations such as education and government. She oversaw investment in the company’s new technology platform to ensure that the unprecedented innovation during COVID-19 would become the new normal.
Nicole is an empathetic entrepreneur, guiding Five Faces to fuel the growing appetite for digital transformation among complex service providers that provide essential services for society’s most vulnerable people.
Speaking at
Panel Discussion
09:30
Panel discussion: Finding success in non-traditional tech paths: maximising diverse and non-linear career trajectories
Speaker
Speakers
Cheng Yeo,
Romina Sharifpour,
Suzie Cardwell,
May Lam,
Nicole Nixon,
Forough Khandan
Chief Technology OfficerEMVision Medical Devices
Forough builds and leads performing teams, new technologies, and products in new and established organizations. Challenges, risks, and opportunities are what she deals with every day and the reason why her work is exciting.
She has a demonstrated a track record of successful technologies, and product(s) in the medical device, automotive, and consumer industries. Skilled in people and project management. Strong new technology and product development professional who always finds a new or more efficient way to overcome or bypass obstacles.
"Working with a great team makes work much better and helps turn challenges into fun and just "another puzzle" to solve. Still learning and growing."
She has a demonstrated a track record of successful technologies, and product(s) in the medical device, automotive, and consumer industries. Skilled in people and project management. Strong new technology and product development professional who always finds a new or more efficient way to overcome or bypass obstacles.
"Working with a great team makes work much better and helps turn challenges into fun and just "another puzzle" to solve. Still learning and growing."
Speaking at
10:50
Owning your journey: how to advocate for yourself at every career stage
Speaker
Speakers
Forough Khandan,
Gabriella Hepworth
Data Ethics & AI Governance LeadMedibank
Gabbie is a values-led tech leader and data ethicist who helps organisations navigate AI and technologies with integrity. Gabbie’s journey in tech began not with algorithms, but with a focus on helping better people’s lives.
That focus has guided her through a career spanning education, government, and industry, where she’s helped organisations navigate complex decisions about data, privacy, and AI with care and accountability.
Now leading Data Ethics & AI Governance at Medibank, Gabbie is building enterprise frameworks to ensure emerging technologies are designed and deployed responsibly. She brings heart, rigour, and a values-first mindset to innovation, grounded in curiosity, reinvention, and a deep commitment to fairness.
As a woman in tech (often the only one in the room) Gabbie is passionate about creating space for ethical leadership, inclusive design, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
That focus has guided her through a career spanning education, government, and industry, where she’s helped organisations navigate complex decisions about data, privacy, and AI with care and accountability.
Now leading Data Ethics & AI Governance at Medibank, Gabbie is building enterprise frameworks to ensure emerging technologies are designed and deployed responsibly. She brings heart, rigour, and a values-first mindset to innovation, grounded in curiosity, reinvention, and a deep commitment to fairness.
As a woman in tech (often the only one in the room) Gabbie is passionate about creating space for ethical leadership, inclusive design, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Speaking at
11:40
Coding fairness: women leading the ethical AI revolution
Speaker
Speakers
Gabriella Hepworth,
Dominique Harrison-Bentzen
Chief Executive Officer & Co-FounderLuniate
Dominique Harrison-Bentzen is the CEO & Co-founder of Luniate, a Techstars San Francisco and Startmate-backed fintech helping financial firms build trusted connections with the next generation of investors. An award-winning digital marketing leader, Dominique was UBS’s Global Head of Digital Marketing and an Executive Director by age 30, where she designed a new digital acquisition model serving 27 countries across four regions.
She is an Executive MBA scholarship recipient at London Business School, a published author, and a passionate advocate for technology and social impact. Her community work has been recognised with the UK Prime Minister’s Points of Light award and a place on The Independent’s Happy List.
She is an Executive MBA scholarship recipient at London Business School, a published author, and a passionate advocate for technology and social impact. Her community work has been recognised with the UK Prime Minister’s Points of Light award and a place on The Independent’s Happy List.
Speaking at
12:20
Rethinking AI: common enterprise missteps and how to get It right
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Speaker
Speakers
Dominique Harrison-Bentzen,
Sarah Vale
Head of Technology ArchitectureDomain
Sarah is passionate about bridging the gap between business and technology through collaboration and communication. Her holistic and pragmatic approach has been shaped by broad industry experience, from consulting and coding to enterprise architecture, transformation and strategy development.
Speaking at
Skills Spotlight
14:20
Achieving success through cross-team collaboration
Speaker
Speakers
Sarah Vale,
Susan Gibson
Head of Data Analytics & AIUniversity of Technology Sydney
Susan Gibson is the Head of Data Analytics and AI at the University of Technology Sydney, where she leads transformative initiatives that harness data and emerging technologies to drive strategic impact. With a rare blend of technical expertise and visionary leadership, Susan is widely respected for her ability to foster innovation, build collaborative networks and champion inclusive change. She is deeply passionate about empowering women in technology including advocating for progressive workplace practices, mentoring future leaders and creating spaces where women can thrive. Susan believes that visibility, advocacy and sparking curiosity in STEM from a young age are critical to shaping a more diverse and dynamic tech sector.
Speaking at
Panel Discussion
15:40
Panel discussion: Empowering the next generation of women in tech
Speaker
Speakers
Susan Gibson,
Katrina Troughton,
Natalie Saunders,
Margo Stephen,
Stevie-Ann Dovico,
Katrina Troughton
Vice President & Managing DirectorAdobe ANZ
Experienced General Manager in the information technology and services industry. Led by strong client focus supporting business and technical transformation, I excel in leading multi-disciplined teams. An accomplished leader with experience leading teams successfully through major transformations, in bringing new technologies to market in global and Asian markets, and in building key partnerships and alliances to bring the highest possible value to clients.
I am a Chief Executive Women member, and passionate about the importance of culture, diversity and inclusion in high performance organisations. I am proud to have received the CEO of the Year award at the 2021 Australian LGBTQ Inclusion Awards.
I serve on the TAFE NSW advisory board, and pleased to act as a a Careers NSW Ambassador as the IT industry continues to grow and offer significant new career opportunities where new skills and pathways into IT are required.
My solution experience spans data and analytics, cloud, AI, BPM, Digital Strategy, software and Software as a Service (SaaS)
I am a Chief Executive Women member, and passionate about the importance of culture, diversity and inclusion in high performance organisations. I am proud to have received the CEO of the Year award at the 2021 Australian LGBTQ Inclusion Awards.
I serve on the TAFE NSW advisory board, and pleased to act as a a Careers NSW Ambassador as the IT industry continues to grow and offer significant new career opportunities where new skills and pathways into IT are required.
My solution experience spans data and analytics, cloud, AI, BPM, Digital Strategy, software and Software as a Service (SaaS)
Speaking at
Panel Discussion
15:40
Panel discussion: Empowering the next generation of women in tech
Speaker
Speakers
Susan Gibson,
Katrina Troughton,
Natalie Saunders,
Margo Stephen,
Stevie-Ann Dovico,
Natalie Saunders
Head of Technology – Service ManagementAGL
Nat Saunders is Head of Technology – Service Management at AGL, where she leads technology strategy for electricity generation and Energy Hubs, bridging operational business units with technology services to deliver reliable, future-ready energy solutions. With over 13 years at AGL, Nat’s journey began in the Adelaide contact centre and evolved through roles in customer experience, process improvement, and technology leadership.
As Chair of AGL’s Equality Committee, Nat is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion. She is committed to empowering women in energy and encouraging others to step outside their comfort zones and explore the industry’s vast opportunities.
Based at Torrens Island, Nat brings a people-first approach to leadership and is proud to contribute to Australia’s renewable energy transition.
As Chair of AGL’s Equality Committee, Nat is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion. She is committed to empowering women in energy and encouraging others to step outside their comfort zones and explore the industry’s vast opportunities.
Based at Torrens Island, Nat brings a people-first approach to leadership and is proud to contribute to Australia’s renewable energy transition.
Speaking at
Panel Discussion
15:40
Panel discussion: Empowering the next generation of women in tech
Speaker
Speakers
Susan Gibson,
Katrina Troughton,
Natalie Saunders,
Margo Stephen,
Stevie-Ann Dovico,
Margo Stephen
Chief Technology OfficerYarra Trams
Strategic, commecially astute, pragmatic executive leader with deep expertise in driving innovation and transformation.
I bring over two decades of experience delivering secure, customer-centric digital products and platforms—balancing revenue objectives with innovation, compliance, and operational excellence. Experienced in navigating ambiguity, driving cultural change, building and leading cross-functional teams and translating complex challenges into scalable solutions; always focusing first on the "why", then the "how".
Highly adaptable, my leadership spans complex ecosystems involving government, enterprise, and emerging tech—always with a focus on risk-aware delivery, strategic partnerships, and long-term value.
I thrive at the intersection of policy, product, and technology. I'm passionate about enabling trusted digital interactions and helping Australians protect their personal information. Recognised as a leader in digital identity, as an advisor to government, I have helped shape Australia's national Digital Identity program, legislation and standards.
I bring over two decades of experience delivering secure, customer-centric digital products and platforms—balancing revenue objectives with innovation, compliance, and operational excellence. Experienced in navigating ambiguity, driving cultural change, building and leading cross-functional teams and translating complex challenges into scalable solutions; always focusing first on the "why", then the "how".
Highly adaptable, my leadership spans complex ecosystems involving government, enterprise, and emerging tech—always with a focus on risk-aware delivery, strategic partnerships, and long-term value.
I thrive at the intersection of policy, product, and technology. I'm passionate about enabling trusted digital interactions and helping Australians protect their personal information. Recognised as a leader in digital identity, as an advisor to government, I have helped shape Australia's national Digital Identity program, legislation and standards.
Speaking at
Panel Discussion
15:40
Panel discussion: Empowering the next generation of women in tech
Speaker
Speakers
Susan Gibson,
Katrina Troughton,
Natalie Saunders,
Margo Stephen,
Stevie-Ann Dovico,
Stevie-Ann Dovico
Group Executive for Technology & Chief Information OfficerBeyond Bank Australia
Stevie is a technologist, a strategist, an innovator, and a leader. She has a larger-than-life energy and a passion for developing people and teams. Stevie has spent almost 20 years in banking and financial services running critical technology platforms that support some of the country’s largest businesses. Throughout her career she has led global teams, large-scale delivery and transformed technology, digital and data capabilities. She is currently the Group Executive for Technology and Data and Chief Information Officer of Beyond Bank, one of the largest customer owned banks in Australia. Stevie has been recognised as an industry leader and one of Australia’s top CIOs by several organisations including Women in Digital, CIO50, Women in Banking and Finance and IT News.
Speaking at
Panel Discussion
15:40
Panel discussion: Empowering the next generation of women in tech
Speaker
Speakers
Susan Gibson,
Katrina Troughton,
Natalie Saunders,
Margo Stephen,
Stevie-Ann Dovico,