Packed with industry insights, ideas and inspiration

As organisations move beyond AI experimentation, IT leaders are stepping firmly into the driver’s seat. Drawing on insights from the 2026 State of the CIO study, this session explores how CIOs are balancing innovation with accountability and turning AI ambition into real-world impact.

Speaker

Dr. Chris Holmes Editorial Director, Asia CIO

• Workforce ready for AI
• Leading with Responsible AI
• CX & EX innovation
• AI Driven Business Models
• CIO as Security Leaders

Most AI strategies don’t fail because of the technology – they fail because the operating model can’t support trust at scale. As organisations push beyond pilots into production, CIOs must move past a narrow focus on data and start architecting the “logic of choice” through decision products. This session shows how to redesign operating models to embed accountability, improve decision-making, and close the trust gap that stands between AI ambition and real business value.

Speaker

Dr. Asif Gill Professor, Computer Science University of Technology Sydney 

Speaker

Sonia Boije Chief Data Officer [CIO 50 2025 winner] nbn Australia 

Security doesn’t break on policy – it breaks in practice. Culture, habits and incentives often override even the best controls, creating a gap between compliance and real behaviour. Drawing on behavioural science and real-world experience, this session explores why controls are bypassed – and how to design security that fits the way people actually work, driving lasting change without adding friction.

Speaker

Leron Zinatullin Chief Information Security Officer [CSO 30 2025 winner] Constantinople

Today’s CIOs are under unprecedented pressure – from cost reduction mandates to global instability and the urgency to adopt AI. This session explores how leaders are evolving their approach to strategy, talent, and risk to meet the moment.

Panellist

Stevie-Ann Dovico Chief Technology Officer [CIO 50 2025 winner] Australian Financial Complaints Authority 

Panellist

Jason Richardson Chief Digital Officer, APAC Serco

Moderator

Cathy O’Sullivan Editorial Director, A/NZ Foundry

From the battlefield to the boardroom, great leadership is tested in uncertainty. This closing keynote explores how lessons from military command apply to today’s technology landscape, with practical insights on resilience, decision-making under pressure, building trust, and leading teams through constant change.

Speaker

Kurt Brissett Chief Digital and Information Officer [CIO of the Year 2024] Built