AI Summit: Building a trusted digital future
- This event has passed.
AI is inevitable. Trust is optional.
The public sector is at a crossroads: embrace AI responsibly, transparently, and effectively — or risk losing public confidence.
AI Summit: Building a trusted digital future is a high-impact, half-day virtual event focused on how public sector organisations can ethically and effectively harness AI and emerging technologies for the public good.
Join leading experts from across the public and private sectors with first-hand experience of real-world AI implementation. You’ll explore practical strategies, proven frameworks, and hard-won lessons from leaders who’ve already navigated these challenges, so you can move forward with confidence in an AI-enabled future.
The summit will close with remarks from the Hon Patrick Gorman MP, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Assistant Minister for the Public Service and Assistant Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, on expanding the safe and responsible use of AI.
Event highlights:
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9:00 – 9:50 AM | Keynote Dive into the big questions about ethics, trust and accountability with Stephen Scheeler, CEO of Omniscient Neurotechnology and former CEO of Facebook ANZ. |
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9:50 – 10:50 AM | Breakout session (choose your session during registration) Bridging the Gap: Upskilling the public sector for an AI-driven future Presented by Tom Marwick, Director of AI Policy, Digital Transformation Agency, Matthew Dickason, APAC CEO, Hays and Alisha Henderson, National Strategic Account Director – Federal Government, Hays The public sector needs to close capability gaps now to build a confident, digitally fluent workforce. This session will examine how AI is transforming hiring practices, job design, and productivity goals, highlighting the rise of hybrid roles and the growing importance of positions like chief data officers. Find out more >>> Scaling secure AI for the workforce Presented by Paul Hubbard, A/g First Assistant Secretary, AI Delivery & Enablement Division, Department of Finance and John Munnelly, Chief Digital Officer, KPMG Implementing AI at scale is far more than a technical challenge — it’s a leadership imperative and a cultural transformation. This session explores how large, complex organisations can successfully embed secure, human‑centric AI by fostering the right mindsets: embracing experimentation, encouraging innovation, and building trust in new ways of working. Find out more >>> |
| 10:50 – 11:00 AM | Break |
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11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Breakout session (choose your session during registration) From risk to confidence: AI governance in action Presented by Lee Hickin, Executive Director, National AI Centre, Department of Industry, Science and Resources, Sam Burrett, Director, AI Lead, MinterEllison, and Chelsea Gordon, Legal AI Advisory Lead, MinterEllison Not acting on AI carries its own risk: failing to attract the next generation of talent, falling behind on capability, and mismatched public expectations. In this session, speakers will share real examples of how organisations are embedding AI governance to establish AI approval processes, clarify accountability, and more. Find out more >>> Digital stewardship at scale: Redefining roles through AI and the prism model Presented by Jonathan Thorpe, Chief Customer Officer, Service Delivery Excellence Group, Services Australia and Brian Ferreira, Vice President, Executive Programs, Gartner Digital stewardship is emerging as a critical macro-level responsibility for organisations navigating AI-driven transformation. This session explores how the Prism use case maps AI capabilities to practical workflows. Prism enables employees to redefine their jobs, enhance decision-making, and unlock new value streams. You will learn why digital stewardship matters, how it scales across governance and operations, and how the Prism model serves as a catalyst for role reinvention in the future of work. Find out more >>> |
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12:00 – 12:15 PM | Closing remarks Delivered by the Hon Patrick Gorman MP, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Assistant Minister for the Public Service and Assistant Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations |
Why attend?
- Reduce AI risk: learn how accountability and risk management work in real government contexts
- Bridge capability gaps: discover practical approaches to capability upskilling and workforce transformation
- Take the first step: hear proven strategies to roll out and scale up AI and new technology
- Stay ahead of trends: gain insights on emerging tech, AI, and governance strategies that enable innovation without compromising trust.
Who is this for?
- Senior decision-makers responsible for governance, risk and strategic direction of AI-initiatives
- Mid-level leaders who drive implementation and need to determine priorities, allocate resources, and identify the first practice steps for AI adoption within their teams
- Practitioners and operational staff, analysts, digital leads, and technical advisors working directly with data, technology or AI.
This event is delivered in partnership with our tier 1 partners:
Event details
| Event date |
Wednesday 18 March 2026 9:00 am - 12:15 pm |
Early bird ticket price (members only) valid until 20 Feb |
$75 |
Member ticket price |
$95 |
Non-member ticket price |
$130 |
Location |
Virtual (Microsoft Teams) |
Speakers
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the Hon. Patrick Gorman MP
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister
Assistant Minister for the Public Service
Assistant Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations -
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Brian Ferreira
Vice President and Managing Executive Partner
Executive Programs - ANZ and SEA
Gartner -
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Wendy Cohen
Deputy CEO
