Data Centre Exchange Australia schedule

During this 5-minute networking session, participants can build their network. Have fun! 

• Australia’s unique position in the global digital infrastructure landscape
• Designing infrastructure for the AI and hyperscale era
• From domestic market to global capability
• Industry responsibility: infrastructure that supports communities and the economy
  

Speaker:

David Hirst CEO Macquarie Data Centres

James Murphy Managing Director APAC DC Byte (moderator)

• Predictive modelling: simulating thermal loads, power distribution, and cooling efficiency before construction begins
• Design validation: stress-testing infrastructure scenarios to de-risk capital deployment and accelerate commissioning
• Lifecycle optimisation: leveraging digital twins for ongoing performance tuning, capacity expansion, and sustainability targets 

• Australia's competitive advantages: Five Eyes security, connectivity infrastructure, and market stability
• Regional demand dynamics: capacity forecasts, investment trends, and speed-to-market lessons from APAC hubs
• Strategic positioning: establishing Australia as Asia-Pacific's trusted digital infrastructure gateway
• Building pathways for market entry: streamlining regulatory navigation and ecosystem integration

Speakers:

Anik Akhter Co-Founder & Co-CEO INSITE DC

Belinda Dennett Chief Executive Officer Data Centres Australia

Sumit Mukhija Chief Executive Officer DCI Datacenters

David Dzienciol Chief Customer & Commercial Officer NEXTDC 

James Murphy Managing Director APAC DC Byte (moderator)  

• Benchmarking global best practice: learning from fast-track approval models in leading markets
• Accelerating infrastructure connections: collaborative approaches to power and water delivery
• Integrated delivery strategies: aligning approvals, design, and construction for compressed timelines
• Cross-sector coordination: building stronger partnerships across the development ecosystem
• Addressing the workforce challenge: targeted training programmes, expanding talent pipelines and fostering rapid skill acquisition

Speakers:

Shalini Lagrutta CEO & Managing Director DXN Solutions

Heather Feigin Strategic Planning Director - Global Design & Construction Equinix

Matt Neil Director – Data Centres Datacom 

Mary-Catherine Hamill Head of Construction, Australia Aon  

Simon McFadden Industry Director – Digital Infrastructure Aurecon (moderator)

• Fast-track program management: coordinating multi-stakeholder projects from approval through commissioning in compressed timeframes
• Integrated delivery frameworks: aligning design, construction, procurement, and commissioning to eliminate delays and handoff failures
• Risk and schedule optimisation: proactive mitigation strategies that keep mega-projects on time and on budget 

Speakers:

Senior Representative TBH

• Grid infrastructure planning: aligning data centre growth with transmission and distribution capacity roadmaps
• Accelerating connection pathways: streamlining processes and building utility partnerships for faster deployment
• Renewable energy integration: establishing sustainable power procurement frameworks and PPAs
• Energy resilience strategies: behind-the-meter generation, microgrids, and hybrid power solutions

Speakers:

Chris Cormack New Energy Director JLL

Liam McWhirter General Manager, Enterprise and Strategic Partners, Origin

Dominic Adams COO Energy Networks Australia

• Proactive procurement strategies: securing critical equipment through early engagement and supplier partnerships
• Construction innovation: leveraging modular, prefabricated, and off-site manufacturing for timeline compression
• Integrated delivery excellence: aligning design, procurement, and construction from project inception 
• Building ecosystem capacity: developing specialised contractor networks and supplier capabilities
  
  

• Risk mitigation strategies: identifying, allocating, and managing project risks across the development lifecycle
• Protective frameworks and contractual structures: agreements and coverage solutions that safeguard projects and accelerate decisions
• Early engagement value: how proactive risk advisory de-risks projects, optimises timelines, and strengthens outcomes 

• Navigating planning frameworks: zoning strategies and approval pathways for data centre development

• Geographic opportunity mapping: emerging locations in outer urban and regional areas

• Collaborative site development: early utility and council engagement for aligned outcomes

Speakers:

Matthew Lee Executive Director - Co-head of Australian Data Centres JLL

Vicky Grillakis National Data Centre Lead Urbis  

Alex Moffatt Senior Director - Acquisitions APAC BDx Data Centres

Michael Gold Executive GM Data Centre Investments Macquarie Data Centres

Matt Madden Head of Data Center Solutions Asia Pacific CBRE (moderator)

• Strategic utility engagement: building early partnerships with transmission and distribution network operators
• Grid connection acceleration: navigating application processes, capacity assessments, and infrastructure investment frameworks
• Renewable energy integration: establishing PPAs, behind-the-meter generation, and sustainable power strategies aligned with utility roadmaps
• Collaborative planning models: co-developing infrastructure solutions that benefit both data centres and broader grid resilience 

• Strategic water partnerships: co-developing infrastructure solutions with utilities and municipalities
• Water innovation: advanced cooling technologies, alternative water sources, and circular systems
• Building lasting social license: community investment, shared value creation, and transparent engagement
• Regional resource alignment: integrating data centre development with long-term water and sustainability strategies

Speakers:

Danielle Francis Manager Customer and Policy Water Services Association of Australia

Olivia Onderdonk Associate Director, Sustainability AirTrunk  

Bree Trevena Associate Principal & APAC Foresight Leader Arup

Matt Clifford Head of Sustainability & ESG Asia Pacific Cushman & Wakefield (moderator)    

• Modular and prefabricated solutions: leveraging off-site manufacturing for accelerated deployment
• Design integration excellence: aligning manufacturers, designers, and builders from project inception
• Quality and standardisation: balancing speed with performance in rapid-build environments 

• Government-industry co-design: building partnerships that align policy with project realities
• Innovative approval frameworks: special economic zones, enterprise precincts, and fast-track pathways
• Community engagement and social license: establishing trust through transparency and shared value
• Integrated project planning: coordinating stakeholders, consultants, and partners from inception through delivery

Speakers:

Mick Mayers Senior Director, Design – Australia Airtrunk 

Matt Gurr Senior Director of Design Management APAC NTT Global Data Centers

Milan Vujasinovic National Leader – Data Centres GHD

BEEHE draws on real-world DLC deployments — from in-rack CDUs to fully liquid-cooled, AC-free facilities — to share what it takes to design, commission, and validate cooling infrastructure for today's high-density AI workloads.

Speaker:

Gaven Gu International Sales Engineer Beehe Electric (Taicang) Co., Ltd.

• Integrated delivery excellence: design-build, EPC, and early contractor involvement strategies
• Workflow optimisation: parallel execution, critical path management, and digital coordination platforms
• Smart procurement: supply chain strategies that balance speed, availability, and risk
• Safe and structured commissioning: accelerated timelines with rigorous protocols  

Speakers:

Hatem Attia Director of Engineering DCI Data Centers

Chris Suttor Regional Solutions Director (Engineering Solutions ANZ) Jacobs

Simon Kearney Director Turner & Townsend

• AI infrastructure economics: optimising facility design for high-density compute workloads
• Future-ready design: building adaptable infrastructure that scales with evolving AI factory architectures and NeoCloud requirements
• Advanced thermal management: liquid cooling, immersion, and hybrid systems enabling next-generation AI factory density
• Intelligent capacity deployment: phased strategies that maximise utilisation while meeting market demand

Speakers:

John Henderson General Manager Centuria DC 

Andrew Leece Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer SHARON AI

Bass Salah Co-Founder and Joint CEO ResetData

Dave Cooper Chief Executive Officer Zerra DC 

Chris Clarkson Principal Consultant double c consultants (moderator)

• Collaboration excellence: identifying strategic partnership opportunities that elevate the entire ecosystem
• Shared knowledge frameworks: building industry standards and best practices that benefit all participants
• Amplifying industry voice: leveraging peak bodies and associations to drive meaningful policy outcomes
• Australia's 2030 vision: commitments, milestones, and collective action for regional leadership

Speakers:

Lauren Ryder Chief Executive Officer Leading Edge Global

Pritesh Swamy Head of Data Centre Research & Advisory, Asia Pacific Cushman & Wakefield

Jack Dan Chief Strategy Officer CDC 

Matt Walsh Chief Network Officer Vocus 

Belinda Dennett Chief Executive Officer Data Centres Australia (moderator)

In the highly competitive age of digital transformation financial service organizations are facing accelerated urgency to improve their customer and employee experience while simultaneously reducing operating costs, and managing risk and compliance.

To meet these competing demands on their business, these organizations are racing to deploy deep learning to achieve a new competitive edge by optimizing their back office operations with intelligent document processing, personalizing their customer experience with cutting edge NLP models, and reducing fraud and risk using state-of-the-art deep learning.

AI is here and delivering new capabilities to help businesses solve large and complicated challenges. Join Bob Gaines to learn what that means for your business and how deep learning is helping organizations:

• Achieve higher compliance, faster and with lower costs • Dramatically improve Customer Experience • Reduce time to value from years to weeks

Sergio Rego is a customer engineer at SambaNova Systems where he helps clients deploy purpose-built, deep learning solutions in weeks rather than years. Sergio started his career in financial services, where he worked in strategy; active and index management; and product design and management. Sergio also served as a senior data scientist and team manager for a system integrator where he helped federal government agencies deploy ML and AI solutions.

In the highly competitive age of digital transformation financial service organizations are facing accelerated urgency to improve their customer and employee experience while simultaneously reducing operating costs, and managing risk and compliance.

To meet these competing demands on their business, these organizations are racing to deploy deep learning to achieve a new competitive edge by optimizing their back office operations with intelligent document processing, personalizing their customer experience with cutting edge NLP models, and reducing fraud and risk using state-of-the-art deep learning.

AI is here and delivering new capabilities to help businesses solve large and complicated challenges. Join Bob Gaines to learn what that means for your business and how deep learning is helping organizations:

• Achieve higher compliance, faster and with lower costs • Dramatically improve Customer Experience • Reduce time to value from years to weeks

Sergio Rego is a customer engineer at SambaNova Systems where he helps clients deploy purpose-built, deep learning solutions in weeks rather than years. Sergio started his career in financial services, where he worked in strategy; active and index management; and product design and management. Sergio also served as a senior data scientist and team manager for a system integrator where he helped federal government agencies deploy ML and AI solutions.