InnovationAus Podcast

The biggest tech news stories of the past week are the two year anniversary of Australia's stake in PsiQuantum and Defence's new Secretary. In this episode of NewsWrap, we unpack both, plus Justin's trip to German manufacturing heartland and more.

For the past two years, the enterprise technology conversation has been about artificial intelligence. But the real transformation challenge is not about AI, it's about the core systems and data operating underneath. IBRS senior advisor Dr Joe Sweeney talks with InnovationAus publisher Corrie McLeod on the Commercial Disco podcast.

The Department of Parliamentary Services is responsible for one of the most geographically diverse technology operations in Australia, covering 246 electorate offices around the country, in addition to the specialist services it runs at Parliament House in Canberra. In this episode of Delivery: A GovTech Podcast, CIO Mike Webb talks about the information systems keeping the wheels of demoncracy tu...

There are no shortage of world-class innovations coming through the Australian MedTech sector. But too often these innovative companies have to find their first customers overseas - because Australia's health sector procurement teams have a blind-spot for local suppliers. Professor Ian Meredith is a veteran of the local MedTech sector and joins the Commercial Disco to discuss this paradox.

Australia's research supercomputers are the critical digital layer of national research infrastructure. They underpin industry-relevant research as varied as resources and energy, pharmaceuticals and human health, and the environment. Mark Stickells, CEO at the Pawsey Supercomputer Centre, talks through what it takes to build one of this massive systems.

The biggest tech news story of the past week is a new National Defence Strategy and investment plan. In this episode of NewsWrap, we unpack both and what it means for Australia's Defence and dual use tech ecosystem.

Kersti Eesmaa is the former Ambassador of Estonia to Australia, and a key driver behind efforts to build a Cyber Civilian Reserve. The civilian reserve force would provide a surge capacity of cyber professionals in the event of large-scale cyber attack, to help existing Defence and public sector cybersecutiry personnel.

As he approaches his fifth year as CEO at the Digital Transformation Agency, Chris Fechner talks through the biggest challenges facing government technology operations, and outlines the Commonwealth's approach to AI adoption. He also puts the case for local companies engaging with government buyers.

The biggest tech news story of the past week is the Artemis II mission. After more than 50 years, Humankind heads back to the moon. In this episode of NewsWrap, we talk about the echoes of the past - and in particular, the amazing flight of Apollo 8.

Modernising government systems is easier said than done. The journey from ambition to delivery means navigating legacy systems, security requirements, workforce capability gaps and the persistent challenge of scaling beyond pilots. In this episode of Delivery: A GovTech Podcast, Leidos Australia's Kate Parr unpacks the complexity.

The NSW government-funded RNA Research and Pilot Manufacturing Facility at Macquarie University will start producing its first product batches this year. The facility was borne out of a $100 million government commitment in 2021, as Covid was still playing havoc with supply chains. In this episode of the Commercial Disco, RNA Australia CEO Paul McDonald talks about the genesis of the program - and...

In this episode of Delivery, James Riley talks to Services Australia chief information and digital officer Charles McHardie on what it to build resilience and performance into a large-scale system as critical as the social security technology networks. From staffing to AI to engagement with the industry, this is a deep dive into one of GovTech's biggest challanges.

The Semiconductor Sector Service Bureau (SB3) has embarked on a project supported by the Rozetta Institute to develop a National Semiconductor Roadmap. Dr Cathy Foley, having previously worked on the National Quantum Roadmap while she was at CSIRO, talks to James Riley about where Australia has capability in semiconductors.

In this episode of Delivery: A GovTech Podcast, we talk to Finance department Chief AI Officer about the roll-out of artificial intelligence across the federal government, and the best ways to engage with government on AI projects. 

Rhys Kissell is an electrical engineer who focused on the electro-magnetic spectrum. He is ex-Navy and an electronic warfare specialist. In this episode of the Commercial Disco, Mr Kissell talks about a recent visit to a defence technology trade show in Ukraine, and how he is building a DefenceTech startup call Panop to help the war effort.

The long awaited Data Centre Principles landed this week (albeit re-branded as 'expectations') and the federal government announced that it would fast-track negotiations to join the $155 billion Horizon Europe research program. Justin Hendry and James Riley talk through the biggest stories in Australian tech policy.

In this episode of Commercial Disco, InnovationAus.com publisher Corrie McLeod speaks with Mandy Andress, chief information security officer at Elastic, about the evolving cyber landscape for government.

Science and Technology Australia CEO Ryan Winn joins editorial director James Riley on the Commercial Disco to pick through the entrails of the Strategic Examination of R&D (SERD review), outlining the highlights for science of its 20 recommendations.

In this episode of NewsWrap, James Riley and InnovationAus.com editor Justin Hendry unpick the many threads of the Strategic Examination of R&D and its many recommendations.

Science communicator Zion Lights has been a prominent voice in the UK on issues of climate and energy. She is a one-time spokesperson for environmental group Extinction Rebellion, but has changed her views and now argues forcefully for nuclear energy as the most effective way to decarbonise the grid.

In this episode of Commercial Disco, InnovationAus.com publisher Corrie McLeod talks to the global CEO of Smart Communications Leigh Segall about what's next for digital government, and explores emerging issues of Trust and Technology in the public sector.

In this special episode of NewsWrap [LIVE] InnovationAus.com editor Justin Hendry talks to James Riley about the biggest tech stories of the week, including Atlassian's 1,600 job cuts, Allegra Spender's tax reform proposals, and the new AI CRC dollar commitments that won't arrive until 2028.

In this episode of the Commercial Disco, shadow spokesman for Science, Technology and Innovation Aaron Violi renews Opposition calls for government to lift the 25-year moratorium on nuclear energy. The data centre opportunity demands it, he says.

On a day that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney came to Canberra to sell the benefits of middle power collaboration on sectors like critical minerals and AI, InnovationAus editor Justin Hendry joins James Riley to discuss the week's biggest stories.

In the episode of the Commercial Disco podcast, University of NSW Scientia Professor Toby Walsh talks to InnovationAus publisher Corrie McLeod about what it will take – including government investment in Australian capability – to take advantage of global AI opportunities and mitigate global AI risks.