CDAO Strategy

1 - 3 April 2025 | National Convention Centre Canberra

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Streams

Overview of CDAO Strategy

The Chief Data and Analytics Officer (CDAO) plays a vital role in driving data – driven decision – making and innovation across government agencies. This stream focuses on the unique challenges and opportunities faced by CDAOs in the Australian context, emphasising strategic leadership, collaboration, and the effective use of data to enhance service delivery and public trust.

CDAO Strategy Speakers

Paul Robards
Chief Data Integration Officer
Department of Defence
Dr Andrew Taylor
Assistant Secretary, Strategy and Delivery
Office of the National Data Commissioner
Jo Talbot
Manager of Data Governance
Australian Communications and Media Authority
Mike Lau
Chief Data & Analytics Officer
Australian Digital Health Agency
Dr. Tania Churchill
Chief Data & Analytics Officer
Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission
Hannah Harding
Data Analytics and Translation Director
Department of Health and Aged Care
Kieran Hagan
AI Segment Leader
IBM A/NZ
Sue Laine
CTO Data
Quest

CDAO Strategy Agenda Plenary


Serena Williams
Ngunnawal Elder


Permenthri Pillay
Partner, Government and Public Sector Business Transformation, Digital Transformation
EY Australia

  • Government’s approach by providing baseline requirements on governance, assurance and transparency of AI
  • Strengthening public trust in government’s use of AI by providing enhanced transparency, governance and risk assurance
  • Addressing the importance of ensuring AI systems are free from biases that could lead to discrimination


Lucy Poole
General Manager Strategy, Planning and Performance Division
Digital Transformation Agency

  • Learn how Data and Analytics, augmented by AI and agents can empower government agencies to use data securely and responsibly to deliver proactive, efficient and high-impact citizen experiences.
  • We share the critical thinking required to collect, analyze, and interpret data to harness the power of AI technologies, and how Salesforce’s deeply unified platform is up to the task
  • Hear from us best practice on how to meet governance obligations, address ethical concerns, and provide public confidence in AI assisted service delivery


Ashlee Marcuccio
Regional Vice President, ANZ Public Sector
Salesforce

  • Exploring how data and digital leaders from the Australian Public Service are driving innovation to enhance citizen outcomes
  • Examining the critical role of data and technology in building a smarter, more responsive government that meets the evolving
    expectations of citizens
  • Balancing citizen expectations, emerging technologies, and operational demands
  • Strengthening data security and privacy to uphold public trust
  • Collaborating with industry leaders to drive innovation and expertise in digital transformation

Moderator:


Ashlee Marcuccio
Regional Vice President, ANZ Public Sector
Salesforce

Panellists:


Michael Amon
Director, Data Policy and Evaluation
Attorney-General’s Department


Andrew Morrison
Chief Technology Officer
Digital Transformation Agency


Dr Jasmine Glover
Director, ACT Heritage System Reforms
ACT Environment Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate

Chief Data and Analytics Officer Strategy


Jo Talbot
Manager of Data Governance
Australian Communications and Media Authority

  • Understanding your data maturity stage and what specific steps needed to progress
  • Implementing data governance, foster cross-functional collaboration, and enhance data infrastructure for sustained maturity development
  • Promoting data literacy and securing leadership buy-in to drive a culture of data driven decision-making across all organisational levels
  • Exploring how modern tools, such as AI, cloud  computing, and automation, can help scale
  • Future-proofing your data strategy by embracing new technologies, staying agile, and continuously evolving to meet the demands of a data-driven environment


Paul Robards
Chief Data Integration Officer
Department of Defence


Dr Andrew Taylor
Assistant Secretary Strategy and Delivery
Office of the National Data Commissioner

Take advantage of this engaging peer-to-peer networking experience aimed at fostering meaningful connections. Enjoy relaxed conversations that encourage open dialogue and collaboration as you share insights, exchange ideas, and build valuable relationships with fellow data professionals. Participate in structured 10-minute rotations in our dedicated meeting zone, designed to facilitate both learning and networking.

  • Understanding the gap between AI potential and production
  • Examining the evolving landscape of AI adoption in government
  • Key considerations for deploying GEN AI at scale
  • Building a framework for GEN AI in citizen services
  • Actionable steps to future-proof AI strategies for sustainable public sector innovation


Kieran Hagan
AI Segment Leader
IBM A/NZ

  • Bringing leadership on the journey to build a data culture from the top down
  • Identifying missed opportunities to involve executives in data projects beyond decision making, budgeting, and reporting
  • Understanding the difference between developing data informed cultures versus data driven ones
  • Developing innovative strategies to engage leaders in the data journey and foster a data driven culture

Moderator:

 
Jo Talbot
Manager of Data Governance
Australian Communications and Media Authority

Panellists:


Mike Lau
Chief Data & Analytics Officer
Australian Digital Health Agency


Dr. Tania Churchills
Chief Data & Analytics Officer
Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission


Hannah Harding
Data Analytics and Translation Director
Department of Health and Aged Care

  • Reliable AI: Getting your data house in order – enabling data readiness while developing a secure and transparent AI data strategy
  • Understanding data movement and observability – strengthening governance, compliance, and operational visibility
  • Scaling data and AI programs – leveraging classification, marketplaces, and augmented data quality to ensure fairness and security


    Sue Laine
    CTO Data
    Quest

  • Explore ASIC’s data sets and how ASIC uses advanced data analytics in its role as Australia’s financial services regulator and steward of the registers of 3.4 million companies and 2.8 million business names
  • The role of data in improving investor and consumer trust and confidence, facilitating fair and efficient markets, and delivering efficient registry services that are critical to supporting Australia’s economic growth


Kate O’Rourke
Commissioner
Australian Securities and Investments Commission

  • Leveraging machine learning to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of coding textual data into ABS structured classifications
  • Developing a cloud-based, multi-method data coding solution for the 2026 Census, designed for secure and high-performance access across the Australian Government via an external API service
  • Key lessons learned and future opportunities


Stirling Jones
Product Owner – WoAG Coding Capability Project, Coding Redevelopment
Australian Bureau of Statistics

This roundtable discussion offers a unique chance to engage with data peers, sharing common challenges and best practices on a topic of your choice. Each of the ten roundtables will be co-hosted by a technology expert and a government data leader, ensuring meaningful and insightful conversations. At the end of the day, facilitators will present a summary of the key findings to the entire group, allowing all participants to benefit from the collective insights.

1

Defining the hierarchy: Optimal reporting structures for data governance and analytics teams in government

Aligning reporting lines effectively enhances the performance of data governance and analytics teams

Moderator:


Kristy Van Putten
Senior Director – Directorate
Data Officer
ACT Government  

2

Data Driven Culture, Data Sharing and Accessibility

Practical approaches for promoting data sharing and collaboration among different government departments and agencies, considering the diverse data governance structures and regulations?

Moderator:


Olga Lysenko
Director Enterprise Data Strategy & Governance Management
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

3

AI Tools & Emerging Technologies

Explore cutting-edge AI tools, create tailored implementation plans, and apply best practices to optimise organisational performance and outcomes.

Moderator:


Vihan Patel
Principal, Data and AI
Mantel Group


Tonya Higgins
Head of Data and Insights
Beyond Blue

4

Optimising Data Cloud & Storage Solutions

Leverage advanced data storage and cloud platforms, integrating security protocols to safeguard sensitive information effectively.

Moderator:


Daniel Wang
Digital Performance Analyst
Austrade

5

Data Governance & Risk Management

Implement robust data governance frameworks, develop risk audit methodologies, and ensure compliance with regulations to maintain data integrity.

Moderator:


Glynnis Barodien
Executive Manager, Data Governance Lead
CSIRO

6

The value of AI-driven public data in building capacity and capability in the public sector

Examine the role of AI in unlocking insights, improving decision-making, and driving innovation while addressing governance, ethical considerations, and regulatory frameworks.

Moderator:

7

Delivering AI Without Doubt: Getting Government Data Ready For AI

Creating a trusted data foundation to reduce the complexity of fragmented data silos, fuel innovation and augment decision-making within government agencies

Moderator:


Ahsan Mehmood
Head of Data Management Solutions
Quantexa

8

Enhancing Data Sharing Across Agencies

Strengthen data-sharing practices across government agencies to improve collaboration and outcomes.

Moderator:


Dr Jasmine Glover
Director, ACT Heritage System Reforms
ACT Environment Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate

9

Data Governance: Implementing frameworks to Ensure Data Integrity and Compliance

Explore how enterprises can enhance data governance by identifying and protecting CDEs, embedding governance into data products, and utilizing AI-powered metadata management to drive trust, compliance, and business value

Moderator:

 
Andrew Ritchie
Principal Customer Success Manager
Alation

Join us at the end of the day one for cocktails, canapes and the opportunity to network with your peers, speakers and sponors.

Join us for an exclusive Networking Dinner at The Boat House Canberra on 2nd April 2025 at 7:00 PM. End your Summit day with a fine dining experience alongside your peers in a stunning lakeside setting. Nestled along the scenic banks of Lake Burley Griffin, The Boat House promises more than just a meal—it’s a culinary journey in an unforgettable venue.

Seats are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so reserve your spot now to secure this premier networking opportunity!

Key themes

Chief Data and Analytics Officer Strategy

The Chief Data and Analytics Officer plays a vital role in driving data-driven decision-making and innovation across government agencies. This stream focuses on the unique challenges and opportunities faced by CDAOs in the Australian context, emphasising strategic leadership, collaboration, and the effective use of data to enhance service delivery and public trust.

Data Analytics and AI in Public Service Decision Making

In an era where data is abundant and technology is rapidly advancing, harnessing the power of data analytics and AI is essential for effective public service decision-making. This stream will delve into how government agencies can integrate data analytics and AI to enhance operational efficiency, improve service delivery and foster better outcomes for citizens.

CIO Leadership Driving Data-Driven Innovation

Chief Information Officers play a pivotal role in enabling a culture of data-driven innovation within the Australian government sector. This stream focuses on the essential leadership qualities and strategies that CIOs must adopt to leverage data effectively and drive transformative change across public services.

Strengthening Cybersecurity Readiness and Data Privacy

In today’s digital landscape, the Australian public sector faces increasing threats to cybersecurity and data privacy. This stream delves into the critical importance of enhancing cybersecurity readiness and implementing robust data privacy measures to protect sensitive information and maintain public trust.

Data as a Career

As data becomes an integral component of decision-making and service delivery within the government sector, the demand for skilled professionals in data roles continues to rise. This stream focuses on the diverse career opportunities in data within the public sector and the essential skills needed to thrive in this evolving landscape.

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