InnovationAus Podcast

Governments around the world have embraced more interventionist industrial policies, including in Australia. In this episode of the Commercial Disco podcast, the CEO of the state-owned fund Breakthrough Victoria Grant Dooley talks about the role of government in helping to build capability – and wealth – for the state. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

This special podcast focuses on Building trust in the network digital twin, produced by InnovationAus.com in partnership with Verizon. Digital twins bring enormous value to network infrastructure, with the ability to test and optimise equipment configurations. They simplify managing energy efficiency, enabling smarter, faster decisions when building complex infrastructure like airports, hospitals or Olympic stadiums. Australian startups Exergenics and Willow are making inroads into the US after honing their expertise and innovations in a domestic environment keenly focused on energy efficiency. Willow’s Head of New Build, Daniel Kalnins, joins publisher Corrie McLeod and co-founder & COO of Exergenics, Tim Stewart to discuss digital twin technology in energy efficiency, and the stark differences in speed and scale between the US and Australian markets.

Imagine a world where waste doesn't exist — where every product is designed with its subsequent life in mind. Piers Grove, Co-founder of Boomerang Lab, EnergyLabs and Former Publisher of Betoota Advocate is a visionary challenging Australia's recycling norms. From revolutionising packaging practices to redefining recycling, his initiatives are not just about treating symptoms but curing the disease of waste. In this episode of the Commercial Disco(very), Piers unpacks how startup disruptors across Australia are reshaping our approaches to sustainability, proving that in the circular economy, end-of-life for products is only just the beginning. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

Australia emerges as a key player in global technology standards under the strategic guidance of Professor Johanna Weaver. In this episode of the Commercial Disco, the Professor shares her insights into Australia's potential to help shape tech policy, and how Australia can be at the forefront of technological governance and global influence by fostering international collaborations and innovative frameworks. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

Drawing on 18 years with the Australian Federal Government and her pivotal role in the MH17 investigation, Dr Miah Hammond-Errey has become a leading voice in understanding the intersection of technology, intelligence, and security. In this episode of the Commercial Disco(very) she unveils the evolving power dynamics between state intelligence and global tech giants, influenced by her extensive research and interviews with nearly 50 intelligence leaders and offers a profound look into a digital future shaped by big data and emerging technologies. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

Discover the groundbreaking work of Professor Peter Middendorf as he reveals the inner workings of ARENA2036, a revolutionary industry-on-campus initiative reshaping the landscape of collaboration between academia and industry. Learn the intricate mechanisms driving innovation at this cutting-edge hub and contemplate its potential impact on the future of Australian industry. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

Professor Nicholas Opie is a pioneer in the field of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology. He is a founding director at Synchron, and head of the Vascular Bionics Laboratory at the University of Melbourne. In this episode of the Commercial Disco podcast, Professor Opie talks about the challenges of building a global deep tech startup from Australia. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

This vodcast is the latest in the Securing critical infrastructure: the regulatory vs the practical series, produced by InnovationAus.com in partnership with SentinelOne. As companies deploy generative AI as a frontline defence, is governance being overlooked in their bid to avoid interruption of activities inside critical infrastructure due to cyber threats? David Fariman, Chief Information Officer & Chief Security Officer, Netskope, joins publisher Corrie McLeod and SentinelOne’s Wayne Phillips to discuss how regulatory frameworks must keep pace with the rapid innovation in AI, so businesses can defend themselves against adversaries equipped with similar technologies.

In this episode of the Commercial Disco podcast, Climatech Zero CEO, Peter O'Connell talks about how innovation in energy efficiency can dramatically reduce costs while improving competitiveness in the mining and resources sector, data centres, and commercial buildings. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

This podcast is the latest episode in The Loop series, produced by InnovationAus.com in partnership with Granicus. The success of US veteran health portal My HealtheVet poses a stark question for public servants: Are we meeting the specific needs of those we serve, or merely checking boxes? Granicus' Chief Customer Officer, Gabriele Masili, led the team that grew My HealtheVet from 30,000 to 1 million users. He joins publisher Corrie McLeod to discuss the development of a platform that has helped a government exceed its constituents' expectations, and set a new global standard for other public sectors to chase - including Australia.

This vodcast is the latest in the Securing critical infrastructure: the regulatory vs the practical series, produced by InnovationAus.com in partnership with SentinelOne. As companies deploy generative AI as a frontline defence, is governance being overlooked in their bid to avoid interruption of activities inside critical infrastructure due to cyber threats? David Fariman, Chief Information Officer & Chief Security Officer, Netskope, joins publisher Corrie McLeod and SentinelOne’s Wayne Phillips to discuss how regulatory frameworks must keep pace with the rapid innovation in AI, so businesses can defend themselves against adversaries equipped with similar technologies.

In this episode of the Commercial Disco, former Olympian Dean Capobianco discusses his current role as CEO of Geoscape Australia, the government-owned foundational layer of curated geolocation data in this country. This is a great conversation. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

Energy price uncertainty and shortages of skilled workers top the list of concerns of Australian industry, according to deputy Liberal leader and shadow Industry minister Sussan Ley. In this edition of the Commercial Disco, she discusses the impact of funding delays to the NRF and Industry Growth Program. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

This podcast is the first episode in The Loop series, produced by InnovationAus.com in partnership with Granicus. In a vast country like Australia, ensuring citizens who live in sparsely populated regions are heard is a real challenge for government and decision makers. Former digital officer for Broken Hill City Council, Luke Dart, was instrumental in the local council’s digital transformation and online accessibility. He joins publisher Corrie McLeod to discuss a fascinating case study in public sector innovation and revenue success within an independent, hardy community of natural problem-solvers.

In this episode of the Commercial Disco(very), Rob Sutton, Managing Director of Mirragin Consulting addresses Australia's defense strategy amidst the changing landscape of drone manufacturing, inspired by Ukraine's innovation in drone production. We discuss everything from the importance of prioritising a resilient drone manufacturing base and embracing agile, cost-effective solutions, to the critical need for an updated defense strategy and the impacts on startups and SMEs in the defense industry ecosystem. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

This vodcast is the final episode in the Identity Matters: Digital Identity and the Evolution of the Internet series, produced by InnovationAus.com in partnership with Ping Identity. Managing Director of Connect ID, Andrew Black, has more than a decade of experience in the Digital Identity industry. Previously he led digital ventures on data and cyber security in two major UK banks, and most recently served as a member of Minister Victor Dominello's Advisory Committee, helping support the design of Digital Identity services and legislation for NSW citizens. With the federal government committed to overhauling Australia's privacy laws, Andrew joins editorial director James Riley and Ping Identity’s Head of APAC Architecture, Steve Dillon, to discuss progress towards a federated digital ID and how it can make consumer data more easily collected and collated.

In this special InnovationAus.com podcast, James Riley speaks to the founder of Innofocus, Frank Yao, about the company’s new nanofabrication hub in Melbourne and his plan to help make Australia the world leader in nanomanufacturing.

In this episode, we explore the strategic initiatives led by Adjunct Professor Peter Rossdeutscher and Quantum TX to empower SMEs to scale up their operations and thrive in the space industry. Professor Rossdeutscher delves into Quantum TX's innovative approaches, collaborations, and the challenges SMEs face in government and defence contracts, ultimately highlighting the transformative impact on the SME landscape. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

This vodcast is the latest in the Identity Inside/Out: Getting identity security right series, produced by InnovationAus.com in partnership with SailPoint. Air New Zealand handles sensitive customer data, including millions of frequent flyer accounts, and its CISO Phil Ross is acutely aware of the need to earn customers' trust back. He joins SailPoint's Simon Ell and InnovationAus.com Publisher, Corrie McLeod, to discuss evolving cybersecurity regulations and their impact on airport security practices.

In this episode, Balakrishna D.R. (Bali), Executive Vice President and Global Head of AI and Automation, Application Development & Maintenance, Infosys, delves into the imperative need for a Responsible AI Office within every company. Balakrishna stresses the crucial role responsible AI plays in navigating data privacy, IP integrity, and bias mitigation while pioneering AI-first strategies. He also unveils Infosys' innovative approach, deploying AI assistants across diverse roles, aiming not to replace humans but to augment their capabilities. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.