AI and Cyber Futures Institute 2024 Annual Conference Agenda
November 21-22, 2024 – Rydges World Square Sydney
Charles Sturt University - TEQSA Provider Identification: PRV12018 (Australian University). CRICOS Provider: 00005F.
Acknowledgement of Country
Today, as we gather for this conference, we acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land where this event is taking place the Wallumedegal People and the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and recogni se their unique and continuous connection to this land, waters, and community.
The AI and Cyber Futures Institute acknowledges the Birpai, Wiradjuri, Ngunawal, and Gundungarra peoples as the traditional custodians of the lands where we live and work. We honour their enduring cultural connection to these lands, waters, and skies, and we pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.
In the spirit of Yindyamarra Nguluway the Wiradjuri teaching of "respectfully knowing how to live well in a world worth living in" we are committed to embedding First Nations knowledge and wisdom into our work, recognising the invaluable contributions of these cultures to sustainability and innovation.
We extend our respect to representatives of all First Nations peoples present here today and commit to listening, learning, and working together for a better country-centric future
Welcome
Welcome to the 2024 AI and Cyber Futures Institute (AICF) Annual Conference!
As we gather for this year’s conference, I am excited to reflect on our Institute’s achievements and aspirations. Our interdisciplinary focus continues to push the boundaries of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, while prioritising their application to address regional and global challenges. This event embodies our dedication to innovation, inclusivity, and collaboration.
Over the next two days, we aim to bridge diverse perspectives, linking academic insights with real-world impact. With panels, presentations, and discussions highlighting groundbreaking research, this conference showcases the pivotal role of universities and research institutes in shaping the technological landscape. Special attention will be given to how we foster partnerships across industries, government, and communities to drive meaningful solutions.
As a participant, your engagement and expertise are vital. Let us use this opportunity to exchange ideas, form lasting partnerships, and envision a future where technology serves humanity responsibly and inclusively. I encourage you to contribute actively and challenge conventional thinking, knowing that our collective efforts will help create a world worth living in.
Thank you for being part of this vibrant community. I look forward to the insights and innovations we will explore together.
Warm regards,
Professor Ganna Pogrebna Executive Director AI and Cyber Futures Institute
Event Information
Date and Time
The AICF Annual Conference is a two-day event taking place across:
Thursday 21 November 2024
8:00am – 10:00pm
Friday 22 November 2024
9:00am – 1:30pm
Venue
The event and accommodation for the AICF Annual Conference is: Rydges World Square
389 Pitt Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2000
The conference will take place in Room: Hordern 1
Presentations Dinner
Presentations will be pre-loaded at the conference centre, please ensure any presentations for the AICF Annual Conference have been shared to aicf@csu.edu.au and mhof@csu.edu.au by end of business on the day communicated to you by the organising team
Dress Code
Dress code for both days of the AICF Annual Conference will be business casual.
The dinner on November 21 will take place at Amber Restaurant located at Rydges World Square
389 Pitt Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2000
Restaurant details can be found here: https://www.amberrestaurant.com.au/ A booking has been made for 6:30pm
Guest Speakers
Industry Panel
Navigating the New Industry Landscape: The Power of Collaboration
Panel MC: Dr Juliette Tobias-Webb, AI and Cyber Futures Institute
Daniella Traino
Group Chief Information Security Officer, Wesfarmers | Managing Director, Pinecone Technology Strategies | Board Member, AICF Advisory Board
Daniella Traino is a cybersecurity and deep-tech commercialization expert. As GCISO at Wesfarmers and Managing Director of Pinecone Technology Strategies, she drives strategic initiatives and supports startups in emerging tech sectors. A member of the AI and Cyber Futures Institute Advisory Board, Daniella focuses on research bridging AI, cybersecurity, and sustainability. Her leadership spans roles at Data61/CSIRO, Transport for NSW, and Westpac, driving impactful digital projects. She fosters entrepreneurship as Spark Festival’s Cyber Security Lead and a Fintech Australia judge. Passionate about real-world innovation, Daniella’s work emphasizes resilience and collaboration, shaping industry and academia's future.
Marina Yastreboff
President, AUSCL | Legal and Compliance Expert | 2023 Asia Pacific Community Leadership Award Recipient
Marina Yastreboff is a recognized leader in legal and compliance, specializing in digital transformation, intellectual property, and technology transfer. Admitted as a solicitor in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, she has worked with startups, Fortune 500 companies, and global corporations like Philips and BlueScope Steel. As President of the Australasian Society for Computers and Law (AUSCL), Marina champions innovation and collaboration. She also serves on advisory boards, including the Allens Hub for Technology, Law and Innovation. An award-winning professional, Marina blends strategic expertise with a passion for driving purpose-driven, multidisciplinary solutions in the tech and legal sectors.
Rachel Scanlon
Managing Director, APAC, D2 Legal Technology
Rachel Scanlon is a seasoned legal technology adviser and financial services lawyer specializing in data, AI, contracts, derivatives, funds, and regulation. As Managing Director and Head of Asia Pacific for D2 Legal Technology, she helps organizations build AI capabilities for legal functions, enhance contract management, and navigate regulatory changes. Rachel’s prior roles include Senior Counsel and Head of Documentation at Goldman Sachs in London, and positions at Westpac, Challenger Life, Allianz Retire+, and General Counsel at Magellan Financial Group. Founder of the NSW First Hundred Years initiative, Rachel serves on the Sydney Symphony Orchestra Council, Generation Women’s Advisory Board, and is a former Board Director of International Women’s Forum Australia.
Shyeon Delnawaz
Co-Founder and COO of Pura Link - Robotics Platform for Pipe Infrastructure
Shyeon is the co-founder of Pura Link robotics, the robotics platform for pipe inspection, maintenance, and repair. His key focus is developing strategic partnerships and identifying high-impact applications for autonomous robotics in pipes. Prior to Pura Link, Shyeon has been fortunate enough to serve clients across financial services, retail, and government sectors through his work in strategy consulting and product development.
Academic Panel
Emerging Research Trends in a Changing Academic Landscape Panel MC: Professor Ganna Pogrebna, AI and Cyber Futures Institute
Professor Susan M. Park
Professor of Global Governance, University of Sydney
Professor Park’s research focuses on international organisations and global governance, emphasizing how these institutions can become more environmentally responsible and transparent. Her work is particularly centred on the transition to renewable energy and the efficacy of accountability mechanisms within Multilateral Development Banks. She has held visiting scholar roles at prestigious institutions such as the London School of Economics and Oxford University and has received funding from multiple international governments. Professor Park has also played a leadership role in significant academic associations and conferences, notably in the area of global environmental politics.
Dr. Sarvnaz Karimi
Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO’s Data61
Dr. Karimi specializes in Information Retrieval, Natural Language Processing, and Machine Learning, with applications across fields such as health informatics and climate adaptation. She has led and contributed to numerous influential projects at CSIRO, including work on medical decision support systems and epidemic intelligence using social media. Dr. Karimi has actively contributed to the NLP research community, holding leadership roles in various associations, such as the Association for Computational Linguistics. Her career highlights include serving on committees of major international conferences and contributing to advancements in applied machine learning and information extraction.
First Nations Panel
Mob in Tech
Panel MC: Sasha Sarago, AI and Cyber Futures Institute
Rory Chapman
Chief Technology Officer, Indigital | Founder, Embrace Tech | Chair, AICF Advisory Board
Rory is a proud Wiradjuri/Ngemba man from the Beetson, Falk, and Magick families. Rory is the founder of Embrace Tech, a technology services company dedicated to providing affordable IT support to Indigenous businesses. He finds immense satisfaction in helping these businesses thrive, enabling them to excel in their work through the implementation of effective technology systems and processes. Rory holds a Bachelor of IT, Master of Business Administration, Master of Cyber Security, and has completed the AICD Foundations of Directorship course. He continually enhances his skills to maximise the value he brings to the communities he serves. With over 25 years of experience in IT and a successful track record of founding and scaling a tech startup to acquisition, Rory's journey with Embrace Tech promises to significantly benefit the broader Indigenous business ecosystem.
Celeste Carnegie
Celeste Carnegie Consultancy
Celeste Carnegie is a Birrigubba Juru and South Sea Islander woman whose career as a tech communicator has seen her become a passionate advocate for driving digital inclusion within First Nations communities. With 10+ years of engaging communities, fostering relationships and developing impactful programs. Celeste directs her expertise to provide STEM education and digital upskilling for First Nations people, empowering communities for the digital age. She envisions a future where First Nations people confidently navigate the tech landscape and actively contribute, reshaping the industry's narrative. Celeste is an innovator who inspires change and challenges norms to pursue a more inclusive and diverse tech future.
Chris Andrew
Enterprise Advisor of Tranby Aboriginal Co-operative Limited
Chris Andrew is an Enterprise Advisor with Tranby Aboriginal Co-operative Ltd. An early career in the global investment banking and oil sectors underpin his focus on supporting people and businesses dedicated to accelerating community development outcomes. Chris holds degrees in Chemical Engineering and Teaching. As an invited non-Indigenous advisor, Chris is committed to nation (re-) building in Australia.
AICF Participants
Immaculate Motsi-Omoijiade Senior Research Fellow, Responsible AI Lead imotsi@csu.edu.au
Fendy Santoso Senior Research Fellow, CyberPhysical Systems Lead fsantoso@csu.edu.au
Juliette Tobias-Webb Translational Science and Behavioural Design Architect jtobias-webb@csu.edu.au
Mohammad Ali Moni Program Lead, Program for AI and Digital Health Technology mmoni@csu.edu.au
Selasi Kwashie Senior Lecturer and Teaching Lead in Executive Education skwashie@csu.edu.au
Nathan Damaj Research Data Architect ndamaj@csu.edu.au
Jake McNaughton Research Data Engineer jmcnaughton@csu.edu.au
Ibrar Yaqoob Senior Research Fellow, Smart and Resilient Supply Chains Lead iyaqoob@csu.edu.au
Sasha Sarago First Nations Cultural Innovation Lead - Beauty and Technology ssarago@csu.edu.au
Ivan Maksymov Principal Research Fellow, Physics and Machine Learning Lead imaksymov@csu.edu.au
Jian Liu Research Fellow, Regional AgriTech and Environmental Data Science Innovation Lead jialiu@csu.edu.au
Abbas Hussein Research Fellow, Physics and Machine Learning aborae@csu.edu.au
Samuel Kennedy Regional Robotics Laboratory Manager sakennedy@csu.edu.au
Hussain Mohammed Dipu Kabir Research Fellow in Digital Health hkabir@csu.edu.au
PhD Students:
• Sair Buckle
Yichang Gao
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Behavioural Science and Emerging Tech Interface ygao@csu.edu.au
Arash Mahboubi Research Acceleration Fellow 2023-2024 amahboubi@csu.edu.au
Morgan Luck Research Acceleration Fellow 2023-2024 moluck@csu.edu.au
Elizabeth Kennedy Administrative Officer +61 2 6338 4112 elkennedy@csu.edu.au
Rachel McDermott Director of Business Development mcdermott@csu.edu.au
• Hend Abdelghani
• Anna Bohdanets
• Tariq Hasan
• Abdullah Al Mahmud
• Muhammad Mohsan Sheeraz
• Eduardo Fraga da Silva
Abdullah Yousafzai Research Fellow, Smart and Resilient Supply Chains ayousafzai@csu.edu.au
Michael Bewong Research Acceleration Fellow 2023-2024 mbewong@csu.edu.au
Guido Governatori Adjunct Research Fellow, Responsible AI
Sermin Yavuzer Director of Executive Education syavuzer@csu.edu.au
Matthew Hof Communication and Engagement Manager mhof@csu.edu.au
• Aura Rahman
• Milan Makismovic
• Md Monjur Rahman
• Sharika Nuzhat
• Nur E Jannat Amee
Day 1 Schedule: November 21, 2024
8:00 - 8:10
Acknowldgement of Country and Welcome
8:15 - 9:00
9:00 - 9:30
Industry Panel: Collaborating for Impact: Tackling Tomorrow's Industry Challenges
Executive Director Update: AICF: Past, Present and Future
9:30 - 10:15
10:15 - 11:00
11:00 - 11:15
11:15 - 12:15
12:15 - 13:00
13:00 - 14:00
Academic Panel: Emerging Research Trends in a Changing Academic Landscape
Presentations by Research Team Leads: Part 1
Presentations by Research Team Leads: Part 2
Presentations by Business Team Leads
Presentations by Acceleration Fellows 14:00 - 15:30
15:30 - 17:00 Free Time 17:00 - 18:30 Dinner + Team Building 18:30
First Nations Panel: Mob in Tech
Day 2 Schedule: November 22, 2024
9:00 - 10:00 Break
Strategic Projects and KPIs for 2025
10:00 - 10:30 Student Presentations
10:30 - 12:30 Lunch and Event Close
12:30 - 1:30
Panels
I - Collaborating for Impact: Addressing Industry Challenges of Tomorrow
with Daniella Traino, Marina Yastreboff, Rachel Scanlon, Shyeon Delnawaz
This panel will bring together leading industry experts to explore the most pressing trends and transformative topics in their fields, providing attendees with a forward-looking perspective on the direction of industry and technology. As advancements in technology accelerate, industry leaders are increasingly focused on bridging existing gaps in AI and cybersecurity to address emerging challenges and deliver impactful solutions. Panellists will examine the distinctive roles that universities and research institutes play in this landscape, discussing strategies to ensure these institutions remain competitive while staying true to their mission of advancing research and education. The session will offer valuable insights into navigating industry demands, anticipating technological challenges, and adopting innovative approaches to thrive in a rapidly evolving ecosystem.
II - Emerging Research Trends in a Changing Academic Landscape
with Professor Susan M. Park and Dr. Sarvnaz Karimi
Amid rapid technological advancements and shifting global priorities, researchers encounter both opportunities and challenges. This panel brings together thought leaders from diverse fields to explore emerging research trends, the role of interdisciplinary collaborations, and strategies for navigating a dynamic research landscape. The discussion will highlight the innovations shaping research today while addressing effective approaches to securing and utilizing funding to support transformative projects. Attendees will gain practical insights on staying at the forefront of their fields, fostering impactful collaborations, and aligning research strategies with broader societal and academic goals.
III - Mob in Tech
Part 1: Data Sovereignty with Chris Andrew
What is data sovereignty? In this session we take a deep dive into the curation of data systems that share, protect and store First Nations data and the principles behind owning and utilising community data through a global Indigenous project between Tranby Aboriginal College and the University of Washington.
Part 2: Provocation Yarn with Rory Chapman
Let’s address the yorry (kangaroo) in the room. The issue of cultural appropriation and mainstreams profitover-purpose mentality is nothing new to First Nations professionals and communities working across various industries. In this session, Rory and Sasha will discuss the challenges that arise when culture, tech, and corporate intersect. Are we asking the right questions and how can we get it right for mob?
Part 3: Industry Insights with Celeste Carnegie
Word on the street is, First Nations Tech is the new Blak (no pun intended). To get the scoop on all things First Nations and Tech Celeste Carnegie is here to fill us in.
Presentations by Research Team Leads
AICF Research Institute: Major Programs and Pioneering Research Projects for 2025
This session features presentations from the research and program leads of the AI and Cyber Futures Institute, highlighting the achievements and advancements of their teams. Each lead will provide an overview of their program’s objectives, key milestones, and current projects that demonstrate AICF’s interdisciplinary strengths. The presentations will also focus on future strategies and goals for 2025, showcasing the institute’s commitment to innovation, impactful research, and addressing pressing industry and societal challenges. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the diverse expertise within AICF and the forwardlooking vision driving its research initiatives.
Presentations by Business Team Leads
Strategic Pathways: 2025 Goals for Business Development, Education, and Research Data Engineering
This session brings together the leads from Business Development, Executive Education, and Research Data Engineering to outline their strategic priorities and goals for 2025. Each presenter will share their team’s current focus, key achievements, and planned initiatives, emphasizing their role in advancing research and teaching at AICF. The session will explore strategies for fostering meaningful industry partnerships, expanding educational programs, and strengthening data infrastructure to support cutting-edge research. By connecting these areas of focus, attendees will gain a clear understanding of how these efforts collectively drive institutional growth, enhance collaboration, and amplify AICF’s impact in both academia and industry.
Presentations by Acceleration Fellows
2024 Acceleration Fellows: Research Insights and
Future Innovations
The 2024 AICF Acceleration Fellows will present their experiences and achievements from the fellowship program, which supports academics from diverse disciplines in advancing research aligned with AICF’s core focus areas: defence, cybersecurity, biosecurity, resilient supply chains, sustainable behaviours, and responsible AI. During this session, the Fellows will highlight their research priorities, the impact of the fellowship on their work, and the tangible outcomes achieved, such as publications, funding success, and collaborative initiatives. They will also reflect on the challenges encountered, share suggestions for enhancing the program, and outline their future research plans and contributions to the evolving AI and cyber landscape. This discussion provides a unique opportunity to understand the program’s role in fostering innovation and driving impactful research.
Student Presentations
AICF PhD Student Showcase: Cross-Disciplinary Research in AI and Cyber Research
The AICF 2024 Conference will showcase the diverse research efforts of 12 PhD students, each delivering a 3-minute presentation modelled after the Three Minute Thesis competition. These brief, dynamic presentations will highlight the students’ unique projects, with topics spanning a variety of fields from law and physics to computer science and behavioural science. Judged by a panel, each presentation will be assessed for its originality, clarity, and relevance to AICF’s mission. This session illustrates AICF’s commitment to fostering cross-disciplinary talent in AI and cyber research, with students applying insights from varied backgrounds to tackle complex challenges and drive innovation in these rapidly evolving fields.
Location
Rydges World Square
Location: 389 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Website: https://www.rydges.com/accommodation/sydney-nsw/world-square-sydney-cbd/gallery/ Phone: +61 2 8268 1888
The conference will be held in Hordern 1, Rydges World Square
Emergency Contacts:
Elizabeth Kennedy aicf@csu.edu.au
Matthew Hof mhof@csu.edu.au