Alannah Grech

Partner Success Manager – Communities, ACS

Speaking in:

Unveiling the Path to Internship & Graduate Programs in the Tech Industry

Alannah's career encompasses a diverse background in marketing, stakeholder management, and event management, spanning over a decade of experience across the technology, music entertainment, and law industries. As the Partner Success Manager - Communities for the ACS, she demonstrates a passion for supporting the future of tech and facilitating opportunities for students and graduates to connect with industry contacts and resources to advance their careers. Alannah created and leads the first ACS QLD Emerging Professionals Committee which has attracted members from across Queensland and has created a voice for the emerging professional’s cohort. Alannah's efforts in creating a safe space for emerging professionals around Australia to connect and collaborate can help to nurture a new generation of industry leaders and contribute to the growth and development of the technology sector in Australia.

Amber Nguyen

Graduate IT Analyst, Hydro Tasmania

Speaking in:

Unveiling the Path to Internship & Graduate Programs in the Tech Industry

Amber is a Graduate IT Analyst at Hydro Tasmania and a recent Master of Information Technology and Systems graduate from the University of Tasmania, majoring in Artificial Intelligence & Data Intelligence, where she earned a place on the Roll of Excellence. During her master’s degree, she received the Dean's Summer Research Scholarship to work on AI applications in education, conducting research on natural language processing approaches for student evaluation analysis. She also served as an ICT Academic Tutor at UTAS School of ICT, teaching undergraduate units. Her contributions to the field were recently recognised when she received the 2024 ICT Student of the Year award from TasICT.

Amber is passionate about supporting students and recent graduates in their early careers through mentoring and public speaking. She has presented at various career events, including Study Tasmania's International Student Employability Workshop 2024, where she shared practical career advice and job opportunities. Through these events, she helps students improve their job application materials and develop skills to stand out in the recruitment process.

Ashley Berwick

Senior Delivery Lead – South, Beacon Foundation

Speaking in:

• Unlock Your Potential: Discover Diverse Career Pathways in Tech
• How to Pursue a Career in Technology

As the Senior Delivery Lead for Southern Tasmania at Beacon Foundation, Ash leads a team to deliver work-based learning activities and career readiness programs. Working in partnership with the Department of Education, Children and Young People, Ash liaises with Industry and local businesses to create and connect young people with opportunities supporting their career pathways.

The Beacon Foundation is a national not-for-profit organization based in Hobart, with over 35 years of experience connecting schools, businesses, and communities to bring real-world relevance to education. Beacon works to inspire young people, particularly those in Years 9-12, to explore career pathways and gain workplace experience. With a focus on schools with an ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) of less than 1,000, Beacon believes that background or geography should not limit access to education or career opportunities.

Bob Elliot

Teacher, Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

Speaking in:

Teaching Coding with AI: Helpful or Harmful?

Bob graduated from Stanford University with a Ph.D in Biology in 1992. Bob also has degrees in Teaching and Computing. Bob started teaching in 2011 as a high school maths/science teacher. Being part of the Tasmanian committee for Robocup Jr. lead to him being invited to take over Smartbots, the Gifted Online robotics and coding course he teaches with his colleague David Titherly. As part of the Smartbots program he visits about 12 schools weekly.   Bob’s speciality is “… the improvisational teaching of robotics and coding as theatre for parents and teachers…”. Bob encourages his students to say, “I have been thinking…..”.  Bob is a member of the local makerspace ‘Hobart Hackerspace”, informally leading their youth activities.

Chris Smith

Head of Strategy & Innovation, Readytech

Speaking in:

Identifying the Next Tech Talent: Unlocking Tasmania's Hidden Potential

Chris Smith is a leading expert in corporate strategy and innovation, with a focus on shaping the future of work and skills development. As the Head of Strategy & Innovation at ReadyTech, Chris has driven initiatives that blend technology with workforce transformation. He is a recognized voice on topics such as digital transformation, emerging technologies, and workforce development. In addition to his work at ReadyTech, Chris serves in a number of advisory roles, including on the Future Skills Organisation's Innovation Taskforce.

Daniel DeWaard

Seagoing Electronics and Software Engineer, CSIRO

Speaking in:

Closing Panel - Techtopia Unleashed: Building Tasmania's Collaborative STEAM Ecosystem

Daniel is a Seagoing Electronics and Software Engineer at CSIRO, where he is responsible for maintaining and operating deep-sea scientific equipment aboard the RV Investigator. Prior to joining CSIRO, he made significant contributions to several early-stage startups, including developing an ingestible gut gas sensing capsule at Atmo Biosciences and advancing next-generation semiconductor fabrication technology at Syenta. During his university years, Daniel spent a year living in Taiwan. Outside of work, he enjoys exploring the stunning wilderness of Tasmania.

David Mills

Chief Information Officer, MyState

Speaking in:

Closing Panel - Techtopia Unleashed: Building Tasmania's Collaborative STEAM Ecosystem

Bio to come.

David Titherley

Teacher Waimea, Heights Primary School

Speaking in:

Micro:bit’s in Action: Engaging STEM Learning

David Titherley is an accomplished educator with over 20 years of teaching experience across Tasmania, England, and the United Arab Emirates. Specializing in Digital Technologies within the primary education sector, he has a keen interest in fostering students' abilities through Design Thinking and Project Based Learning methodologies. David has extensively utilised Micro:bit’s in his student projects, leading teams to represent Tasmania in National Awards through the Young ICT Explorers program. David is a delivery teacher for Gifted Online within DECYP, where he teaches Game Design using Arcade Makecode. In 2022 David was recognised as Tasmanian STEM Primary Teacher of the Year in the Tasmanian STEM Excellence Awards. David's dedication to education and his innovative approach to teaching have made significant impacts on his students, preparing them for future challenges in the digital world.

Georgi Brown

Managing Director, Red Apple IT

Speaking in:

How to Build a Strong CV and Nail Your Next Interview

Georgi Brown, Managing Director of Red Apple IT, is proudly Tasmanian born and raised. She relocated to Sydney to build a successful career in IT Recruitment for the better part of two decades. Having worked with a range of clients including SingTel Optus, Accenture, MLC, Woolworths, Federal Government and NSW Government, Georgi returned to Tasmania to provide first-class services into the Tassie economy, a place she loves and wants to see thrive. Georgi has a wealth of account management experience in the recruitment industry, with a specific focus on technical recruitment. She has the know-how to manage a large portfolio with proven success. She has previously worked with a range of clients including but not limited to Optus, Woolworths, MLC, Sydney Water, State and Federal Governments, Hydro Tasmania and UTas.

Heather Catchpole

Regional Manager, Education Questacon

Speaking in:

Modelling Emerging Technologies Using Hands-On STEM Practice

Heather Catchpole is the Regional Manager in the educator programs section of the national science centre, Questacon. She heads a national team of Regional Leaders focussed on increasing STEM capacity in educators nationally through shared communities of practise, professional development and industry connections. Previously a business owner of STEM content company Refraction Media, she co-founded the Careers with STEM Hub, a careers website and magazine distributed to over 4 million students across the USA, Australia and New Zealand. The company was awarded Publish Australia’s best small publisher and twice shortlisted best startup in the Telstra Business Awards.

Joanne Jacobs

Co-CEO, Distruptors Co.

Speaking in:

Tasmania's Tech Ecosystem: Opportunities, Community and Challenges

Joanne Jacobs is Co-CEO of Disruptors Co, a firm that facilitates innovation and helps scaleups to achieve growth. She's an Industry Fellow at UTS, and she facilitates programs for CSIRO. Joanne has worked around the world, running software companies and marketing agencies. She is a business coach, trainer and strategist.

Joel Harris

Chief Executive Officer at Interact IT
ACS Tasmanian Branch Chair

Speaking in:

Official Welcome + Acknowledgement of Country

As a seasoned professional passionate about building sustainable business structures, I thrive on delivering strategic outcomes by aligning strategy, people, processes, and technology.

With a solid background in strategic planning and execution, I am dedicated to fostering environments where teams are empowered to excel, processes are optimised for maximum efficiency, and technology serves as a catalyst for transformative change. My experience has shown me the power of integrated approaches to problem-solving and the importance of a cohesive strategy that brings all elements of a business into harmony.

I am particularly interested in collaborating with forward-thinking organisations that prioritise business sustainability. Your eagerness to impact your industries positively is exactly what I am looking for in a partner. By focusing on sustainable business practices, I aim to contribute to the long-term success and resilience of the companies I work with, ensuring they are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of the modern business world.

Julia Lane

Director, Skill Solutions

Speaking in:

• Exploring Different Employment Pathways to Enter the Tech Industry
• Identifying the Next Tech Talent - Unlocking Tasmania's Hidden Potential

With over a decade of experience in education and ICT, Julia is a passionate leader dedicated to empowering aspiring professionals and bridging the gap between graduates and employers. She has successfully led teams nationally, fostering career growth and skills development. Drawing on her global experience from living and working in the UK, Ireland, and Spain, she focuses on strategic partnerships to help address Tasmania’s ICT skills shortage. Committed to workforce readiness and economic growth, Julia is helping to shape a skilled and resilient future for Tasmania’s tech sector.

Justin Thurley

Chief Information Officer, Tasmanian Government

Speaking in:

Navigating the AI Frontier: Ethics in Practice - A Tasmanian Perspective

Bio to come

Kath Fick

Section Manager, Technology, HAYS

Speaking in:

How to Market Yourself Beyond a Resume

Commencing with Hays in 2022, Kath specialises in IT recruitment across the Private Sector in Tasmania.

Kath has over 8 years recruitment experience in various industries in her home country South Africa, and has a genuine interest and passion for career development.

Being in the IT field, Kath has a passion for the industry and is invested in keeping abreast of what the market is doing both locally and nationally.

Lhamo Ma

Operations Manager - Professional Year, ACS

Speaking in:

Exploring Different Employment Pathways to Enter the Tech Industry

15+ years of experience in education management, international education, Online Program Management, and EdTech, I currently serve as the Operations Manager for the ACS Professional Year program. I am passionate about graduate outcomes, especially for international students, I aim to break down barriers to career success.

Lisa Syrek

WFD Consultant Manager, ACS

Speaking in:

Transforming Government IT: The SFIA Framework Journey

Lisa Syrek is a seasoned leader in training and development, with experience spanning various industries, including ICT businesses, corporate, and government organisations. At ACS, she supports members and partner organisations in implementing SFIA through skills profiling and tailored professional and career development opportunities. Lisa specializes in designing learning and development programs that align with both organizational business plans and individual professional growth, ensuring quality and value. Based in the ACT and Capital Region, she manages ACS Capability on a national scale and is a SFIA Accredited Consultant, demonstrating her deep expertise in workforce development.

Lynn Warneke

Chair and Non-Executive Director
ACS Technical Advisory Board - AI Ethics Committee

Speaking in:

Navigating the AI Frontier: Ethics in Practice - A Tasmanian Perspective

Lynn Warneke is a Board Chair and Non-Executive Director of public-sector, ASX-listed and not-for-profit companies. Prior to her non-executive career, Lynn was most recently the interim COO for a FinTech start-up, COO/CIO for the Department of Premier & Cabinet Victoria where she was awarded #7 in the CIO50 list of Australia’s most innovative CIOs, and Deputy Chief Digital Officer at Deakin University. She has extensive expertise in leadership and governance of AI and emerging technologies, digital and data strategy, innovation, workplace and customer transformations, and cyber security. Her industry experience spans consulting, government, utilities, social services, education and retail/wholesale, as well as the technology and start-up sectors. An ACS member for 10 years, Lynn has held various elected official roles and currently serves on the ACS National AI Ethics Committee. She is a Fellow of the ACS and the Governance Institute of Australia, a GAICD, and has a Master of Laws with a specialisation in New Technologies Law from the Australian National University.

Lynn spent most summers as a child with her Tasmanian grandparents in Claremont, and remains a regular visitor to Hobart and the north west region where she has close family.

Dr Mark Pedersen

Chief Technology Officer at KJR
ACS Technical Advisory Board - AI Ethics Committee

Speaking in:

Navigating the AI Frontier: Ethics in Practice - A Tasmanian Perspective

Dr Mark Pedersen is the CTO at KJR, one of Australia’s leading Software Quality Engineering Consultancies and a leading practitioner in Responsible AI implementation. With a PhD in AI focusing on natural language processing and a background in safety critical systems, Mark has been working at the confluence of AI and software quality, reliability and safety for the majority of his career. He has extensive consulting experience across a range of industry sectors, including government, health, finance, telecommunications, transport, and utilities. Mark has a deep commitment to continuous improvement across the technology sector, having developed and delivering a wide range of professional training courses for the software quality industry, as well as chairing leading industry conferences and forums.

As the CTO at KJR, Mark works closely with both technical and business stakeholders to identify and enable the adoption of new technologies while a minimising risk and maximising benefit. And, as a world-class software risk analyst and advisor, he thrives on the satisfaction of bettering lives with technology that actually works.

Dr Meredith Castles

Associate lecturer, Academic Lead – Marketing, Outreach and Recruitment, UTAS
ACS Tasmanian Branch Executive Committee

Speaking in:

How to Pursue a Career in Technology

Meredith is an Interaction Design Science lecturer and researcher at the University of Tasmania, Science Communicator, Live Streamer and Content Creator. She has worked extensively as an actor and writer in the TV, film, stage, and radio industries for over 20 years, delivering keynotes, speaking on panels and MCing events regularly across the world. She co-hosts and helps produce the Eureka Prize winning STEMM podcast That's What I Call Science, appears in the ABC Radio show Science Club and she solo hosts a live-streamed science communication show on Twitch TV and YouTube weekly to teach people about science fundamentals through conversation and video gaming. Content creation is Meredith's calling, she creates dynamic online content that appeals to all ages and vocations, pioneering the term 'Conversational SciComm' in these online spaces as people learn without being 'lectured to'. Having performed SciComm shows to audiences from PAX Conventions to the ABC and having been named a 2025 Science & Technology Australia Superstar of STEM, Meredith is bringing her message that "Technology is the way of the future and it's our duty to be good designers" to a world that needs positive role models and compassionate leaders.

Matthew Cotton

Business Director – Cyber Security Practice Lead, HAYS

Speaking in:

Identifying the Next Tech Talent - Unlocking Tasmania's Hidden Potential

Experienced recruitment professional with almost 20 years expertise across multiple sectors, industries and countries! Significant experience across Technology Sector.

I genuinely love the agency recruitment world. I have been lucky to work with, and for some amazing people and have always believed People & Culture are at the heart of every great business. I have a huge passion for supporting Neurodivergent talent and driving awareness around the benefits of hiring, supporting and retaining Neurodivergent minds!

Born and bred in Reading, I still have a huge passion for Reading FC!! I am a bit of a mug for a challenge, both professionally and physically with a pretty driven mindset. I enjoy triathlons and have completed several half and full Ironman races. I have developed a strong and deep interest in technology with a keen interest in Cyber Security.

Michele Piknuc

Teacher, St Aloysius Catholic College

Speaking in:

Mission to Innovate: A Design Thinking Journey

Michele Pikunic is an experienced and passionate Classroom Teacher, Digital Technologies Specialist, and STEM Teacher, with extensive experience in primary education. Michele has recently relocated to Tasmania and brings her expertise and commitment to fostering innovation in the classroom. With a deep love for coding, robotics, and STEM, Michele is dedicated to inspiring students and helping them develop a passion for these transformative subjects.

Paris Buttfield-Addison

Chief Product Officer, Secret Lab Pty. Ltd.

Speaking in:

Unlock Your Potential: Discover Diverse Career Pathways in Tech

Paris Buttfield-Addison is a creative technologist, author, and entrepreneur with a PhD in Computing from the University of Tasmania. As co-founder of Secret Lab, he has led teams in creating award-winning games and interactive experiences, including contributions to the BAFTA- and IGF-winning Night in the Woods.

Paris has authored more than 20 internationally bestselling books on subjects ranging from game development to artificial intelligence. Paris sits on the board of the Australasian Apple University Consortium and the Tasmanian Game Makers Assocation, and spent twelve years on the board of the Australian Computer Society.

A sought-after speaker, Paris frequently shares his knowledge at global conferences. In 2024, he co-founded Yarn Spinner, a company built around a widely-adopted narrative scripting tool, and together with his wife, Mars, the West Coast Space Centre, a non-profit dedicated to advancing STEAM education in Tasmania.

Sal Unwin

Chief Commercial Officer, Triskele Labs

Speaking in:

Unlock Your Potential: Discover Diverse Career Pathways in Tech

Sal manages all commercial relationships including customers and vendors to make sure there is a win for everyone on their cyber journey. She has experience with organisations of all sizes including global customers and suppliers through to local organisations. Sal is known for delivering successful and business outcomes with realistic budgets and business benefits.

Sal has spent her time at Triskele Labs forging lasting relationships with customers, and ensuring quality service is delivered. She has been a driving force in growing the organisation from a small start-up, to what is now a team of over100 team members.

Sal has even been asked to share her success and experience with new talent looking to break into the industry by being a CyRise Cyber Security Accelerator Founder Mentor.

Outside of Cyber, Sal is a busy Mum and Nanny, an avid pet lover, and President and Committee member of the Dingley Tennis Club.

Siobhan O'Sullivan

Chief Operating Officer, ACS

Speaking in:

Digital Pulse, ACS Strategy

With over 25 years of experience spanning fintech, mortgages, logistics, and retail, Siobhan O’Sullivan is a dynamic force in Australia's innovation landscape. Currently serving as the Chief Growth Officer at ACS, she drives strategic initiatives to propel the nation's tech sector forward.

Siobhan's influence extends beyond her role at ACS. She serves as a Director/Advisory Board member for Wych (Banking as a Service) and Silicon Beach Australia, the esteemed innovation community. As an Innovation Mentor and Lecturer at the Australian Film, Television, and Radio School (AFTRS), Siobhan shares her expertise with aspiring creators and entrepreneurs. She also contributes her insights as an Education Board Advisor to SP Jain Global School of Management and a Board Advisor to BrainSTEM, shaping the future of STEM leadership.

Her commitment to fostering global connections is evident in her role as an Advisory Board Member and Mentor with Enterprise Ireland, guiding Irish businesses in scaling operations across Australia.

Stuart Mitchell

Chief Executive Officer , Intuit Technologies

Speaking in:

Closing Panel - Techtopia Unleashed: Building Tasmania's Collaborative STEAM Ecosystem

Passionate about the role technology will play in our future.

Intuit Technologies Chief Executive Officer (CEO), a past President of TASICT (Tasmania’s peak industry body for ICT), and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), Stuart is passionate about technology.

Throughout his career Stuart has developed an extensive network within the national ICT industry, regularly attending industry events globally to ensure that he is abreast of industry trends, market dynamics, and the ever evolving challenge of creating and maintaining high-performance teams within the technology sector.

Dr Tristan Richards

Digital Workforce Capability Development Manager, Department of Premier and Cabinet

Speaking in:

Exploring Different Employment Pathways to Enter the Tech Industry

Dr Tristan Richards is a passionate professional in the domains of science, innovation, technology with a focus digital workforce capability development and diversity and inclusion. Her leadership capability, networks, passion and sense of purpose is demonstrated in her current role in digital workforce capability development and career journey with the Tasmanian Department of Premier and Cabinet, Digital Strategy and Services (DSS).

At DSS, Tristan is developing and implementing a whole of government digital workforce capability development strategy and action plan aimed at empowering the Tasmanian State Service digital workforce to make evidence-based decisions on digital workforce planning, capability development and career pathways and talent pipelines.

This passion is also reflected in Tristan’s professional volunteering work as a board member on the Australian Computer Society (ACS) Professional Standards Committee, Tasmanian Strategic Advisor (formerly Chapter Lead) for Australian Women in Security Network (AWSN) and leader of the Tassie Women in Innovation and Tech network focused on providing a safe and supportive space that champions innovation and development. Tristan is also an active participant on professional communities such as the Executive Council for Cyber Security Workforce Development Summit, Australian Public Sector (APS) Digital Profession’s Skills for the Information Age (SFIA) Practitioners Forum and the international SFIA Foundation Users Forum.