
Sydney CIO Community
Inner Circle
21 August 2025 | Grana Privato, Level 3, Hinchcliff House
21 August 2025
Grana Privato, Level 3, Hinchcliff House
Collaborate with your peers
Join Sydney's top CIOs for an intimate networking dinner and facilitated discussion on key business challenges. Enjoy a relaxed evening of dinner and drinks with your peers to share best practices, make new connections and build professional relationships.
Join your peers to discuss the most critical issues impacting CIOs today:
Creating user-friendly platforms that inspire the co-leadership of digital initiatives
Overcoming common interdepartmental challenges to derive maximum value from technology and security
Sydney CIO Governing Body
The Governing Body Co-Chairs shape the discussion topics and agenda, ensuring that all content is driven By CIOs, For CIOs®.
Governing Body Co-Chairs

Lea Cornelius
Compass Group PLC
CIO, Australia

Paul Murphy
GHD
CIO
Agenda
21 August 2025
16:30 - 17:30 Executive Networking Reception
17:30 - 18:30 Discussion Topics
Strategic Leadership — Maximising Digital Investments Amid Unprecedented Advancements
Hosted by Thales Cyber Solutions

Jacqui Kernot
Vice President Cybersecurity Services APAC
Thales Cyber Services APAC

Susie Costa
SVP & Head of Security Management
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation

Maryam Shoraka
Head of OT Cyber Security Operations
Sydney Trains

Michelle Martin
Chief Information Officer
Transurban

Mathews George
CIO
Cancer Council

Danny Walsh
Director, Business & Technology Services
George Weston Foods

Colin Renouf
CISO
Healius
Rapid innovation and widespread AI implementation in the past 18 months is presenting unmapped opportunities and hitherto unseen challenges for organisations across industry and geography. Determining digital priorities to drive the business forward is complex, and the pressure on technology leaders to maximise their digital investments is higher than ever.
Gartner's 2025 survey of CIOs and executive leaders outside of IT reveals that so-called "digital vanguards" drive growth by co-owning digital initiatives to deliver better outcomes across the organisation. This approach maximises the value of digital investments, gives direction to digital priorities and enhances organisational effectiveness. Security leaders play a pivotal role in balancing and communicating risk associated with the digital initiatives to enable the business.
Join this conversation to discuss strategic approaches for leveraging partnerships to ensure the best ROI on technology and security investments.
- Do you consider yourself a “digital vanguard?” How can CIOs and CISOs create inclusive, user-friendly platforms that encourage IT and non-IT collaboration for secure solutions?
- What challenges do you face in getting the rest of the organisation to understand the technology roadmap, especially when it comes to setting realistic expectations around AI use cases?
- How do you envision capturing the maximum value from your AI strategy? What role will other stakeholders play in making sure you are successful?
- How are you approaching developing business and IT skills, ensuring accurate tech skills forecasting?
18:30 - 19:00 Networking Break
19:00 - 20:15 Summary Discussion & Dinner
20:15 - 21:15 Social Hour
Apply to Participate
Apply to participate in the Sydney CIO Community Inner Circle.
Gartner facilitates exclusive, C-level communities by personally qualifying and understanding the priorities, challenges and interests of each member.
Our selective approach maintains the high quality of the network and ensures top-level discussions with peers from the world’s leading organizations.
Each application will be reviewed, and once your participation is confirmed, you will have access to year-round community programs.
Location
Community Program Manager
For inquiries related to this community, please reach out to your dedicated contact.