Technology Innovation – Looking Beyond Covid-19

With digitalisation, the cycles of technological advances and innovation are now measured in months rather than decades. Join RMIT and Engineers Australia for an expert panel discussion and debate on what the post COVID-19 era will look like in the infrastructure, manufacturing and health care sectors.

In the last 6 months, we have shifted rapidly from traditional working set ups to remote working modes, remote learning, developed digital health and telehealth solutions, and diversified our manufacturing capability through digitalisation.

With digitalisation, the cycles of technological advances and innovation are now measured in months rather than decades. As we look forward to a post COVID-19 era, we envisage that our economic growth will be made possible by technology innovation and digital transformation.

Join us on Wednesday 14th October, as Professor Aleksander Subic, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President at RMIT University leads a panel of industry experts to discuss and debate what the post COVID-19 era will look like in the infrastructure, manufacturing and health care sectors.

Key Themes

  • Impact of the shift from traditional to digital work spaces
  • Current and futuristic view of manufacturing, infrastructure and health sectors
  • Digital and technological solutions driving positive change in the industry and community

Preliminary Program

  • 3.00 pm - 3.05 pm Welcome Address
  • 3.05 pm - 4.00 pm Presentations and Discussion
  • 4.00 pm - 4.30 pm Online audience Q&A

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Speakers

Bruce Haefele, Partner Executive Advisor, Growth Initiatives | Amazon Web Services

Bruce Haefele is a Partner Executive Advisor in the Growth Initiatives team at Amazon Web Services where he focuses on long term growth opportunities and innovation with partners. This involves identifying and developing markets, educating and enabling partners to take advantage of opportunities, and helping to transform business and go-to-market practices. One of the most fulfilling aspects of his role is working with customers to understand their challenges through the lens of Amazon's innovation processes. AWS has seen the best of people in this time as they have collaborated to rise to the challenges we have faced, and Bruce looks forward to sharing some of their stories. Bruce has a strong background in health having joined AWS from Healthdirect Australia where he was the CTO, leading their transformation into cloud and experiencing first-hand the benefits of the new digital world we live in. He has held technical leadership roles around the world, primarily in government, healthcare and financial services. He has extensive experience across a broad range of information technology domains with a track record of successful technology leadership and delivery. He has worked in consultancies, start-ups, not-for-profits and in government looking at how to apply technology to make a difference improving social outcomes.

Sue MacLeman, Chair and Non-Executive Director | MTPConnect (MedTech and Pharma Growth Centre -MTP-IIGC Ltd)

Sue MacLeman has more than 30 years' experience as a pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical technology executive having held senior roles in corporate, medical, commercial and business development. Sue has also served as CEO and Board member of several ASX and NASDAQ listed companies in the pharmaceutical sector. Sue is also appointed to several academic and government advisory committees including CSIRO Health and Biosecurity Advisory Committee, Prime Ministers Digital Expert Advisory Committee, DMTC Medical Countermeasures and various COVID19 taskforces. Sue is currently the Chair of MTPConnect (Medical Technology and Pharmaceuticals Industry Innovation Growth Centre MTPII-GC Ltd) , Chair of Tali Digital Ltd (ASX:TD1), Anatara Lifesciences Ltd (ASX:ANR), Non-Executive Director at Palla Pharma Ltd (ASX:PAL), Oventus Medical Ltd (ASX:OVN) and veski.

Oliver Greenwood, Vice President | Oracle

Oliver is a Vice President within Oracle providing solution consulting on enterprise PPM software solutions into leading companies for over 15 years. He has worked with large multinational companies and partners principally in the E&C, Energy, Public Sector, Manufacturing and A&D across the globe. He is currently Oracle Construction and Engineering Executive Sponsor on several key customers in the UK, Japan, China and Australia. Oliver oversees the development, implementation and communication of the Global Sales Consulting strategy and the Channel and Alliance strategy for the Construction & Engineering Global Business Unit within Oracle.

Prof Aleksandar Subic, Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Vice President | RMIT

Professor Aleksandar Subic is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Vice President at RMIT Australia. Over the past five years, Professor Subic has led a number of Industry 4.0 strategies and initiatives nationally and internationally through his roles on the Prime Ministers Industry 4.0 Taskforce, the Australian Advanced Manufacturing Council Leaders Group, as Chair and Co-Chair on the Australian Industry Group (AiG) Industry 4.0 Committees, and as leader of the National Industry 4.0 Testlabs Network. Professor Subic holds positions of Director on Governing Boards of the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI), the Victorian Centre for New Energy Technologies, the Oceania Cybersecurity Centre and the National Imaging Facility (NIF). He is currently serving on the European Research Council (ERC) Expert Panel and has served in the past on the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) National Committee for Engineering and Environmental Sciences, on the research advisory panels of the Defence Materials Technology Centre (DMTC) and several other Boards. Previously, he was the Deputy Chair and Director of the National Aerospace and Aviation Industries Association.

Sandy Gray, Co-founder and Technical Director | Gekko Systems

Sandy Gray, co-founder and Technical Director of Gekko Systems, is a globally recognized inventor and innovator. He is a recipient of the prestigious Clunies Ross Award , Australia’s pre-eminent award for scientists, technologists and innovators and the UK’s I0M3 Futers Gold Medal. Sandy has also received the AusIMM Mineral Operating Technique Award, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (Technology, Communications, E-commerce & Life Sciences – Southern Region), the Victorian Premier’s Design Award and is an inductee of the International Mining Hall of Fame. Sandy is a world leader in gravity gold and leaching flowsheet design, pre-concentration, polymetallic, materials handling and effective plant design. He invented Gekko’s patented systems including the InLine Pressure Jig, InLine Leach Reactor, G-Rex Resin Exchange and the Python Processing Plant. His inventions are breakthroughs in the field of mineral processing with over 600 installations at mines in 43 different countries over the last twenty years. More recently Sandy designed the “GeVentor” as response to COVID-19. This is a unique ventilator that is simple to operate, robust, portable, and inexpensive.

Jeff Connolly ,Chairman & CEO | Siemens Ltd

Jeff Connolly is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Siemens in the Pacific region. Siemens has been active in Australia since 1872, has a turnover of > A$2.5 Billion, employing over 2500 people. Siemens' local financial commitment, via local equity, and in debt and equity participation in public infrastructure, is approximately A$1 Billion. Jeff has lived and worked for Siemens in Beijing, China for a total of seven years. He is Advisory Councillor of the Ai Group Industry 4.0 Advanced Manufacturing Forum; Previous Chair of the Prime Minister's Industry 4.0 Task Force; President of Ai Group Victoria and Vice President of Ai Group National Executive; Member of Ai Group Defence Council; Member of the federal Minister for Education Future Industry - University Collaboration committee; Member of the Skills for Victoria's Growing Economy Expert Advisory Group (Review into Victoria's Post-Secondary Education and Training System); Member of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Digital Expert Advisory Committee (Digital Technology Taskforce); Director of the European Australian Business Council; Director of CEDA (Committee for Economic Development of Australia); President of the VIC/TAS State Advisory Council; and Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.