InnovationAus Podcast

Grant Dooley, CEO, Breakthrough Victoria

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.

Digital twins: Aussie startups reshaping the US

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 af...

Piers Grove, Founder, Boomerang Lab, EnergyLabs & Former Publisher, Betoota Advocate

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 ...

Johanna Weaver, Director, ANU Tech Policy Design Centre

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...

Dr Miah Hammond-Errey, Founder, Technology & Security Podcast

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 digi...

Peter Middendorf, Professor and Vice-Rector Transfer at University of Stuttgart

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 inno...

Professor Nicholas Opie, Founding Director, Synchron

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.

SentinelOne Series. Ep 2: The proliferating landscape of banking & finance

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 Phi...

Peter O'Connell, CEO, ClimaTech Zero

In this episode of the Commercial Disco podcast, ClimaTech Group chair 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.

Peter O'Connell, CEO, Climatech Zero

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.

Granicus Ep 2 Building an effective feedback loop between government and community: Veterans Affairs case study

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 h...

Dean Capobianco, Chief Executive Officer, Geoscape Australia

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.

Deputy Opposition Leader and Shadow Industry Minister Sussan Ley

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.

Deputy Liberal Leader and Shadow Industry Minister Sussan Ley

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.

The Loop Ep1: How a regional NSW council improved access to services

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 ...

The Loop. Ep1: How a regional NSW council improved access to services

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 ...

Rob Sutton, Managing Director, Mirragin Consulting

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 in...

Identity Matters. Ep6: Leading the digital charge with stronger connection

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 de...

Frank Yao, CEO & Founder, Innofocus Photonics Technology

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.

Peter Rossdeutscher, CEO, Quantum TX

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, Aust...

Identity Inside/Out, Ep6 — Solving Problems at Scale: Automation & Risk

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...

Balakrishna D.R. (Bali), Executive Vice President and Global Head of AI and Automation, Application Development & Maintenance, Infosys

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...

Hon Weng Chong, Founder & CEO, Cortical Labs

In this episode, we delve into the groundbreaking innovations of Cortical Labs, a Melbourne-based tech startup at the forefront of merging biological computing with traditional technology. Founder & CEO, Hon Weng Chong reveals their pioneering work in creating the world's first neural data center, catching the attention of industry giants like Amazon due to its potential to transform cloud computing's operational costs and environmental impact. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly...

David Ireland, Co-founder & Director, The Growth Drivers

In this episode, Dr David Ireland, a seasoned figure in research translation, shares his unique journey merging science and business as he navigates the intersection of innovation, science, and commercial success. Ireland delves deep into Australia's research translation challenges and nuances within the national innovation system, while unravelling the essential elements driving successful research translation and the crucial cultural shifts needed for lasting innovation impact. This episod...

Andrew Dzurak, Founder & CEO, Diraq

The founder and CEO of Australian full-stack quantum startup Dr Andrew Dzurak says the company is on track to build a quantum computer capable solving commercially relevant problems in five years. The Commercial Disco explores the tech - and the commercialisation possibilities. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.  

Nyambura Kamau, Founder of Viwanda

Ms. Nyambura Kamau, Founder of Viwanda Africa, shares her insights on Kenya's space sector growth and its implications for Africa's technological sovereignty on Commercial Disco. She discusses fostering innovation and the continent's strategic advantage for space launches, offering lessons for global space industry players. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.  

SentinelOne Series. Ep1: Setting the scene: the changing face of critical infrastructure in Australia

This vodcast is the first episode in the Securing critical infrastructure: The regulatory vs the practical series, produced by InnovationAus.com in partnership with SentinelOne. When we consider national resilience, it’s every organisation’s responsibility to ensure we have robust security measures in place – and the critical infrastructure legislation was designed as an acknowledgement that some organisations are critical to the ability of Australia to function. At the ANU College of Law, D...

Khoa Le, Founder and CEO at Eyes of AI

In this episode of the Commercial Disco podcast, Eyes of AI founder and CEO Khoa Le talks to James Riley about the impact of Australia's research, the commercialisation challenges for local deep tech startups, and the new wave of globally successful homegrown companies defying the odds. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

Identity Matters. Ep5: Human inclusion in digital identity design

This vodcast is the latest in the Identity Matters: Digital Identity and the Evolution of the Internet series, produced by InnovationAus.com in partnership with Ping Identity. Jason Urranndulla-Davis founded Holdaccess (WUNA) to help focus on digital ID diversity and accessibility in relation to First Nations and under-documented communities. Digital ID legislation is expected in Australian parliament before the end of this year, but is ‘human inclusion’ being properly considered in this pro...

Doug Hilton, Chief Executive Officer, CSIRO

In this episode of the Commercial Disco podcast, Dr Doug Hilton talks to James Riley about his priorities for the CSIRO, the importance earning and retaining social licence, and the role of science in building trust. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

Amanda White, Founding Director, Agricultural Robotics

Roboticist and psycho-physics psychologist Dr Amanda White wears many professional hats. She is the general manager of Freelance Robotics, coordinating the RoboTradies program, and is the director of two automation companies: Industrial Robotics and Agricultural Robotics.  In this episode of The Commercial Disco,  Dr White chats with James Riley about the drivers that inform her journey from a psychological and technological standpoint to foster industry resilience, with particular referenc...

Paul D’Urso, professor, neurosurgeon & founder of Anatomics

In this episode of the Commercial Disco, Anatomics founder and neurosurgeon Paul D’Urso chats with James Riley about launching his medical devices tech company with a $1200 grant in the early 90s, how the innovative solution is changing lives around the world, and the barriers that have prevented it from achieving widespread commercial success. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

Identity Matters. Ep4: The low-hanging digital fruit for governments

This vodcast is the latest in the Identity Matters: Digital Identity and the Evolution of the Internet series, produced by InnovationAus.com in partnership with Ping Identity. Former Minister for Customer Service, Victor Dominello, has always been a strong advocate for the adoption of digital identity in the public sector, for the operational efficiencies and deeper digital transformation it would enable. In this episode, he discusses with editorial director James Riley and Ashley Diffey, VP...

Rachel Slattery, Owner, Slatterys

Meet Rachel Slattery, the brain behind Tech 23 and Agile Australia, who's now shaking things up with Silver Futures. In our latest Commercial Disco podcast sponsored by CSIRO, she chats with James Riley about why tech should be for everyone, not just the young and tech-savvy. Do you have grey hairs or just a love for tech? Tune in to discover how we can all benefit from the tech that makes our golden years shine. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Austra...

Leveraging digital technology for a unified human-centric approach in retail

In this special podcast interview, editorial director James Riley speaks with Infosys VP and Global Practice Head for Microsoft Business Applications & Digital Workplace Services, Lax Gopisetty, about the changing landscape of customer experience in the retail sector in Australia. What areas do Australian retailers need to focus on when utilising AI to enhance the customer experience? Hear expert insights about the role of AI in customer experience, and how human touch can be a competitive e...

James Palmer, CEO & co-founder, Silentium Defence Pty Ltd

In this episode of the Commercial Disco, Silentium Defence’ co-founder and CEO Dr James Palmer discusses some of the specific challenges for deep tech startups in Australia, and what it will take to build dual-use tech companies that start with a defence sector focus. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

Philip Dalidakis, chairman and managing partner at Orizontas

Philip Dalidakis is well-known to the tech and innovation communities, particularly among Australia’s startups. In this episode of the Commercial Disco podcast, the former Victorian state government Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade – and current managing partner at Orizontas – talks to James Riley about what’s working well in our tech ecosystem, with a focus on the NRF. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science age...

Jehan Kanga & Nicolle Lane, Rux Energy

In this episode of the Commercial Disco, Rux Energy founder and chief executive Dr Jehan Kanga ecosystem and communications manager Nicolle Lane discuss the challenges and opportunities for hydrogen in Australia, and the role it could play in helping the country meet its 2050 decarbonisation commitments. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

Catherine Thompson, Co-Founder, Hypereal

In this episode of the Commercial Disco, Catherine Thompson dives deep into the challenges of digital service delivery in government, she discusses procurement policies to drive better outcomes, and unpicks the recommendations of both the MyGov Review and the Robodebt Royal Commission. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

Identity Matters. Ep3: No transformation without Identity

This vodcast is the latest in the Identity Matters: Digital Identity and the Evolution of the Internet series, produced by InnovationAus.com in partnership with Ping Identity. Digital transformation success will come to enterprises that understand who their users are and what they can access. The step before this, however, is acknowledging that cloud-based Identity is the foundation layer for digital transformation – understanding that Identity goes well beyond login pages and passwords. In ...

Arthur Sinodinos, Partner at The Asia Group

In this episode of the Commercial Disco, former Ambassador to the US Arthur Sinodinos talks about the global political and trade forces that are driving a renewed interest in industrial policy from governments around the world. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

Sue Keay, Chair of the Board of Directors, Robotics Group Australia

Fighting fires from space – calling Aussie innovators to solve a global problem

In this special episode of The Commercial Disco, we hear from Anousheh Ansari, CEO of XPRIZE Foundation, Adam Gilmour, CEO of Gilmour Space Technologies and Rania Poullos, Project Manager – Fire Shield for Minderoo Foundation, as they call Aussie innovators to solve a global problem. The UN predicts extreme bushfires are expected to increase up to 14% by 2030 globally, 30% by the end of 2050 and 50% by 2100. XPRIZE Wildfire will spur innovation across a wide range of firefighting technologie...

Christine Tonkin, Labor Member for Churchlands, WA Parliament

Since 2021, Christine Tonkin has been the Member for Churchlands in the Western Australian Parliament in Roger Cook’s Labor government. Ms Tonkin brought a lifetime of experience in public and private sector procurement reform to the Parliament, having worked all over the world in large organisations. In this episode of The Commercial Disco she talks about opportunities for making government procurement more cost effective, and better for local industry.

Abu Odigie, Co-Founder, Tendertrace

Government procurement data is not always straight-forward to access, or to glean insights into purchasing decisions. In this episode of The Commercial Disco, James Riley talks to the founder and CEO of Tendertrace, an AI-based public sector market intelligence engine.

Identity Matters. Ep2: Digital identity in a zero-trust landscape

This video podcast is the latest in the Identity Matters: Digital Identity and the Evolution of the Internet series, produced by InnovationAus.com in partnership with Ping Identity. In this episode, editorial director James Riley speaks with Steve Dillon, Head of APAC Architecture, Ping Identity and Julie Gleeson, Director – Cyber & Identity, Deloitte Australia, about the need for organisations to replace implicit trust with digital ID to achieve zero trust architecture (ZTA). We know the tr...

Identity Inside/Out, Ep5 — Connected Infrastructure

Connected infrastructure – using sensors and intelligent systems – will allow real-time, valuable insights and adjustments to procedures that will benefit both governments and its citizens. Operational costs will be driven down with the efficient use of IoT technology, and the leveraging of data generated will provide benefits for immediate uses as well as future society. In this episode, we look at how organisations can mitigate risk – especially cybersecurity risk – comply with data govern...

Exit Interview: Dr Larry Marshall, chief executive officer, CSIRO

After eight and a half years, CSIRO chief executive Larry Marshall will exit the the national science agency at the end of June. Dr Marshall will leave the organisation in much better shape than when he started. It is in a better financial position, employs more staff, and is more culturally equipped to take on big challenges, and turn ideas into commercial and social impact. He talks to InnovationAus editorial director James Riley about his wild ride.

Michael Schwager, Director General, IP Australia

In this Episode of The Commercial Disco, IP Australia director general Michael Schwager discusses the intellectual property rights protection in an era of fast-moving technological change – and identifies where Australian organisations (particularly SMEs) can extract greater value. This is a must listen!

Identity Inside/Out, Ep4 – The landscape of education in an online world

This episode focuses on how cyber across higher education has impacted the student experience, as a result of the pandemic and the sector’s inclusion in the critical infrastructure legislation. In conversation with technology leader and seasoned higher education CISO Kim Valois, we examine the impact of these shifts on the security of online and remote learning and the threat environment, as well as the importance of identity management automation. With the move to online education, and as t...