EXPERT TALKS
More than Chatbots:
How AI accelerates value realisation and delivers more with less
Expert Talks - Brisbane
Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the way we interact with customers, build software, create efficient processes and unlock data-driven insights. But beyond chatbots and GenAI, AI is also revolutionising the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) to supercharge delivery and drive business value across Australia.
Date: 7th May 2025
Location: eSpace, 510 Adelaide Street, Brisbane City 4000
Delve deep into the transformative power of AI-enabled delivery and gain insights from industry leaders across technology, education and heavy machinery.
AGENDA:
5.30 pm - Registration, welcome drinks and food
6.15 pm - Panel discussion starts
Our expert panel will share real-world insights and explore:
- AI beyond automation – AI’s role in enhancing engineering speed, quality, and adaptability in complex environments
- Strategic AI adoption in the SDLC – How teams are using AI to build smarter and faster with AI-enabled delivery models
- Modern architectural models – The frameworks behind scalable, future-proof AI integration with existing systems
- Data governance and risk – Balance innovation with regulation, privacy, and bias mitigation.
- Customer-centricity and personalisation – Drive better, smarter and more responsive digital experiences with AI.
Meet the panel:
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Daniel Pludek, Kip McGrath Education Centres
Group Chief Information Officer
Daniel is a strategic and growth-focused technology executive with over 24 years of leadership experience, operating at the intersection of business strategy, cybersecurity, and digital innovation.
As Group CIO at Kip McGrath, Daniel leads global IT operations, product development, and digital transformation, facilitating more than two million tutoring sessions annually. With a proven track record in technology, Daniel specialises in driving transformation, operational excellence, and sustainable growth across public and private sector organisations.
Contact Daniel on LinkedIn here.
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Nick Yates, Hastings Deering
Technology and Warranty Impact Manager
Nick leads both the Technical Communicator and Warranty teams at Hastings Deering, the Caterpillar equipment dealer for Queensland. In his role, he ensures clear communication of technical issues between customers, the dealer network, and Caterpillar Inc.
Recently, Nick has been tackling the challenge of quantifying and addressing unclaimed warranty losses—uncovering the hidden value lost through process inefficiencies. With a sharp focus on data and root cause analysis, Nick is exploring how AI can drive smarter decision-making, streamline workflows, and ultimately deliver more with less.
Contact Nick on LinkedIn here.
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Hari Baran, Equal Experts Associate
Delivery Principal
Hari’s promise is outcome-driven delivery, a commitment that accelerates time-to-market, mitigates risks, and ensures economic efficiency through iterative, adaptive approaches enhanced by data-driven AI insights.
With extensive experience as a Delivery Leader, he tailors robust, responsive delivery practices to the unique needs of every organisation. Hari contends that Agile is fundamentally a delivery mindset rather than a rigid methodology, with AI serving as its natural extension to transform strategic objectives into high-impact results.
Today, he brings his ground-level expertise and practical, outcome-focused perspective to our panel on AI.
Contact Hari on LinkedIn here.
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Moderator:
Andy Canning, Equal Experts Australia
Chief Technology Officer and Managing Director
With a technology career that spans the globe, Andy has been at the forefront of innovation for more than 30 years and is on a mission to revolutionise the business landscape through the transformative power of AI.
Drawing on his experience, Andy visualises and evaluates problems through a variety of lenses: strategy, architecture, delivery, implementation, process and business.
Specialising in delivering customer-centric, business-driven solutions using leading-edge technologies and agile methodologies, Andy seeks to harness the potential of artificial intelligence to not only solve complex business challenges but also enhance user experiences and skyrocket productivity.
Contact Andy on LinkedIn here.
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Our Expert Talks events cut through the AI noise and hype, providing practical insights and guidance from industry leaders who are successfully deploying AI today, with a focus on the quality, compliance and scalability of AI investments.
To register for Expert Talks Brisbane please fill out the form at the top of the page.