Queensland's tech leaders gather at ACS Summit in Brisbane

The ACS Tech Summit held in Brisbane this week puts a spotlight on how Queensland can capitalise on Australia's fastest-growing tech workforce.

The 2024 Summit garners attention with its impressive roster of state technology leaders, including Vu Tran, Co-Founder of Go1, and The Hon Bart Mellish MP, Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Minister for Digital. The event aims to delve into some of Queensland's most promising growth sectors.

The summit builds on the findings of the latest ACS Digital Pulse report, which highlighted Queensland's tech workforce as growing three times faster than the national average. Projections estimate that by 2030, over 200,000 Queenslanders will be employed in tech roles.

Mat Eames, ACS Queensland Branch Chair, expressed enthusiasm over the state's burgeoning tech sector. "Queensland had Australia’s fastest-growing tech sector last year, so it's fantastic to be returning this year with an exciting line-up of the state’s digital leaders to map out how everyone across the state can benefit from emerging technologies," Eames said. He further emphasised the economic significance of the sector, which contributed over AUD $14 billion to the state's economy last year, with nearly half of the workforce situated in regional Queensland.

The importance of the Summit to the state’s future was echoed by Eames, who praised Cryptoloc's support as a platinum sponsor. Cryptoloc is known for its commitment to building regional IT capacity. The event's programme features a dedicated IT Leaders stream, including discussions on managing tech investments, and a Tech Mastery stream covering sessions on generative AI and business agility.

Cryptoloc’s Executive Chairman and Founder, Jamie Wilson, expressed his pleasure in backing the ACS Tech Summit. "It’s a great pleasure to support the ACS Tech Summit, which highlights the opportunities for all Queenslanders in this exciting sector," Wilson remarked. He is particularly keen on discussions related to the regional benefits of emerging technologies and the importance of cybersecurity for state businesses.

The Summit's speakers list features a diverse array of experts from various fields. In addition to Bart Mellish and Vu Tran, the event will host Sarah-Jane Peterschlingmann, Managing Director of ATech and ACS QLD Vice Chair, Dominique Lamb, Queensland Small Business Commissioner, and Yas Grigaliunas, Founder and Chief Evangelist of Circonomy. Other noteworthy speakers include Graham Ross, Co-Founder of BlockTexx, Angela Jones, Chief Digital and Information Officer of WorkCover, and Daniel Ramos, General Manager of Solutions Delivery and Operations at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

Additionally, Prof Ryan Ko, Founding Chair and Director of Cyber Security at the University of Queensland, and Adam Green, Chief Information Security Officer at Cryptoloc, will be making appearances. The Summit will also feature Steve Koch, Acting Director-General of the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, and Dr Jodie Siganto, Director of Privacy 108 Consulting.

The event’s technical stream has been carefully designed to support early-career tech professionals, budding emerging tech experts, and students, ensuring that the future of Queensland’s tech industry is built on a solid foundation. Attendees will have opportunities for networking, gaining insights from industry veterans, and exploring the latest innovations in the tech landscape.