FutureFive Australia - Consumer technology news from the future

Australian Stories

Leadership stories

Middle managers' wasted time costs Australia USD $15.5bn
Digital Transformation

Middle managers' wasted time costs Australia USD $15.5bn

Wasted admin time by Australia's middle managers in frontline sectors is costing the economy an estimated USD $15.5 billion a year.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Fri, 20th Feb 2026
Enero lifts first-half profit as BMF & Orchard shine
Artificial Intelligence

Enero lifts first-half profit as BMF & Orchard shine

Enero lifts first-half profit 119% as BMF and Orchard drive double-digit margins and revenue growth across its marketing agency portfolio.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 3 min read • Thu, 19th Feb 2026
Splashtop, Leader partner on secure remote access push
Data Protection

Splashtop, Leader partner on secure remote access push

Splashtop taps Australian distributor Leader to push secure remote access and autonomous endpoint management for hybrid workforces.

By Shannon Williams • 3 min read • Thu, 19th Feb 2026
AI shift to operations exposes Australia readiness gap
Unified Communications

AI shift to operations exposes Australia readiness gap

Australian tech leaders shift AI from trials to daily operations, but warn a gap in skills and infrastructure risks stalling productivity gains.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Thu, 12th Feb 2026

Global Stories

Leadership stories

Securonix promotes Ajay Biyani to lead APJ strategy
Software-as-a-Service

Securonix promotes Ajay Biyani to lead APJ strategy

Securonix has promoted Ajay Biyani to Senior Vice President for Asia Pacific and Japan, tasking him with spearheading regional growth.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 3 min read • Thu, 26th Feb 2026
Firms pour billions into AI but struggle to scale value
EduTech

Firms pour billions into AI but struggle to scale value

Firms spent USD $252 billion on AI in 2024, yet only 4% report repeatable, scalable value as governance and skills gaps hold back returns.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 5 min read • Thu, 26th Feb 2026
Aviva names Chris Cochrane as next group CIO for 2026
Digital Transformation

Aviva names Chris Cochrane as next group CIO for 2026

Aviva has named Chris Cochrane as its next group Chief Information Officer, with his appointment due to take effect in summer 2026.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 3 min read • Wed, 25th Feb 2026
Beyond technology: How leadership drives contact centre performance
Unified Communications

Beyond technology: How leadership drives contact centre performance

Amid rising AI and automation in contact centres, new research finds leadership, empathy and agent support now outmuscle technology alone.

By Ed Creasey • 5 min read • Mon, 23rd Feb 2026
Chartered accountants call for urgent practical AI training
Data Protection

Chartered accountants call for urgent practical AI training

Chartered accountants warn of widening AI skills gap as vast majority seek urgent, hands-on training to use new tools safely and effectively.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Mon, 23rd Feb 2026
Finance AI stuck in risky mid-maturity 'AI middle'
Manufacturing

Finance AI stuck in risky mid-maturity 'AI middle'

Finance leaders warn of a risky 'AI middle' as many firms stall between pilots and governed, audit-ready use of automation in core workflows.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Fri, 20th Feb 2026
Study reveals middle managers falter under pressure
Human Capital Management

Study reveals middle managers falter under pressure

Middle managers' performance collapses by up to 70% under reputational risk and fuzzy authority, Interactive EQ's 2026 index finds.

By Catherine Knowles • 4 min read • Fri, 20th Feb 2026
Valiant Finance hires Joe Iavarone to drive US growth
Fintech

Valiant Finance hires Joe Iavarone to drive US growth

Valiant Finance recruits veteran Joe Iavarone as North America chief to spearhead its US push into the USD $1.3 trillion equipment finance market.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Wed, 18th Feb 2026
Human skills top workplace learning priorities for 2026
Unified Communications

Human skills top workplace learning priorities for 2026

Leadership and communication top 2026 workplace learning as employees prioritise human and business skills alongside rising AI adoption.

By Catherine Knowles • 3 min read • Sun, 15th Feb 2026
Unlimit names Michele Fung as new Head of Asia Pacific
Disaster Recovery

Unlimit names Michele Fung as new Head of Asia Pacific

Unlimit appoints Hong Kong-based Michele Fung as Asia-Pacific head to drive regional expansion in increasingly competitive payments markets.

By Mark Tarre • 3 min read • Fri, 13th Feb 2026
Nium adds three C suite leaders to drive global growth
Crypto

Nium adds three C suite leaders to drive global growth

Nium strengthens global payments push with new chiefs for risk, technology and marketing as AI, stablecoins and regulation reshape the sector.

By Mark Tarre • 3 min read • Thu, 12th Feb 2026

Stories from Other Regions

Leadership stories

Adlook reshapes UK & EMEA leadership to drive growth
Marketing Technologies

Adlook reshapes UK & EMEA leadership to drive growth

Adlook appoints Darren Thompson and promotes Jacek Celiński as it sharpens UK focus and unifies EMEA growth under new leadership.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Wed, 25th Feb 2026
Manchester firms delay growth plans amid volatility
Digital Transformation

Manchester firms delay growth plans amid volatility

Manchester's mid-sized firms are stalling investment and expansion, citing volatile costs, policy shifts and tougher access to finance.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Fri, 13th Feb 2026