The Accelerators at TCS Summit provides a farsighted perspective on the organisations we need to build, and the leadership traits required to accelerate towards the ‘perpetually adaptable enterprise’.
Today, leaders operate in a context of perpetual change, characterised by global economic shifts, geopolitical disruptions, ambitious sustainability targets, new legislation, and rapid technology advancements. The pace at which the organisations of tomorrow will need to anticipate change will only accelerate.
In 2024, The Accelerators at TCS Summit will focus on ‘Accelerating the perpetually adaptable enterprise. Readiness in the era of AI and continuous change.’.
In the next decade, while making their business models more adaptable, leaders will have to steer through the impact of the accelerated pace of change and the accelerated development of technology. These change accelerators will require innovative leaders with the right mindset and skills who are adaptive, creative, resilient, and continuously spearhead dynamic change.
This half-day event is designed to facilitate interaction and engagement with industry and technology through leaders, valuable insights, and tangible takeaways to implement in your organisation. The program offers:
Agenda
Monday, 18 November 2024
8 am AEDT
9 am-12.15 pm AEDT
12.15 pm-1.30 pm AEDT
Connect with pacesetters from across the Asia Pacific region
Chief Economist, Business Council of Australia
Stephen Walters is the Chief Economist of the Business Council of Australia and is based in Sydney. He was previously the Chief Economist for NSW, based in the NSW Treasury. Before that, Stephen was Chief Economist with the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and, for 14 years, was Chief Economist for investment bank JP Morgan. Stephen previously was a Senior Economist with Access Economics in Melbourne and an International Economist with Norwich Union and Alliance Capital in the UK. He also spent seven years as an Economist with the Treasury in Perth. Stephen holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Western Australia and a master’s degree in applied finance from the University of Melbourne. He also has qualifications in journalism and graduated from the AICD’s Company Directors Course in 2017. Stephen has published three books, with a fourth to be published soon. He is also a former chair of the Executive Committee of the Australian Business Economists and is a member of the Australian Statistics Advisory Council.
Futurist and Board Director
Frances Valintine CNZM is a passionate educator and technologist who is focused on developing opportunities that connect professionals to the knowledge they need to be successful in today’s rapidly advancing world. For 25 years, she has been dedicated to shifting education and business practice to develop the capabilities, knowledge, and mindset needed to respond to the future of work, changing societal expectations, and the protection of the planet. In her day-to-day role, she is the founder of academyEX, a post-graduate institute focused on professional development and knowledge in the fields of technological advancement, education, sustainability, and leadership. In 2013, she founded The Mind Lab, a unique offering designed to empower students and educators to develop applied digital knowledge and capability. Over the past ten years, The Mind Lab has enabled an entire generation of teachers and educators to upskill and develop their confidence in emerging digital technologies, rethink the model of learning and education, and support school-aged children to foster these critical skills. The immediate impact of The Mind Lab has earned the organisation the title of Best Start-Up in Asia Pacific, as judged by Steve Wozniak and Sir Richard Branson in 2014. A Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her lifetime contribution to education and technology (2018), Frances has received numerous awards recognising her passion and commitment to supporting the young and more mature to seek opportunities and reach their potential. In 2022, Frances was inducted into the New Zealand Hall of Fame for Women Entrepreneurs, and in 2020, received the lifetime award for her Outstanding Contribution to Technology and Business at the CIO Awards. Driven by a strong sense of purpose to support positive growth for Aotearoa, Frances sits on the board of Watercare, is a selection adviser to the Edmund Hillary Foundation, is a judge on the Hi Tech Awards, and is the National Expert for the global World Summit Awards. Frances is also a mentor to a number of global female technology leaders, and a Director to On Being Bold, an initiative to support and encourage emerging female leaders and female students to aim high and dream big. Frances is also on the Board of Trustees for the University of Silicon Valley. Frances is the author of ‘Future You’, a book dedicated to shifting perceptions about learning as an adult and promoting the need to stay connected, relevant, and informed throughout our life. She holds a master’s degree in education management from the University of Melbourne.
Director, Data61, CSIRO
Jon Whittle is Director at CSIRO’s Data61, Australia’s national centre for R&D in data science and digital technologies. With over 800 staff and affiliates, partnerships with industries across almost every sector, and collaborations with over 30 universities, Data61 acts both as a centre for expertise and an enabler for national initiatives. Data61’s strengths are in artificial intelligence and machine learning, cybersecurity and privacy-preserving technologies, robotics and autonomous systems, and computational science. Data61 works across the entirety of CSIRO, collaborating with scientists and engineers in manufacturing, health and biosecurity, agriculture and food, minerals, land and water, oceans and atmosphere, and energy. Data61 offers computer scientists, data scientists, engineers, and designers a unique opportunity to work on cutting-edge research that will translate into real-world positive impacts on society.
Paralympian and Australian flag-bearer, Paris 2024
Madison de Rozario is one of Australia’s best-known athletes. She is a gold medal winning Paralympian, a winner of multiple marathons, a fierce advocate for people with disabilities, and she was even immortalised as a Barbie™ doll. At Tokyo 2020, her fourth Paralympics, Madison finally broke through to win her first Paralympic gold medal. In fact, she won two, capturing the 800 m T53 on the track and then a stunning win in the marathon T54 on the final day of the Games. Those victories were years in the making. Madison, who was encouraged into wheelchair racing by Australian Paralympic Hall of Fame inductee Frank Ponta, made her debut at the Beijing 2008 Games as the youngest athlete on the Australian Paralympic team. By 2015, Madison was a world champion in the 800 m and won silver in that event at Rio 2016. World and Commonwealth Games titles followed, as did world records in the 1500 m T53/54 and 800 m T53. Training under the legendary Louise Sauvage, she realised her potential at Tokyo 2020, after which she was awarded the Paralympics Australia Athlete of the Year. For Paris 2024, Madison was named opening ceremony flag-bearer alongside swimmer Brenden Hall, who also made his Paralympic debut at Beijing 2008.
Dean, Executive Education and Asia Campus, INSEAD
Professor Sameer Hasija is the Dean of Executive Education, Dean of the Asia Campus, The Henry Ford Chaired Professor in Technology and Operations, and Professor of Technology and Operations Management, INSEAD. Sameer conducts workshops for executives on understanding the latest developments in technology and their role in radically disrupting and/or transforming businesses. Professor Hasija is an expert in business model innovation, technology and business transformation, service management, supply chain management, and process and operations management. His current research uses an economics lens to understand the design and management of technology, knowledge, and information-intensive service systems. Using a systematic analysis of processes within and across firm boundaries, he emphasises the role of process-based innovation in creating new business models and/or fresh competitive positioning for existing business models.
CEO, Taronga Conservation Society Australia
Cameron commenced his career in the agricultural industry as a research scientist at Bayer Australia’s veterinary research centre in Queensland. An interest in the adoption of new technology across the sector prompted Cameron to undertake a master’s degree in commerce, majoring in marketing and organisational behaviour. Since then, Cameron has developed broad experience in senior executive roles in FMCG MNCs. Prior to becoming Taronga’s CEO, Cameron managed teams across marketing, communications, education, and life sciences. As CEO, Cameron has led a major transformation of Taronga from a focus on zoological parks into a global wildlife conservation organisation. Over this time, Taronga has significantly diversified its education, tourism, and hospitality businesses, now running a university degree, vocational training, and a diverse range of high-end eco experiences, which includes a 62-room retreat. The Taronga Institute of Science and Learning has since received global awards for its work in wildlife conservation and sustainability. Taronga is also recognised as a key leader in wildlife conservation, re-wildling, and sustainability. Cameron is a non-executive director of the International Rhino Foundation and sits on the advisory board for the University of NSW Faculty of Science. He has also held board director roles for the Jane Goodall Institute Global Board and was Chair of Ecotourism Australia. While president of the Zoo and Aquarium Association of Australasia, he oversaw the implementation of an advanced wildlife animal welfare audit and accreditation program for the Oceania region. This methodology has since been adopted for the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums audit process. In 2021, Cameron was awarded the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to wildlife conservation, animal science education, and zoological associations
Group Executive for Ecosystems, Stone & Chalk
Imche started her career in the laboratory with a focus on biotechnologies but soon migrated to the human aspects of invention and innovation, leading several organisations in the space. She was the CEO and co-founder of the largest deep technology hub in Aotearoa New Zealand, providing space, incubation support, and investment to a broad range of science and engineering startups. She is deeply passionate about investing in, and supporting the growth of, technology companies working to improve planetary and human health. Imche has advised various areas of government and was appointed to author policy recommendations on how the development of the innovation ecosystem can be accelerated by the central government and its agencies. As the Group Executive for Ecosystems, Imche works to support and connect Stone & Chalk's vibrant communities across Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. With experience in governance, she has served on multiple boards, with a focus on ethics, impact, and inclusion in the technology sector
Managing Partner and Principal Futurist, TCS
Frank is a recognised futurist, thought leader, and frequent keynote speaker. He has served in various executive roles and has over 30 years of leadership experience. At TCS, he is a thought leader and advisor in the context of business, societal, and economic evolution. Speaking to chief innovation officers and other senior executives to help Fortune 500 companies prepare for the next decades, he blends a futurist perspective with a pragmatic, actionable approach—leveraging horizon scanning and storytelling to see possible futures. His leadership experience obtained through various executive roles connects practical realities with the need to focus on an emerging future filled with complexity and change. Frank has written and presented extensively on a full range of topics, including ecosystem transformation, techno-optimism, digital twins, synthetic biology, AI, and more. Across these diverse topics, Frank aims to explore the human impact and potential for positive outcomes.
Chief Technology Officer, TCS
Dr Harrick Vin is the chief technology officer at TCS. He is a TCS Fellow, a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering, and a distinguished alumnus of IIT Bombay. Prior to his current role, he was the chief services innovation officer, where he led innovations into the future of work. In 2015, he founded Digitate, a TCS venture. At Digitate, from 2015-19, he led the strategy, innovation, and design of ignio™, the world’s first cognitive automation product for enterprise IT. Prior to this, he was the vice president and chief scientist of the Tata Research Development and Design Centre at TCS, as well as the global head of innovation and transformation for TCS’ IT Infrastructure Services.
Country Head, New Zealand, TCS
An environmental engineer by education, a strategic business technologist, and an evangelist for women in business and technology, Priti has over 20 years of global experience across engineering, business, innovation, education, strategy, and consulting and has been a part of several global teams and start-up ventures in Asia, North America, and Europe. Priti joined TCS in New Zealand in 2020 as Director, New Business and Innovation, to grow the TCS footprint and leverage our global capability for New Zealand businesses, communities, and the environment. During this time, she was part of the core team that launched the Asia Pacific Digital Sustainability Index to measure how corporations are leveraging digital technologies for sustainability outcomes. In her role as Country Head, TCS New Zealand, she has expanded our footprint to several key accounts in the country and built relationships with high-tech start-ups in New Zealand, introducing them to the TCS COIN™ framework. Priti sits on the boards of the Auckland Business Chamber and Super-diverse Women and is an advisor to the Strategic CIO program at the University of Auckland and Tech Futures Lab. She engages extensively in thought leadership in diverse areas, appearing in several media publications across the US, Asia, and ANZ geographies and participates in various fora as keynote speaker and panel member. In September 2024, Priti was recognised as a Rockstar Leader in the ISG Women in Digital Awards APAC and India.
Global Head, AI.Cloud Business Unit, TCS
Siva Ganesan is with TCS’ AI.Cloud Business Unit. Building on our award-winning partnerships with hyperscalers and AI partners, the unit brings together the power of cloud, data, and AI/ML, including generative AI, to our customers. Prior to this, Siva was with TCS’ Microsoft Business Unit, Travel, Transportation, and Hospitality Business Unit, and the Assurance Services Unit. With TCS for over 33 years, he has played leadership roles in sales, solutions, delivery and operations, program management, and account management.
CTO and Head, Business Sustainability, TCS APAC
Michele Lemmens is the Head of Business Sustainability and CTO at TCS APAC. She is passionate about supporting businesses, scale-ups, youth, social entrepreneurs, and governments to embrace this decade’s most important sustainability challenges and pursue opportunities to deliver purposeful impact. With over 25 years of experience in multi-stakeholder initiatives, consulting, and business transformation, Michele has successfully built and delivered eight new business models and value propositions across APAC, Australia, Saudi Arabia, the UK, and NZ, across business functions and domains, for better outcomes, often bringing together multiple partners to realise collective value. Michele sees herself as an architect—although not in the traditional sense—with capabilities in shaping and bringing to life new businesses and programs that need clarity of purpose and focus, diverse thinking, and rigorous design to deliver an outcome. She is a champion of positive change and blends this commitment and energy with diverse activities. Michele volunteers, advises, co-chairs, and contributes on sustainability in several businesses, a foundation, accelerators, and academic institutions and speaks regularly at internal and external forums about sustainability, innovation, start-ups, and leadership.
Math Geek, comedian, author
With 25 years of experience in television, radio, and events, Adam loves curating challenging and thought-provoking conversations. He has interviewed prime ministers, Hollywood stars, Fortune 500 CEOs, Nobel Prize-winning scientists, and Australians of the Year. He was also the first to interview our legendary Thai cave rescuers.
Television host and board director
Amy Duggan, a renowned television host and board director in the sports industry, has made significant contributions as a change agent and advocate for women’s sports. She has an impressive background, having played football for the Matildas and was the host of the biggest and best Women’s World Cup in 2023. Amy’s journey in sports began at a young age, when she represented Australia at just 13 years old. She made her senior debut for the Matildas at 17 and was part of the team that achieved success in the Oceania World Cup Qualifiers and participated in the 1999 World Cup. Amy also played in Australia’s WNSL, had stints in the US W-league, and was an alternate for the 2000 and 2004 Olympics. Following her retirement from international sport in 2005, Amy entered the media industry. Over the past 20 years, she has established herself as a skilled newsreader, journalist, and host and analyst for various news and sporting outlets across Australia. She has covered significant events such as Australia’s AFC win in 2010, has hosted and commented on W-league, Matildas, and Socceroos games until 2020, and was also a host for the 2019 Women’s World Cup. In her role as a board director for Venues NSW and Football Australia, she brings valuable strategic expertise and has made a substantial impact on both organisations. Amy’s unwavering passion for sports and her dedicated advocacy for women’s sports have garnered significant media coverage, establishing her as a prominent figure in the industry.
Indigenous Marathon Foundation
Wiradjuri woman Hayley Pymont is the 127th graduate of the Indigenous Marathon Project and the Indigenous Running Ambassador for TCS Sydney Marathon 2024. She uses her platform to champion causes that resonate not only with her but also with her community. Hayley believes that running is more than a sport—it is a powerful tool for healing, reflection, and empowerment. Her journey as a marathon runner has shown her the strength and resilience that we can find within ourselves, even in the face of life’s toughest challenges. Hayley actively supports Talk2mebro, a charity dedicated to suicide awareness and prevention. This cause is deeply personal to Hayley, as she has seen firsthand the devastating impact of suicide in the community. Supporting Talk2mebro helps ensure that no one feels they have to face their struggles alone. Recently, Hayley started an after-school run club at the PCYC for young people in her local community. This initiative aims to provide a healthy outlet and show the value of self-reflection, dedication, and leadership to young people, using running as a vehicle for positive change. It is Hayley’s hope that this program will provide a safe space for reflection and growth, helping young people build the resilience they need to navigate life’s challenges. Hayley’s life has been touched by the very issues she advocates for, issues that disproportionately affect too many indigenous communities. Through running, she strives to raise awareness, foster dialogue, and inspire action. She believes that together we can create a future where our communities are stronger, healthier, and more connected. Let us run towards a better tomorrow.
Welcome to the live blog for The Accelerators at TCS Summit 2024, a future-oriented, highly interactive program to prepare proven leaders for business. This half-day event brings together Australia’s business and thought leaders to share their valuable insights and tangible takeaways.
