Official Event Advisory Panel
Lisa Asquith
OneGov Relationship Manager, ICT Strategic Delivery
Department of Finance, Services and Innovation
David Bartlett
Former Premier
Tasmanian Government
David Bartlett was the Premier of the Australian State of Tasmania from 2008 until 2011. During his parliamentary career he also held the positions of Minister for Innovation, Science & Technology and Minister for Education & Skills. His time as Premier was characterised by bold reforms designed to lift Tasmania educational outcomes and capitalise on Tasmania's natural advantages in water, food and renewable energy.
For his work in promoting innovation and broadband infrastructure David was recently named by The Australian as one of Australia's Top 50 most influential people in technology.
Prior to entering Parliament, David had an extensive career in the information technology and telecommunications sector including roles as Chief Information Officer and industry development specialist. As Premier, he switched on the first non-Telstra owned optic fibre backbone in Tasmania, developed the first broad scale FTTP brownfields roll out and championed his home state as the first National Broadband Network location.
David is now a Director of Explor Consulting. He brings a unique perspective to discussions about broadband, innovation, commercialisation and the future of government service delivery and is passionate about sharing the Tasmanian experience with other regional economies. Since leaving the Parliament, David has been working with regional economies, industry sectors and communities across Australia to prepare strategies for maximising economic and social renewal underpinned by broadband and digital technologies.
David is also Chairman of Asdeq Labs, a technology startup building enterprise mobility solutions and currently expanding operations into the US and Chairman of TasmaNet, a high growth telco, data and cloud services providor. He is a Director of PlaceSpeak international, a company delivering the world’s first geo-social online consultation platform for Government and industry. David is a Senior Advisor to the Nous Group and a member of the advisory board for the Centre for New Public Education.
Jon Cumming
Chief Digital Officer
ACT Government
Jon Cumming was recently appointed as ACT’s inaugural Chief Digital Officer. Jon’s mission is to drive the digital agenda and lead the whole of government digital strategic direction to ensure that the ACT Public Service is digitally innovative, dynamic and capable in its service to the community.
Prior to his return to Canberra, Jon held the position of Chief Information Officer for the New Zealand Department of Corrections and transformed the Department’s approach to IT with the creation and implementation of a new digital Technology Strategy.
Jon has a rich background in Information Technology with experience gained in Sydney, Canberra, the UK and New Zealand. His roles have included consulting, IT investment management, transformation program leadership and Solution Centre Management - in industries ranging from telecommunications through to the Health Sector.
Charles McHardie
Chief Technology Officer
Department of Human Services
Charles McHardie joined the Navy via the Royal Australian Naval College in 1985 after schooling on the South Coast of New South Wales. Graduating in 1987 he undertook initial training in HMA Ships PARAMMATTA and STALWART before being awarded his Bridge Watch keeping Certificate in HMA Ships TOBRUK and HOBART, undertaking deployments to Europe and South East Asia as an Officer of the Watch.
One year as an instructor at the Royal Australian Naval College was followed by a two year exchange posting to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis Maryland instructing navigation and seamanship to US midshipmen. While in the US he graduated from the US Naval War College Command and Staff Course with Distinction.
As a Lieutenant, McHardie completed the RAN Principal Warfare Officers Course and subsequently graduated as a Surface Warfare Officer and later as a Communications and Information Systems Specialist. Warfare Officer postings as the Communications Officer in HMA Ships SYDNEY and PERTH were followed by two years as the Fleet Communications Officer at Maritime Headquarters Australia.
As Executive Officer of HMAS SYDNEY, McHardie deployed twice to the Middle East in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. His time as Executive Officer was followed by two years at Maritime Headquarters as Commander Plans, responsible for the Fleet’s operations and exercise planning.
As Commanding Officer of the Amphibious Ship, HMAS MANOORA in 2006 and 2007 he completed deployments to East Timor in support of Operation ASTUTE, the South Pacific and South East Asia. He commenced his posting as Director General Naval Communications and Intelligence in late 2007 followed by a year of studies at the College of Defence and Strategic Studies in 2011. In 2012 he undertook duties as the Director Joint Amphibious Capability Implementation Team at Campbell Park in Canberra. Commodore McHardie deployed to the Middle East in late 2012 to Command Combined Task Force 150 responsible for Coalition Maritime Counter Terrorism Operations based in Bahrain.
McHardie’s most recent role in Defence was as Director General of the Australian Defence Simulation and Training Centre in Canberra. He was responsible for the development and management of Defence Simulation Governance, the delivery of Simulation Services in support of Joint and Combined training, with a specific focus on major exercises and the evolution and development of the Defence Synthetic Environment including the design and production of innovative simulation and modelling assets. He retired from the Navy in April 2015 to take up a position within the Australian Public Service at the CIO Group with the Department of Human Services.
Charles McHardie was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2011 for services to Naval Warfare and awarded a commendation for distinguished service in 2014 for his Command of Combined Task Force 150. He holds a Master of Science (Information Technology) from the University of New South Wales, a Master of Systems Engineering from the University of New South Wales and a Master of Arts (Strategic Studies) from Deakin University. He is married to Terrie and has two daughters that reside in Canberra.
Kieran O’Hea
Former Chief Digital Officer
Brisbane City Council
Kieran O’Hea has twenty years experience in strategic planning and execution with a digital focus. He has a track-record in successfully delivering projects with seven-figure budgets at city, national and international levels. In his most recent position as Chief Digital Officer of Brisbane, he led the development and implementation of the city's digital economy strategy. He has previously contributed to the development and implementation of digital business strategies in a number of areas including ICT, tourism, non-profit and government.
Andrew Walduck
Executive General Manager Trusted Services
Australia Post
Andrew Walduck joined Australia Post in January 2012 to lead the digitisation of Australia Post and help build a great customer-centric company.
As Executive General Manager, Trusted Services, he is responsible for driving the next evolution of Australia Post products and services, with a particular focus on creating seamless physical and digital experiences for customers, and supporting businesses and government with their own digital transformation.
The Trusted Services portfolio includes financial, identity, payment and trusted communication solutions for consumers, small
business, large corporations and government agencies. Australia Post provides these services on behalf of over 750 businesses and government agencies.
Prior to his current role, Andrew led Australia Post’s Information, Digital and Technology team as Chief Information Officer, where he implemented a new IT strategy that included building a modern IT organisation.
Andrew’s expertise lies in using technology to provoke business change, building valued business relationships, leading transformational programs, and implementing digital solutions that grow an organisation’s business in new products and services. He also has a passion for developing talented teams that deliver great business results.
Andrew’s career spans more than twenty years in Information Technology, including roles in global corporations such as IBM and Accenture, where he was a Partner in the Communications and High-tech Practice. Prior to joining Australia Post, Andrew held a CIO role in the Corporate Division at Tabcorp.
Jim Wyatt
Former General Manager of the Digital Economy Branch
Department of Commerce, WA
Jim Wyatt is a senior member of Australia's Digerati, assisting communities, industry and governments to maximize social and economic outcomes through the practical utilization and strategic exploitation of digital technologies, infrastructure and practices.
Jim previously worked for the WA Department of Commerce, heading up the Digital Economy Branch. Prior to this he worked for the Queensland Government overseeing telecommunications and broadband strategy and was the Project Director Digital Futures for the Tasmanian Government, assisting that State to secure its leading role in the National Broadband Network.
Jim is a key influencer of the digital economy agenda within Australia and is passionate in assisting all communities to achieve the optimal benefits from the deployment of next generation communications and digital technologies. Jim is also an experienced economic development practitioner having worked to attract investment and jobs in each of the states he has worked. Jim has been involved with a number of national government working groups exploring broadband development, next generation telecommunications networks, digital economic activity and sustainability across regional communities.