The ANZ India Business Chamber (ANZIBC) orchestrated a dynamic event that brought together industry leaders and experts to explore the convergence of technology and business in the Australia-India context.
Technology Conference Australia 2023, hosted at the Indian Consulate in Melbourne, provided a platform for insightful discussions, collaborative networking, and the unveiling of key strategies for the future of Australia-India business relations.
Fostering Collaboration and Insights
The conference commenced with a series of insightful sessions that ignited the dialogue on technology’s profound impact on business dynamics. Distinguished speakers and panellists from diverse sectors graced the occasion, facilitating thought-provoking discussions. The Chairperson of the ICT Committee at ANZIBC, Chetan Mehta, set the stage for the event, emphasising the pivotal role of technology in shaping the future of bilateral trade.
Indian Consulate in Melbourne served as a gracious host for the conference, providing an ideal platform for the insightful discussions that unfolded.
The Head of Chancery & Consul (Com. & Pol.), Girish Singh Kavia, expertly delved into the intricacies of mutual respect and the technological dimensions that underpin successful collaborations. His elucidation of the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ of fostering an environment of mutual understanding and cooperation set a tone of camaraderie and constructive discourse at the event.
Engaging Dialogues: Addressing Technological Evolution and Collaboration
The conference delved into crucial aspects of technology, its regulations, and its implications for both countries.
The first panel featured industry luminaries like Rob Marchiori, Country Head of Cognizant Australia, Christopher Smith, Managing Director of Wipro Australia, and Sally Curtain, CEO of Bendigo Kangan Institute and was moderated by Patrick Carson of ANZIBC.
These experts shared insights on technology’s transformative potential, discussing how it’s reshaping industries, driving innovation, and altering job landscapes.
Rob Marchiori, Cognizant Australia’s Country Head, emphasized that while traditional programmer and coding roles might see a shift, the emergence of prompt engineers is a novel trend.
“The evolution of technology and its regulatory framework holds pivotal significance for growth. Understanding AI technology is paramount for effective regulation, ensuring it serves its intended purpose.”
Bendigo Kangan Institute’s CEO, Sally Curtain was clear about where Australia stands and what the future should look like. She said Australia is a care economy and we need to understand how to respond to it.
“We can’t afford to leave anyone behind in the race to technology that’s why strong partnerships with industry are necessary. Which will pave the way for educationalists to tie up with industrial stuff.”
Wipro’s MD Christopher Smith emphasised that in tech schools ethics need to be deployed on how to use the new technology and particularly artificial intelligence (AI).
He outlined the urgency to adopt the massive disruptions AI will bring in the next couple of years.
“We are ready and every role in Wipro will be trained around the impact of AI technology,”
added Mr Smith.
The second panel, led by Dr John Burgin of ANZIBC, saw distinguished panellists including Shayne Elliott, CEO of ANZ Bank, Vicki Thomson, Chief Executive of Group of Eight Universities, Jay Venkateswaran of WNS Global Services, and Mr Ashok Mysore, Regional Head of Infosys Australia.
This panel focused on practical aspects of integrating technology into various sectors and emphasised the importance of ethics, education, and unique data sets in driving meaningful change.
Shayne Elliott, the CEO of ANZ Bank, humbly acknowledged his non-expertise in technology while shedding light on ANZ’s pioneering journey in adopting AI within the banking sector.
Shayne underscored the principle of AI being integrated within the internal and external facets of banking operations.
“The rapid pace of tech replication and the need for organizations to seize the real potential – gaining a competitive edge through strategic AI utilization is a must,”
said Mr Elliott.
Central to Shayne’s discourse was the value of unique and well-structured data sets. He stressed the importance of optimizing data to deliver meaningful and tailored solutions to customers.
“This aligns with ANZ’s strategic focus on leveraging AI for effective risk management, where AI’s predictive capabilities play a pivotal role in safeguarding the bank’s operations,”
He added.
Shayne’s insights showcased ANZ’s forward-thinking approach to AI adoption, transforming challenges into opportunities to strengthen its market presence and customer relationships.
Vikki Thompson, Chief Executive of Group of Eight Universities, highlighted a concerning funding gap in Australia’s AI research efforts.
“With a mere allocation of $100 million, there exists a substantial disparity in resources for AI research, posing a significant challenge.
This limitation has spurred collaborative initiatives, such as the University of Sydney’s partnership with Google, to augment research capabilities and knowledge sharing in the AI domain.”
Thompson emphasized the importance of producing graduates well-versed in ethics and academic integrity, underlining the need for holistic education that aligns with the evolving tech landscape.
Jay Venkateswaran from WNS Global Services provided insightful perspectives on the role of AI in contemporary business landscapes. He explained the contextual nature of AI, highlighting that it’s a component within a broader toolkit rather than a transformative force in itself.
He stressed that AI’s influence lies in aiding decision-making processes rather than radically altering everything. He delved into practical applications, citing the example of generative AI effectively expediting the time-consuming process of adverse media screening.
In terms of intellectual property (IP), Jay underlined AI’s pivotal role in adjudicating differences between entities. The ownership of AI’s operationalization will determine the benefits reaped, emphasizing the significance of equitable access to common technological resources.
“We have to accentuate the execution capability as a critical factor in AI implementation.
While AI holds promise, human intelligence remains paramount when strategizing for business, highlighting the importance of aligning AI with human insights and ingenuity,”
said mr Venkateswaran.
Ashok Mysore, Regional Head of Infosys Australia, offered insights into the innovative AI landscape. Highlighting Infosys’ contribution, he affirmed that their topaz generative AI stands as a premier offering in the market, underscoring the company’s commitment to cutting-edge solutions.
He stressed the paramount importance of security in AI applications, introducing the concept of being “secure by design.” Ashok elaborated on the strategic implementation of multiple models and the utilization of closed AI systems to enhance data security and operational efficacy.
“We at Infosys not only push technological boundaries but also ensures the utmost relevance and value for our customers, reflecting a holistic and customer-centric AI strategy.”
The balance between embracing novel technologies and catering to customer demands emerged as a key theme in Ashok’s perspective. He revealed Infosys’ approach, which revolves around exploring new technologies while keenly aligning them with customer needs and preferences.
Mapping the Path Forward
The conference concluded on an optimistic note with P. Santhosh, MD & CEO, ANZ India Business Chamber emphasising the profound impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Indo-Pacific region and highlighting the pivotal role Australia and India will play in this transformation.
The conference not only provided valuable insights but also underscored the need for cross-border collaboration, ethical considerations, and a holistic approach to embracing technological advancements.
The ANZIBC Technology Conference 2023 emerged as a platform that united visionary thinkers and leaders to discuss and define the future of Australia-India business relations in the age of technology. With robust discussions and practical insights, the event underscored the significance of innovation, collaboration, and a shared commitment to leveraging technology for mutual growth.
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