Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the way governments operate, offering unprecedented opportunities to enhance service delivery, improve decision-making, and streamline operations.

Facilitator:
Declan Norrie – Special Advisor, Proximity

Panel Members:
Anthony Murfett –  Head of Division for Technology and Digital, Dept Industry Science and Resources

Anne-Louise Brown –  Head of Strategy and Insights, Akin Agency

Chris Taylor – Head of Statecraft and Intelligence Centre
Defence Strategy and National Security, Australian Strategic Policy Institute

In this session, we will discuss emerging issues in Defence, with a focus on developments in operations law, combined with
recently introduced or proposed changes in military law.

Presenter:
Robin Creyke – Expert Advisor, Proximity

What is environmentally sustainable procurement? Current policies and what they look like in practice.

Facilitator:
Monica Beven – Advisor, Proximity

Panel Members:
Stephen Bailey – Senior Advisor, Proximity

Rachel Sanderson –  Commonwealth Sustainable Procurement Advocacy and Resource Centre, DCCEEW

Clare Hobby – Director, TCO Development

This session will explore the concept of trauma-informed legal practice – an essential way forward to prevent harm to citizens and enable lawyers to manage burnout, compassion-fatigue and vicarious trauma.

This session will take participants through the tendering process, utilising case studies to identify traps to avoid and providing tips to ensure you get the best possible outcome from your tendering activities.

Presenters:
Andrew Stephen – Expert Advisor, Team Lead Commercial, Proximity

Mitchell Eddy – Senior Advisor, Proximity

Navigating the complexities of Grandfather’s axe, reviving expired agreements, and the implications of uncertainty created by poor drafting.

Presenters:
Kimberley Baillie – Expert Advisor, Proximity

Ingrid Bremers – Special Advisor, Proximity

Rob Gibson – Special Advisor, Proximity

Celia Torres-Villanueva – Special Advisor, Proximity

Managing decision-making and risks across projects, and equipping teams with essential new skills.

Presenter:
Dougal Pidgeon – Special Advisor, Proximity

Preparing for mandatory climate disclosures: Essential systems, processes, and governance practices for over 6,000 entities facing new climate-related reporting requirements in the coming years.

Explore various relationships (internal & external) a Procurement Officer should be aware of, why they are important, and how to successfully develop and maintain them.

Presenters:
Andrew Stephen – Expert Advisor, Team Lead Commercial, Proximity

Sean King – Co-founder, National Lead Commercial, Proximity 

Recent years have seen a significant shift in the probity and integrity field, driven by changing community expectations and increased complexity in the operations and practices of Government. We discuss these changes, canvass future developments and give practical advice on how officials can embed principles of probity and integrity into their decision-making – both in a procurement and broader governance context.

There is a long history of failed or sub-optimal delivery of ICT projects in the public sector. The Digital Transformation Agency was established to provide strategic advice and assurance to the Australian Government on its digital and ICT-enabled investments. It has carriage for the Commonwealth Digital and ICT Investment Oversight Framework (IOF), which provides the rules and obligations on agencies seeking ICT investment funding. While the IOF sets expectations on agencies, it by no means ensures success. There are a common set of traits that successful projects share. This presentation seeks to highlight these and demonstrate their alignment with the IOF.

Presenters:
Nicoll Parton – Special Advisor, Proximity

Wayne Coulston – Expert Advisor, Proximity

Ethics panel discussing a range of hypothetical scenarios.

Facilitator:
Zoe Lynam – CEO, Proximity

Panel Members:
Hannah von Forell – Special Advisor, Proximity

Petra Gartmann – Acting Chief Counsel Corporate Legal, Department of Veterans’ Affairs

Leo Hardiman PSM KC – Expert Advisor, Proximity