Vic Gov Hackathon 2026: Looking back at the chaos, the creations and the champions!

Details

Earlier this month, the Victorian Government Hackathon 2026 united public sector professionals and technology leaders to co-create practical solutions for government’s most pressing challenges. It is now time to celebrate their ingenuity and showcase the innovative ideas driving the future of digital government.

This year expanded the ecosystem by inviting AIIA members to participate, with 8 organisations selected from over 30 applications.

Join us for the upcoming debrief to explore:

• Industry Experiences: Hear firsthand from the AIIA members who joined the challenge.
• Leadership Insights: Gain key takeaways from an exclusive roundtable held with Victorian Government CIOs and innovation leaders.
• Future Collaboration: Gain clarity on the critical next steps for these projects and join the conversation on how industry can better partner with the Victorian Government to drive ongoing digital transformation.

FREE for AIIA members to attend with non-members able to purchase a ticket for a small fee.

Keynote speaker

Speakers

Andrew Larkin

CEO

Cenitex

Andrew Larkin is the Chief Executive Officer of Cenitex, a state-owned enterprise delivering ICT Shared Services to the Victorian Government. Cenitex provides identity and network management, security, user workspace and cloud services to Government departments and 60,000 public servants.

Andrew is currently leading a major whole of government ICT reform and centralisation program to drive efficiency and scalability to transform Victorian public sector ICT.

His career has spanned both public and private sectors in a diverse range of economic landscapes such as defence, government services, energy, agriculture, finance and logistics with an emphasis on large scale, complex, IT enabled programs of work in Australia and internationally.

Prior to joining Cenitex as CEO, Andrew was CIO at the Victorian Government Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, and was General Manager Project Delivery, within the Commonwealth Government Agency, Services Australia.

Ash Dhareshwar

Director Strategy & Innovation

Cenitex

Ash Dhareshwar is the Director of Strategy and Innovation at Cenitex in Vic Gov. He leads strategic initiatives that help shape the future of technology and secure infrastructure across the Victorian Government.

With more than 25 years of experience spanning strategy, technology, cybersecurity, cloud, and digital transformation, Ash is passionate about turning emerging technologies into practical outcomes that deliver value for government, customers, and the community. His work focuses on building innovation capability, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and accelerating the responsible adoption of technologies.

Ash has established Cenitex’s Innovation Hub, bringing together government, industry, academia, and technology partners to co-design, prototype, and test new ideas. Through initiatives including statewide innovation showcases, AI demonstrations, and public sector hackathons, he has helped create environments where collaboration drives tangible outcomes.

A regular speaker on innovation, AI, and digital transformation and wellbeing, Ash brings a practical perspective on how organisations can move beyond experimentation to embed innovation into everyday operations.

Alexis Ewing

Executive Director, Infrastructure Services

Cenitex

Alexis Ewing is a transformational executive leader and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) with more than three decades of experience leading digital transformation, enterprise growth, and operational excellence across the public sector, telecommunications, and global consulting environments.

Alexis has extensive experience in technology leadership, she drives the strategic direction and evolution of services in critical domains such as cloud, security, and networks. Her IT career spans multiple industries including telecommunications, banking and finance, energy, insurance, retail and airlines. Throughout her career, Alexis has cultivated a reputation for building robust capabilities and fostering a strong team culture.

Alexis holds a Bachelor of Science degree, a Graduate Diploma in Management Systems, and a Master of Information Systems. Alexis is also a director on the LaTrobe Business School Advisory Board.

Beyond her professional achievements, Alexis actively promotes diversity and inclusivity within the technology sector, particularly encouraging women to pursue careers in the industry. Her dedication to creating an inclusive environment further amplifies her influence and impact in the field of IT.