2025 National iAwards Gala Dinner

Overview

Keynote speaker

Mr Michael Brown MP

Assistant Minister for Artificial Intelligence and the Digital Economy

Government of South Australia

Born in the northern suburbs, Michael is a long-time resident of his electorate of Florey along with his wife and their three daughters.

Starting as a busboy at age 15, Michael has had a wide-ranging career as an IT Professional and then as an Advisor to government on Economic Development and Justice policy. He moved into the role of State Secretary for the state Labor Party for the next 6 years before working as Chief Executive at a local law firm. After that, Michael rejoined Government in the Justice policy area, before becoming the Chief of Staff to the Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion.

Michael was elected as the Member for Playford in 2018 and, following a redistribution of electoral boundaries, elected as the Member for Florey in 2022.

It has been Michael’s privilege to serve on several Parliamentary Committees, including as Chair of the Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence and member of the Joint Committee on the Establishment of Adelaide University, both in 2023. He has also previously been the Presiding Member of the Public Works Committee and a member of the Legislative Review Committee, the Environment, Resources and Development Committee, the Statutory Officers Committee, the Standing Orders Committee, and the Joint Parliamentary Services Committee. He was Opposition Whip between 2018 and 2022.

In February 2025, Michael was appointed as Assistant Minister for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Digital Economy.

Speaker

Prof. Simon Lucey Ph.D.

Director

Australian Institute for Machine Learning

Simon Lucey, Ph.D., is the Director of the Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) at the University of Adelaide, the nation’s largest machine learning research group.

AIML has secured more than $100 million in funding during his directorship. Professor Lucey previously held key positions at Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute, the autonomous vehicle company Argo AI, and CSIRO. He is a scientific advisor on the Temporary AI Expert Committee for the Department of Industry, Science and Resources.

Professor Lucey has received numerous career awards, including the 2024 AmCham Alliance Award for artificial intelligence and an Australian Research Council Future Making Fellowship. With 11 patents in computer vision, over 300 publications, more than 20,835 citations, and an h-index of 62, his contributions to the field are widely recognised.

His research focuses on computer vision, machine learning, and robotics, drawing inspiration from pioneering AI researchers to uncover computational and mathematical models underlying visual perception.

Ticket includes:

• Event ticket
• Canapes on arrival
• Three-course sit down dinner with beverages included
• Live Entertainment
• Event Networking Opportunity

Dress code: Black tie.

Thank you to our Sponsors

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