AIIA Queensland Navigating Summit – Expanding the ICT Industry in Queensland

Minister for Housing and Public Works; Minister for Digital Technology; Minister for Sport

Mick de Brenni is the Minister for Housing and Public Works, Minister for Digital Technology, and Minister for Sport.

His career has been defined by his commitment to social justice initiatives, helping to improve the lives of all Queenslanders.

His passion for helping others sees him bring a unique energy to his work as a Minister, assisting vulnerable Queenslanders through housing support through to helping make sure that the hundreds of thousands of families who depend on the state’s construction industry have a strong pipeline of work.

His Ministerial achievements include:

• Developing the state’s first ever $1.8 billion 10-year housing strategy to ensure every Queenslander has a safe, secure and affordable place to call home
• Passing landmark legislative reform to help ensure security of payment for Queensland’s building and construction industry
• Developing the ‘Buy Queensland’ procurement strategy to support Queensland businesses and jobs
• Securing jobs for frontline workers and providing opportunities for skills development through 5-year funding agreements for the housing and homelessness sector
• Supporting specialist mobile support services to proactively assist young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
• Expanding rental assistance for veterans at risk of homelessness
• Creating the new Dignity First Fund to assist the creation of new, innovative solutions to homelessness
• Making it easier for victims of domestic and family violence to find a secure place to call home

Our built environment provides the most well researched, cost positive opportunities to improve energy efficiency and performance, and Mick is committed to improving sustainability outcomes across the building industry.

Mick is committed to working collaboratively with the housing and homeless sector to develop capability within the sector, and improve outcomes for Queenslanders who most need support to secure and sustain safe, secure and affordable housing.

A/Chief Executive, Trade and Investment Queensland

Paul Martyn leads Trade and Investment Queensland, the Queensland Government’s dedicated global business agency. Paul works with more than 220 staff worldwide to help Queensland firms achieve export success and to encourage global investment in Queensland projects.

Paul has over 20 years’ experience in economic development, working with industries, firms and regions to successfully grow and compete in a global context.

Prior to joining TIQ, Paul led the implementation of the Queensland Government’s flagship $650 million Advance Queensland (AQ) agenda, working to promote innovation-led economic growth.

Paul has worked to encourage growth and investment in a wide range of Queensland’s key sectors, including resources and energy, agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, defence industries and high technology.

Chair in Digital Economy, QUT

Professor Marek Kowalkiewicz is an academic and industry leader with extensive experience in conducting academically sound research, co-innovating with industry and university partners, and delivering innovative products to the market.

Currently, as Professor and Chair in Digital Economy, as well as Leader of the Embracing Digital Age research theme, he leads Queensland University of Technology’s research agenda to inform and influence a robust digital economy in Australia.

Marek manages a contemporary research portfolio and converts industry driven opportunities into research outcomes of global relevance. He is an invited government expert, university lecturer and project lead, as well as an inventor and author.

Marek is recognised as a top quality manager and excellent public speaker and has an interest in working with stakeholders in developing innovative ideas, ground-breaking business applications and high-impact new technologies.

Chief Growth Officer and a co-founder at GO1

GO1 is the world’s largest marketplace of workplace training providing customers with the ability to access training on almost any topic from workplace compliance training through to employee professional development.

Founded and headquartered in Brisbane, GO1’s team of over 100 staff across seven global offices service customers from small businesses through to enterprise customers and entire government agencies.

As Chief Growth Officer, Vu oversees inbound and outbound lead generation, new customer acquisition and sales.

Vu also has a background as a qualified medical doctor holding a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and is also Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP).

Kelly has 22 years policing experience. She was a founding member of the Queensland Police Service Innovation unit that commenced in 2016. Kelly was instrumental in building the right connections to ensure the QPS remains a progressive organisation in a rapidly changing environment.

Kelly and a small team implemented the QPS idea management platform iCOP (Ideas connecting our people). Kelly and her team successfully implemented this new digital platform statewide, connecting over 7000 members. Kelly has recently commenced a career break and has entered the public speaking and consulting world to take on a career change that has allowed her to connect with many organisations.

Her passion for connecting and engaging others has been evident throughout her whole career, Kelly understands the complexities that come with cross functional work units operating in different environments.

Kelly is incredibly passionate about connecting the unconnected. All organisations are experiencing for the first time, five generations working side by side, the role of leadership into the future is pivotal to ensure you harness this energy from your people and provide them with the permission and authority to have a voice and be a part of future decision making.

Principle, Government Relations, Telstra

As a senior member of Telstra’s Corporate Affairs team, Jason helps create a political environment favourable to Telstra’s business objectives through strong advocacy amongst federal and state political stakeholders, with a focus on QLD, WA and the NT.

Jason has over 20 years of experience of domestic and international corporate affairs and communications in government, mining and consulting.