From Sprawl to Strategy:Building Leaner, Smarter, Future-Proof IT
Thursday, 30th April 2026 | Sydney, Australia
Unstacked Summit Agenda
8:15 am - 8:20 am
Registration Opens
8:50 am - 9:00 am
Chair's Opening Remarks
9:00 am - 9:40 am
Leadership Panel | The CIO–CTO–CISO Alliance – Aligning Security, Agility & Innovation
Abby Tripathi -
Chief Information Officer,
Australian Red Cross
John Khoury - Group Chief Technology Officer, Strandbags
Simplification has become a strategic priority as organisations grapple with rising complexity, expanding security risks, and pressure to deliver faster. This panel brings together CIO, CTO and CISO leaders to explore how to streamline technology environments while protecting performance and resilience. They will examine what true alignment across security, agility and innovation looks like and how to build a technology organisation that is ready for the next wave of change.
• How CIOs, CTOs, and CISOs align priorities across security, speed, and innovation in everyday decisions
• Practical approaches to simplifying technology environments without increasing risk or fragility
• Building shared accountability, governance, and culture across technology leadership teams
9:30 am - 10:00 am
Keynote Address | Case Study from Westpac
David Walker -
Group Chief Technology Officer,,
Westpac
Visionary address on cutting complexity and building agility in a world of tech bloat.
10:00 am - 10:20 am
Unstacked Speed Networking - Connect with Your Peers
10:20 am - 11:00 am
Leadership Panel | Future-Proofing Enterprise IT – What’s Next After Simplification?
Anuj Saraogi -
Executive Branch Manager and Org to Digital Canberra,
ACT Government
Peter Smith - Chief Information Officer, Mission Australia
Milad Kruze - Executive General Manager of Information Technology, The Salvation Army
Robin Mann - Chief Digital and Information Officer, Monash Health Digital & Data
Enterprises are simplifying their environments, but the real challenge is building technology foundations that can evolve with constant change. This panel brings together senior IT leaders to explore what comes after simplification and how organisations can embed resilience, adaptability and sustainable innovation into their long-term strategy. They will discuss the capabilities, investments and cultural shifts needed to future proof enterprise technology in 2026 and beyond.
11:00 am - 11:20 am
Spotlight Session | Platform vs. Point Solutions: Designing an Operating Model That Actually Works
Hani Arab -
Chief Information Officer,
Seymour Whyte
A candid discussion on how technology choices reshape teams, governance, and decision-making. This session explores the organisational trade-offs between consolidated platforms and distributed tools—from skills, ownership, and change management to accountability, speed, and long-term sustainability.
• How platform and point-tool choices impact team structure, skills, and ownership across IT
• The governance and decision-making models that support speed without creating confusion or silos
• Managing change, accountability, and long-term sustainability as technology environments evolve
11:20 am - 11:50 am
Morning Recharge in the Expo
Fuel up, connect, and explore — your chance to grab a coffee, meet solution partners, and spark new conversations across Australia’s technology leadership community.
11:50 am - 1:30 pm
Interactive Discussion Groups | Unscripted. Unfiltered. Unmissable.
11:50 am - 1:30 pm
IDG A: The Roadmap to Becoming Unstacked
Practical steps for CIOs and technology leaders to simplify, consolidate, and future-proof their IT environments.
11:50 am - 1:30 pm
IDG B: Cloud Cost Control in Practice
How enterprises are tackling cloud sprawl and using optimisation platforms to cut spend without losing scalability.
11:50 am - 1:30 pm
IDG C: SaaS Spend Under the Microscope
Strategies for rationalising overlapping SaaS tools and getting visibility into true usage and value.
11:50 am - 1:30 pm
IDG D: Platform vs. Point Solution Debate
Hani Arab -
Chief Information Officer,
Seymour Whyte
The pros and cons of moving to all-in-one enterprise platforms versus managing multiple best-of-breed solutions.
11:50 am - 1:30 pm
IDG E: AI & Automation for IT Rationalisation
Where intelligent automation delivers real gains in reducing admin burden and accelerating transformation.
11:50 am - 1:30 pm
IDG F | Cybersecurity in a Consolidated World
Balancing simplification with risk management — how to ensure compliance, resilience, and security at scale.
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Networking Lunch & VIP Hosted Lunches
Join us in the expo hall for a relaxed networking lunch with the full Unstacked community - connect with peers, explore the exhibition, and recharge for the afternoon ahead. For invited guests, exclusive VIP lunches will run concurrently – bringing senior technology leaders and select partners together for high-impact conversations in a more intimate setting.”
2:30 pm - 2:45 pm
Quickfire |
Megan Hemingway -
General Manager of Technology,
ForHealth Group
2:45 pm - 3:00 pm
Quickfire | Turning Technology From a Cost Burden to a Value Driver
Krish Goundar -
Director, Infrastructure and Service Delivery,
SLHD
Enterprise example of reigning in cloud spend, while scaling operations.
3:00 pm - 3:40 pm
Panel | AI & Automation – The Hidden Engine of IT Rationalisation
Andrew Dome -
Chief Digital Information Officer,
Uniting
Ian Robinson - Chief Information Officer, Life Without Barriers
Tim Johnson - Head of Intelligent Solutions Delivery, Suncorp Bank
Phil Douglas - Technology Director, Mad Paws
Ian Robinson - Chief Information Officer, Life Without Barriers
Tim Johnson - Head of Intelligent Solutions Delivery, Suncorp Bank
Phil Douglas - Technology Director, Mad Paws
AI and automation are becoming central to efforts to streamline complex technology environments and reduce operational strain. This panel brings together experts to explore how intelligent automation is removing manual effort, easing integration challenges and creating space for teams to focus on higher value work. They will look at the practical ways automation is driving rationalisation today and what it means for enterprise IT in the years ahead.
3:40 pm - 4:00 pm
Afternoon Recharge
Fuel up, connect, and explore — your chance to grab a coffee, meet solution partners, and spark new conversations across Australia’s technology leadership community.
4:00 pm - 4:40 pm
Panel Discussion: Balancing Security with Efficiency
Andrew Hottes -
Chief Digital Information Officer,
Cranbrook School
William Walker - Head of IT, Adecco group
William Walker - Head of IT, Adecco group
As organisations consolidate and simplify their technology stacks, the pressure to maintain strong security and compliance only increases. This panel brings together IT leaders to explore how to protect critical systems while improving efficiency and reducing operational load. They will examine the controls, processes and partnerships needed to balance risk, speed and reliability in a more streamlined environment.
4:40 pm - 5:20 pm
Leaders Debate | AI for Business Impact – Beyond Cost Cutting
Tighe Wall -
Chief Technology Officer,
Contact Energy
Mitchell Palmer - Chief Operating Officer, Aussie Industries
David Reeve - Chief Information Officer, UTS
Lenka Bednarikova - Head of AI & Advanced Analytics, Australian Retirement Trust
Mitchell Palmer - Chief Operating Officer, Aussie Industries
David Reeve - Chief Information Officer, UTS
Lenka Bednarikova - Head of AI & Advanced Analytics, Australian Retirement Trust
AI is rapidly shifting from a cost saving tool to a core driver of agility, speed and business differentiation. This leader's debate brings together CIOs, CTOs and transformation executives to explore how AI enabled technology can unlock new value, improve decision making and accelerate growth. They will look at the capabilities, operating models and leadership mindsets required to move beyond incremental gains and deliver real business impact.
5:20 pm - 5:25 pm
Chair's Closing Remarks |
