
Overview
IT leaders globally are under pressure to deliver exceptional digital experiences and improved operations. Hence in the modern era, enterprises have broad IT environments spanning numerous technology types. IT Operations must always have complete visibility across services and networks. However, with data analysis being disjointed and fragmented, a reactive strategy becomes more dreadful than powerful. Lack of full stack visibility, lack of automation, and poor collaboration remain critical problems, despite all technology advancements. AIOps is therefore becoming more commonplace than niche nowadays. It ensures optimal observability by employing data-driven options, allowing ITOps to take a more proactive approach and progressively reduce downtime. Full-stack observability, enabling enterprises to optimize their digital experiences by using AI to prevent, identify, and resolve IT issues. devices, network, infrastructure, cloud, and applications is critical. This event focuses on how platform solutions and AI automation will empower digital experiences and IT operations and deliver measurable results.
Agenda
Thursday – 19 February 2026
EMPOWEREDx ROADSHOW 2026
Day 1
Registration, Networking & Lunch
Welcome Address by IDC

Linus Lai
Vice President, Research, Asia/Pacific, IDC
IDC Keynote

Linus Lai
Vice President, Research, Asia/Pacific, IDC
Keynote by Riverbed

Brian Gormley
Solutions Engineering Director, Riverbed
Q&A
Panel Discussion moderated by IDC

Linus Lai
Vice President, Research, Asia/Pacific, IDC
Riverbed Speakers Presentation
Summary & Close
Cocktails & Networking
Speakers

Linus Lai
Linus Lai is a member of the Asia/Pacific Software and Services Research Group. He has more than 20 years of IT experience in the region. Based in Sydney, Australia, he has experience in several cloud, software, and services programs in Asia/Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), which covers a wide range of technology and services markets across 13 countries.
In this role, he is responsible for providing insights and analyses in enterprise adoption, integration, and management of these solutions. This includes sourcing strategies, vendor selection, and identifying emerging trends in business and technology solutions across technology buyers in the region. Linus is a founding member of IDC Asia/Pacific’s Emerging Technology Advisory Council and is a recipient of numerous awards for country, regional, and quality research contributions. In his previous role as head of research in Southeast Asia, he developed and grew IDC’s presence in the region.
Linus is frequently quoted in various publications and media outlets and is a regular presenter at industry forums, client events, and strategic workshops. Prior to joining IDC, Linus worked with a large outsourcing service provider that focused on retail banking solutions.
Linus holds a master of science degree from the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom.
Event Sessions
Thursday, February 19 2026 1:35 pm | Location:
Panel Discussion moderated by IDC
Thursday, February 19 2026 1:05 pm | Location:
IDC Keynote
Thursday, February 19 2026 1:00 pm | Location:
Welcome Address by IDC

Brian Gormley
Brian is a results-driven professional with extensive experience in presales, senior leadership and a track record of success in the IT industry. Leveraging a strong background in Communications, Cyber, Unified Observability, Automation and Performance Engineering, Brian has excelled in diverse roles throughout his career ranging from in-field engineering through to senior management across professional services, hardware, enterprise software and SaaS companies.
Being a skilled immigrant to Australia, and continuing to collaborate with the EMEA, APJ and America theatres, Brian bring a global perspective and adaptability to multicultural environments. With 20+ years’ hands-on presales experience in APJ roles, he possesses deep industry knowledge, relationships and a proven ability to develop and lead high-performance presales engineering teams.
Brian has extensive cross-functional experience with all the moving parts of a technology sales organisation, including sales, channel, professional services, customer success, product management and field marketing. His focus is on aligning presales to support an increase in customer intimacy, value and revenue generation.
Brian is a frequent main stage public speaker for SKOs (“Sales Kick-Off’s”), podcast interviews and industry events, and enjoys connecting with and inspiring audiences.
Event Sessions
Thursday, February 19 2026 1:15 pm | Location:
Keynote by Riverbed
Partners
Sponsored By

Riverbed
Riverbed, the leader in AI observability, helps organizations optimize user experience by leveraging AI automation for the prevention, identification, and resolution of IT issues. With over 20 years of experience in data collection and AI and machine learning, Riverbed’s open and AI-powered observability platform and solutions optimize digital experience and greatly improve IT efficiency. Riverbed also offers industry-leading acceleration solutions that provide fast, agile, and secure acceleration of any app, over any network, to users anywhere.
Venue

Hyatt Regency Sydney
Event Venue:
The Upper Deck
Address:
161 Sussex Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
Be Part of it!
Join us in this insightful session to see how AIOps and AI-driven automation transform IT operations into proactive, experience-optimizing powerhouses.
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