CIO Summit Australia
The Rise of Agentic Systems
Celebrating years of thought leadership, the IDC CIO Summit – Australia returns on 20 October 2026 in Sydney as the country’s premier gathering of technology decision-makers.
This year’s edition explores the rise of AI-native enterprises and the Agentic Stack — intelligent systems that enable real-time decision-making, adaptability, and innovation. With regional AI spending forecast to reach $11.4B by 2027, CIOs must balance bold innovation with governance, trust, and integration.
Bringing together CIOs, CTOs, CSOs, Heads of IT, technology leaders, and global experts, the Summit offers strategic insights, real-world case studies, and practical guidance to help organisations architect the next generation of digital enterprises.
Brett Wilson
Brett Wilson is a Chief Information Officer and executive leader with a strong track record of delivering large-scale digital transformation across diverse industries, including not-for-profit, healthcare, financial services, FMCG, and professional services. Currently serving as CIO at the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), Brett is focused on driving enterprise-wide transformation, strengthening technology leadership, and enabling innovation to support the organisation’s mission and future growth.
Previously, as CIO at the Australian Red Cross, Brett led a multi-year transformation of a 110-year-old organisation’s technology landscape, consolidating systems and teams into a simplified, modern architecture. His leadership delivered major initiatives including a rapid D365 Finance ERP implementation, large-scale automation through RPA, uplifted cybersecurity posture at the board level, and the introduction of enterprise data platforms to unlock advanced analytics and machine learning capabilities.
Brett has held senior leadership roles at organisations, leading technology strategy and operations across Asia Pacific and the UK. He is recognised for building high-performing teams and fostering cultures that align business strategy with technology delivery in complex environments.
A six-time CIO50 honouree (2019–2024), Brett is known for his ability to link business process improvement with technology innovation to create sustainable competitive advantage and deliver meaningful organisational outcomes.
Stevie-Ann Dovico
Dr Angela Coble
Maria Paz
Noel Toal
Expert Perspectives
Hear from thought leaders, visionary CIOs, and celebrity speakers redefining technology,
leadership, and innovation across APAC.
IDC Keynote: The AI Moment: Strategies for CIOs
AI is transforming business strategy, and CIOs must act decisively. This keynote explores practical strategies for adopting, scaling, and governing AI across the enterprise. Attendees will gain insights on infrastructure, talent, and risk management, as well as actionable approaches to drive innovation, operational efficiency, and measurable business impact in today’s AI-driven landscape.
Linus Lai | IDC
Group Vice President, Research
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
One Day Event 9:00 am
Welcome Address
One Day Event 9:05 am
IDC Keynote: The AI Moment: Strategies for CIOs
AI is transforming business strategy, and CIOs must act decisively. This keynote explores practical strategies for adopting, scaling, and governing AI across the enterprise. Attendees will gain insights on infrastructure, talent, and risk management, as well as actionable approaches to drive innovation, operational efficiency, and measurable business impact in today’s AI-driven landscape.
Venue
Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour
Magnifique Ballroom
12 Darling Dr, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia