Media Releases

MELBOURNE, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Data Center World Australia and The AI Summit Australia today unveiled a keynote speaker line-up set to address the co-located conference at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 7-9 September 2026. Featuring distinguished representatives from the Australian Department of Defence, Mercedes-Benz, DHL, Amazon Web Services and more, the programme will open with an introductory keynote address from The Hon. Steve Dimopoulos MP, Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs, Victorian State Government.

"Bringing this calibre of global talent to Melbourne for the inaugural event creates a rare opportunity for attendees of Data Center World Australia and The AI Summit Australia to learn from, connect with and challenge the leaders driving one of the most significant technology shifts happening anywhere in the world today,” said Frankie Brewer, General Manager and Event Director, Informa Australia. "These will not be theoretical conversations about the future of AI and digital infrastructure — these are the executives, engineers and policymakers building it in real time."

Data Center World Australia Speakers

The Data Center World Australia conference speakers will share real-world insights on topics including sustainable expansion, modular construction, power and grid resilience, quantum computing, and the growing demand for sovereign and connected digital infrastructure. An expansive speaker lineup will explore how Australia can remain globally competitive as AI accelerates investment, energy demand and large-scale data centre development. Speakers include:

• Cameron Evans, Director, Data Centre Planning and Delivery, APAC, Amazon Web Services
• Belinda Dennett, Chief Executive Officer, Data Centres Australia
• Ben Boudreau, Chief Technology Officer, Zerra DC
• Kieran Habojan, Head of Sales APAC, SharonAI
• Joao Almeida, GM and Director of Global Business, XENON Systems
• Dino Georgiou, Executive, Customer Success, Telstra
• Alex Moffatt, Sr. Director Acquisitions APAC, BDX
• John Burgess, Head of Microsoft Datacentre Academy, Victoria University
• Craig Scroggie, CEO and MD, NEXTDC
• David Dzienciol, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer/Executive VP Technology, NEXTDC

The AI Summit Australia Speakers

The AI Summit Australia features distinguished addresses on digital transformation alongside comprehensive presentations from senior representatives of the Australian Department of Defence, the Australian Taxation Office, and leading technology enterprises. The carefully curated programme addresses critical AI deployment concerns including infrastructure requirements, cybersecurity protocols, ethical governance frameworks, and practical implementation guidance for organisations seeking to harness artificial intelligence capabilities responsibly within the Australian business landscape. Speakers include:

• Andrew Watson, Deputy Commissioner and Chief Data Officer, Australian Taxation Office
• Professor Tanya Monro, Chief Defence Scientist, Defence, Science and Technology Group, Australian Department of Defence
• Anu Karunakilaka, Chief Technology Officer, Intrepid Travel
• Ben Morley-John, GM, Digital and Data, Anglicare
• Milind, Principal AI Scientist, Mercedes-Benz
• Nicole Livingstone, CEO, Victorian Institute of Sport
• Elicia McDonald, CEO & General Partner, AirTree
• Pretit Mishra, Domain Director, DHL
• Jayne Howley, AI Strategy and Assurance Lead, Dept. of Government Services, Victoria
• Himanshi Juneja, Head of Data and Analytics, CBRE

The two events address the unique position Australia is in to tackle the Asia-Pacific market’s region-specific opportunities and challenges, from regulatory compliance to scaling AI and digital infrastructure responsibly.

Registration is now open at Data Center World Australia and The AI Summit Australia. Each event features dedicated sessions and conference tracks, complemented by shared keynote presentations and access to a combined exhibition floor. An optional pass upgrade provides full access to the conference tracks of both events.

For speaker submissions and partner inquiries, please contact Laura Horwell. To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, contact David Espitia. Interested press and analysts may register here to attend.

ABOUT DATA CENTER WORLD AND THE AI SUMMIT SERIES

Data Center World and The AI Summit Series are leading global event platforms bringing together innovators, technologists and infrastructure leaders shaping the future of digital transformation.

Data Center World serves data center facilities and IT infrastructure professionals through expert-led education, technology showcases and strategic insights focused on building and operating the next generation of digital infrastructure.

If you’re building, buying or backing AI, The AI Summit Series is where ideas become outcomes. We cut through the buzzwords to spotlight real use cases, live demos and candid playbooks that help you deploy faster, govern smarter and prove ROI with confidence. No hype, just AI that transforms business.

Together, the events connect the rapidly converging worlds of AI and digital infrastructure, bringing the global ecosystem together to explore how intelligent technologies are built, deployed and scaled.

Learn more about the Australia edition at www.datacenterworldaustralia.com/ and www.australia.theaisummit.com/.

Contacts

Media Contact: Suzanne Matulay, Society32 for Data Center World and The AI Summit Series, dcwpr@society32.com and theaisummitpr@society32.com

Melbourne is poised to make history as it is set to welcome the world’s leading data center and artificial intelligence event for the first time in Australia. Joining Informa Connect’s prestigious global series held in the USA, UK and Asia, this landmark event will take place at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre in September 2026. These groundbreaking co-located events unite two industry leading platforms, offering unparalleled opportunity to explore the full spectrum of technology transformation shaping the future of business innovation and technological advancement.

The event is expected to attract over 1,000 attendees and inject up to $4 million into the state’s visitor economy, with significant longer-term benefits to the economy and the technology sector. The bid was secured for Melbourne by the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) and the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR), with support from Business Events Australia.

The global data centre market is projected to reach US $4 trillion by 2030, with providers already accelerating large-scale investments in Melbourne to tap into the city’s growing AI and cloud demand to establish high performance computing infrastructure. Melbourne is rising as Australia’s data centre capital and is a national leader in the AI evolution, being home to the largest cluster of AI firms in Australia and 40 data centres, including two of the four new Australian AI Adopt Centres.

The Victorian Government is committed to investing in jobs and skills to support this rapid growing sector as part of its Sustainable Data Centre Action Plan, leveraging the state’s critical assets to unlock projects in the pipeline worth up to $25 billion in potential capital expenditure. Victoria’s Economic Growth Statement acknowledges AI and machine learning within digital technologies as a priority sector and the event acquisition is reflective of the strength of Victoria’s economy and its dynamic industries shaping the future including financial services, professional, scientific and technical services and healthcare.

The announcement adds to a growing list of major international technology and innovation conferences secured for Melbourne. Upcoming events include the International Conference on Neural Information Processing (ICONIP) 2026, which will welcome 800 global experts in neural information processing, and the IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces (IEEE VR) 2027, set to attract more than 800 delegates.

Quote attributable to Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos

“Hosting this conference e in Victoria is a tremendous opportunity to showcase our state as a global leader in tech and innovation. These events bring world-class experts from across the globe, inject vital economic activity into our hotels, cafes, restaurants and venues. It’s a major vote of confidence in Victoria’s thriving tech ecosystem and a powerful boost to local businesses and jobs.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs Danny Pearson

“Victoria is leading the way in digital transformation, and hosting a conference focused on data centres and artificial intelligence will accelerate growth across these critical sectors. This event will attract global innovators and investors, foster partnerships, and showcase our state’s advanced infrastructure and talent. By positioning Victoria at the forefront of AI and data centre development, we’re driving new opportunities for technology businesses, creating high skill jobs, and strengthening our competitive edge in the digital economy.”

Quotes attributable to Melbourne Convention Bureau Chief Executive Julia Swanson

“Melbourne is recognised worldwide as a hub for innovation and technology, and hosting this conference reinforces that leadership. By convening experts in data centres and AI, we’re showcasing Victoria’s cutting-edge capabilities and creating opportunities for collaboration that will shape the future of digital infrastructure. This event positions Melbourne as the go-to destination for tech-driven growth and global partnerships.”

Quotes attributable to Informa Connect President, Tech Events, Marco Pardi

“Expanding Data Center World and The AI Summit Series to Melbourne underscores the growing role these event platforms play in powering the global economy. Our goal is to convene a connected, global community of technology innovators and enterprise leaders to advance learning, collaboration and the next chapter of AI- and data-driven transformation.”