
Programming & Day Agenda
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8:00am
Welcome & Connect
Start your day in the Networking Pavilion: a space for registration, coffee, and conversation. Meet fellow attendees, reconnect with industry peers, and ease into the day’s agenda with time to connect and engage before sessions begin.
8:45am
Welcome
Amy-Rose Goodey - Digital Economy Council of Australia
8:50am
A City for Innovation: Welcome from the Gold Coast Mayor
The Gold Coast Council opens the Digital Economy Conference with a message of welcome and support. As a city embracing innovation and economic growth, the Gold Coast is proud to host this national conversation on the future of technology, business, and opportunity.
Mayor Cr Tom Tate - City of Gold Coast
8:55am
Opening Address
Framing the day’s discussions, this address invites us to align on purpose, potential, and the shared path forward for Australia’s digital future.
Paul Derham - Paul Derham, MC and Chair of DECA
9:05am
Invest Gold Coast - Digital Economy Explosion
The Gold Coast is emerging as a serious contender for high growth industries. This session explores why more founders and investors are choosing to build and grow in the region.
Bianca Park - Invest Gold Coast
9:15am
The Economic Impact of Blockchain and Digital Assets in Australia
This session presents new insights into how blockchain and digital assets are contributing to the Australian economy. From innovation and job creation to productivity and investment, we explore the data behind the sector’s growth and the benefits it brings to the nation.
Kate Cooper - OKX
Elizabeth Reed - DFCRC
9:45am
A Message from the Assistant Treasurer, Dr Daniel Mulino MP
The government's vision for fostering innovation and productivity, highlighting the role of regulatory clarity and international alignment in positioning Australia as a leader in the digital economy.
The Hon Dr Daniel Mulino MP - Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Financial Services
9:55am
Bridging TradFi and Crypto: Building a Borderless Trading Experience
This session introduces Eightcap’s latest product designed to meet the needs of today’s digital-first traders. Discover how innovation, user experience and access to new markets are coming together in a platform built for the next generation of trading.
Rom Revita - Eightcap
10:00am
A Tale of Three Stablecoins
Musings, bruises and lessons learned from building three stablecoins in three years.
Shane Verner - Fireblocks
Robert Waugh - Catena Digital
10:20am
The future of Payments: where Blockchain meets Everyday Commerce
This session delves into how convergence of Blockchain, Intelligent Agents, and Tokenisation is redefining how value is exchanged in the Digital Economy with Trust at its core.
Ashima Chaudhary - Mastercard
Jason Titman - Swyftx
Effie Dimitropoulos - AUDD
Ashok Venkateswaran - Mastercard
MORNING TEA - 10:50AM - 11:20AM
11:20am
Post-Quantum Protocols: Preparing Blockchain for the Quantum Age
Quantum computing is moving closer to reality. This session explores what a quantum future means for blockchain security, how protocols are adapting, and why preparing now is critical to protecting digital infrastructure, assets and trust in the years ahead.
Sushmita Ruj - University of New South Wales
11:40am
Revolutionising Supply Chains: Unleashing AI & Web3 Power
A blockchain BDM, the Chair of Ethical Trade Alliance, and an AI-driven supply chain CTO discuss how AI and Web3 are transforming logistics, streamlining supply chain efficiencies, boosting transparency, and promoting ethical trade - revolutionising supply chains and facilitating MLETR-enabled paperless trade.
Sean White - XDC Network
Lawrence Christoffelsz - Ethical Trade Alliance
Elton Brown - DMS
12:05pm
New Species: Autonomous Agentic Technology
Autonomous agents are emerging as powerful actors in blockchain systems and digital economies. This session explores how agentic technology is being built into Web3 infrastructure, transforming how we coordinate, transact, and create value across decentralised networks and digital asset platforms.
Tommy Honan - Swyftx
Trevor Topfer - Avatars Global
Darren Rogan - film.fun
12:30pm
Law of Code: Blockchain and the Law in Australia
Michael Bacina and Steven Pettigrove are the authors of the Law of Code: Blockchain and the Law in Australia, published by Lexis Nexis. This title is the first Australian legal textbook to comprehensively address the complex legal issues which blockchain and digital assets pose across various aspects of the law including property, financial services, AML/CTF, IP and privacy law. It is intended for legal professionals, academics and students. The authors will discuss their new work and the state of blockchain and the law in Australia and internationally.
Jeremy Muir - MinterEllison
Steven Pettigrove - Piper Alderman
Michael Bacina - GDF
LUNCH - 12:50PM - 1:40PM
1:40pm
Beyond the Exchange: The Product Evolution of Digital Asset Platforms
Digital asset platforms are evolving beyond trading. This session explores how products like custody, staking, payments and onramps are shaping a new generation of services that prioritise utility, access and long-term engagement across the digital asset and Web3 economy.
Amanda Wick - Women in Crypto
Jason Titman - Swyftx
Adrian Przelozny - Independent Reserve
Tim Wilks - Coinspot
2:10pm
Building the Future of Payments: Technology, Trust & Integrity
Payments are evolving through new technologies, smarter infrastructure and global connectivity. This session explores how leading innovators and regulators are shaping a payment landscape built on trust, efficiency and integrity across digital rails, value transfer, compliance expectations and cross-border ecosystems.
Michele Levine - Hamilton Locke
Maggie Kaczmarska - Block
Vakul Talwar - Crypto.com
2:30pm
What Brings You Here: A Conversation on Global Alignment and Australia’s Role in the Digital Asset Economy
Global digital asset businesses are looking to Australia for clarity, innovation and opportunity. This conversation explores what attracts international players, where alignment is emerging across borders, and how Australia is positioning itself in the evolving global digital asset economy.
Lisa Wade - Fableration
Jonathon Miller - Kraken
David Menz - Coinbase
Vijay Ayyar - Gemini
AFTERNOON TEA - 3:00PM - 3:25PM
3:25pm
Connected by Design: Data, Digital Identity and the Always-On Economy
As systems become increasingly integrated and data flows nonstop, digital identity sits at the core of the connected economy. This session explores how identity, infrastructure and trust frameworks are evolving to support secure, seamless experiences in a real-time digital environment.
Erika Carnogoy - CBA
Karthick Raghavan - Block Majority
Victoria Richardson - ID Partners
3:55pm
The Blockchain Data Layer for AI
As AI advances, the data powering it matters more than ever. This session explores how blockchain and decentralised infrastructure are enabling user-owned, privacy-preserving data ecosystems. We look at how developers can access rich, cross-platform datasets while users retain control, ownership and value.
Art Abal - Vana
4:10pm
Powering Scalable Growth: Cloud Infrastructure and Intelligent Business Management
In an increasingly digital and interconnected world, businesses are under pressure to scale quickly while maintaining operational control, compliance, and efficiency. This session explores how the convergence of cloud infrastructure and intelligent business management platforms enables organisations to streamline operations, adapt to local and global demands, and build agile, future-ready systems.
Samira Tollo - Elbaite
Garry Sien - Alibaba Cloud
Tania Large - Oracle NetSuite
4:30pm
Bridging the Old and New: Real-World Finance on Digital Rails
This session explores how leading institutions are turning the promise of digital assets into practical finance. With global insights from Franklin Templeton and local execution from JellyC, the conversation will highlight how tokenisation, infrastructure, and institutional partnerships are unlocking real-world value, positioning Australia for the next phase of digital finance.
Andrew Crawford - Franklin Templeton
Michael Prendiville - JellyC
4:50pm
Reflection: No Roadmap, No Permission: Just Purpose
A reflective journey through where we have been and where we may be heading. This session offers a personal perspective on the defining moments, missed opportunities and emerging signals that are shaping the future of technology, trust and transformation.
Katrina Donaghy - Water Ledger