
Programming & Day Agenda
Home - Programming & Day Agenda
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.
8:50am
Welcome
Amy-Rose Goodey - Digital Economy Council of Australia
8:55am
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
9:00am
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
9:10am
Government Address
This address outlines Australia’s direction in the digital economy, highlighting priorities across innovation, infrastructure, and financial systems. It reflects on the evolving role of digital assets, regulation, and national capability in shaping a secure, competitive, and forward-looking digital future.
9:20am
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
9:35am
Eightcap - Trading-as-a Service Provider
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
9:40am
Velocity: The Operating System for High Performance in a Digital Economy
Kate Cooper - OKX
10:15am
Trusted Systems, Seamless Payments: Financial Infrastructure in Transition
As financial infrastructure evolves, traditional banks and global networks are leading innovation in payments. This session brings together key players to explore how trust, scale and collaboration are driving the future of banking, digital commerce and financial connectivity across Australia and beyond.
Ashima Chaudhary - Mastercard
MORNING TEA - 10:45AM - 11:05AM
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
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.
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
Grace Wang - Alibaba
Tania Large - NetSuite
4:30pm
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