The AI Shift: From Proof of Concept to Real Returns
Date: Wednesday, 25th Feb
Doors open: 4:30pm
Presentations start: 5:15pm
Venue: The Hub, Wynyard. Level 11, 10 Carrington St, Sydney
Please enter via the main lobby at 10 Carrington Street and take the lift to Level 11.
The Hub is a short walk from Wynyard Station and easily accessible by train and bus. Nearby paid parking is also available. Please aim to arrive before 5:15pm so you don’t miss the start of the presentations.
If you’re arriving after 5pm, building access is considered after-hours and requires someone with an access pass to let you in. We will have someone waiting in the lobby to guests in. If you arrive later and no one is there, please call Irene (0421 786 836)
Why attend this event?
AI is on every agenda, but most initiatives never make it past the pilot phase. Experiments are easy. Turning them into initiatives that deliver measurable returns is the real challenge.
This event is about making that shift. You’ll hear perspectives rarely shared in one room. From those building at scale, shaping AI-first companies, and driving bold change in large organisations. You’ll leave with:
Practical insights on where AI delivers the strongest return
Lessons on the pitfalls that stall progress
What it takes to move from pilots to outcomes that scale
What we’ll cover
Where AI creates the most value and how to focus your efforts
How AI is reshaping product and engineering
Scaling responsibly, avoiding the traps that stall pilots
What separates experiments from outcomes in AI-ready organisations
Panelists
Lenka Bednarikova - Head of AI and Advanced Analytics, Australian Retirement Trust
Lenka is Head of AI and Advanced Analytics at Australian Retirement Trust, where she leads the use of data and AI to support decision-making across a large, complex organisation.
She has built her career across data, analytics, and digital transformation roles, with a focus on applying advanced analytics in regulated, real-world environments.
Her work centres on turning emerging technology into trusted capability that organisations can actually use. Lenka brings a grounded perspective on how enterprises adopt AI responsibly, balance innovation with risk, and move from experimentation to impact.
Paul Keen - VP Engineering, Culture Amp
Paul is VP Engineering at Culture Amp and one of Australia’s most seasoned technology leaders.
Across senior roles at Tyro Payments, Nuix, Qantas, Airtasker and Dick Smith, he has led engineering teams through major shifts in scale, platforms and ways of working.
His work has been recognised in Australia’s CIO50, and he brings a rare, inside view on how large organisations introduce new technology, make it dependable, and turn it into real improvements for teams and customers.
Herry Wiputra - Chief Product Officer, hipages
Herry is Chief Product Officer at hipages, shaping the direction of one of Australia’s largest home-improvement marketplaces.
With more than two decades in product and engineering leadership across Campaign Monitor, REA Group, Aconex and SGI, he has spent his career working at the intersection of customer needs, large-scale platforms and fast-moving technology.
He brings a clear, practical perspective on how product organisations adopt new tools, experiment safely and turn technology into improvements that matter to customers.
Agenda
Welcome & Keynote: Why AI matters now, and what it takes to shift from PoC to real returns.
Panel discussion: Insights and lessons from experts on turning AI into measurable returns.
Networking : Wrap up with food, drinks, and greats conversations.
Who should come?
If you’re working out how to move beyond pilots and make AI a practical, valuable part of your organisation, this event is for you.
Please note: Photos and videos will be taken during the event and may be used in marketing materials or shared on platforms like LinkedIn. If you’d prefer not to appear in any content, just drop us an email at [email protected] to opt out.