The Policymaker Summit 2026 Program
Wednesday 30 September 2026 | 9:00am – 2:30pm | Great Hall, UTS
8:30am
REGISTRATIONS OPEN
Great Hall, University of Technology Sydney
9:30am
OPENING REMARKS
Anthony Dursi, Acting CEO and Executive Director, External Affairs, Australian Public Policy Institute
Uncle Craig Madden, Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council
Professor Andrew Parfitt, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Technology Sydney
Amy Persson, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Social Justice and Inclusion), University of Technology Sydney & APPI Deputy Chair
9:52am
KEYNOTE
The Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP
Treasurer of Australia
10:10am
KEYNOTE
The Hon Prue Car MP
Deputy Premier of NSW, Minister for Education and Early Learning, Minister for Western Sydney
10:25am
PANEL
Big ideas for agile governance and policymaking in a volatile era
Dr Ian Opperman, Commissioner, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
Taylor Dee Hawkins, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Foundations for Tomorrow.org
Dr Vafa Ghazavi, Senior Lecturer in Political Science and Public Policy at the University of Sydney
Moderated by Bonnie Bley, Director of Policy, APPI
11:00am
PANEL
Are the Kids Alright? Addressing our vulnerable youth
Katherine McKernan, NSW Advocate for Children and Young People
Julie Dixon, Acting NSW Mental Health Commissioner
Elizabeth Wood, Deputy Secretary, Health System Strategy and Patient Experience, NSW Health
Moderated by Samuel Hockey, Lived Experience Researcher, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney & Research Assistant, UNSW
11:55am
POLICY IMPACT EXHIBITION
Introduction to the Exhibitors
Centre for AI, Trust and Governance – The University of Sydney
ANCORS Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security – University of Wollongong
Yuwaya Ngarra-li & Dharriwaa Elders Group – UNSW
Gender & the law – UTS
Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) – UTS
Gulbali Institute – Charles Sturt University
Urban Transformations Research Centre (UTRC) – Western Sydney University
Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Ethics (CAIDE) – The University of Melbourne – Digital exhibitor
Critical Minerals Initiative – Monash University – Digital exhibitor
12:00pm
BREAK
Lunch break & Exhibition
12:50pm
KEYNOTE
The Hon Andrew Giles MP
Minister for Skills and Training
1:05pm
PANEL
From standards to systems: Implementing Australia’s new AI Framework
Professor Ed Santow, Director, Policy & Governance at the Human Technology Institute, UTS
Trevor Gauld, Deputy Commissioner, Jobs & Skills Australia
Emma Byrne, Director Office of AI, Shaping Futures, Data & Digital Branch, The Cabinet Office NSW
Moderated by Dr Bronwyn Cumbo, Lecturer Sustainable and Inclusive AI Futures, University of Technology Sydney
2:05pm
CLOSING REMARKS & POLL RESULTS
Anthony Dursi, Acting CEO and Executive Director, External Affairs, Australian Public Policy Institute
2:15pm
EVENT CONCLUDES