The National Broadband Network
What’s in it for me?

1 December 2011
Edith Cowan University, Bunbury
Hon Stephen Conroy
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Hon Stephen Conroy
Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy was appointed Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Digital Productivity in September 2010. He is also deputy leader of the Federal Government in the Senate. Stephen has a broad
range of portfolio responsibilities, not least the National Broadband Network, the largest nation-building infrastructure project in Australian history, and the enabling foundation for our digital economy. Other responsibilities include Australia’s digital television switchover, the national broadcasters the ABC and SBS, media policy, community broadcasting, e-security and cyber-safety, radiofrequency spectrum and Australia Post. Digital productivity is an exciting new addition to his portfolio responsibilities.

Broadcast by Senator the Hon. Stephen Conroy
Peter Blasina
As Australia’s trusted Gadget Guy, Peter Blasina has been explaining technology to consumers for more than 22 years. He is the on-air technology reporter for Channel 7, a tech trends commentator for Kochie’s Business Builders and is often called on to comment on technology for Seven’s 6pm News and the Today Tonight current affairs program. The Gadget Guy is also a regular weekly guest on more than 14 radio stations nationally.  Peter is currently the Department of Communications’ National Cyber Security Ambassador and works closely with Regional Development Australia.  He is also Telstra’s technology ambassador and delivers regular presentations, touring the country demystifying technology for a broad range of consumers via a variety of events.

The business of technological change
Mal Bryce
For most of his working life Mal Bryce has been engaged in developing companies, communities and public policy to harness the power of new technology. His career has focused in particular on the competitive advantage to be achieved for companies and communities from the effective
application of information and communications technology. In the last 25 years Mal has worked as a cabinet minister, company director, corporate manager and senior consultant. Mal was the architect of Australia’s first online community in Ipswich and he led the team that implemented Australia’s first community-driven e-commerce project. In 2010 he wrote the book Australia’s First Online Community.

Broadband and Australia's window of opportunity
Ross Dawson
Ross Dawson is globally recognised as a leading futurist, keynote speaker, entrepreneur and authority on business strategy. He is founding chairman of four companies, including the leading future research and strategy firm Future Exploration Network. Strong demand sees Ross speak
frequently at major conferences and company internal events around the world. He is a best-selling author of books including the prescient Living Networks, which foresaw the social networking revolution, as well as Trends in the Living Networks, ranked as one of the top business blogs in the world. Ross’s frequent media appearances include CNN, Bloomberg TV, SkyNews, ABC TV, Today and Sunrise shows, Washington Post and many others.

The killer apps of a connected world
Darrell Williamson
Dr Darrell Williamson is the Deputy Director of the ICT Centre at the CSIRO. He has undergraduate degrees in science and electrical engineering, a masters degree in electrical engineering from the University of Newcastle and a doctoral degree in applied mathematics from Harvard University. For two years, he was chief executive officer for the Cooperative Research Centre in Advanced Computational Systems, and subsequently, director of the Telecommunications and Information Technology Research Institute at the University of Wollongong. For five years, he held the position of chief executive officer and research director for the Smart Internet Technology Cooperative Research Centre. In July 2007, Darrell joined the CSIRO ICT Centre as Deputy Director where he leads the research and development program for the Centre.

A national broadband network for Australian eHealth
Lee Cummings
Lee Cummings has forged a rather unique career, travelling around the world as a corporate team builder, professional percussionist and free surfer.  Based for many years in South Africa, Lee was taught a dynamic new form of interactive theatre through his mentor Steve Barnett, a motivational ‘non-speaker’. Now, after decades of honing his talents internationally, Lee has returned home to Margaret River and launched Upbeat Inspirations, a creative enterprise which communicates powerful messages in a most expressive and fun way.  

Creating global opportunities from our backyard
Matthew Schultz
Matthew Schultz is the regional digital economy coordinator for the Ipswich City Council. He is an accomplished and experienced professional with more than 15 years experience in the information technology, telecommunications, geospatial and civil engineering fields covering project management, consulting, general management and technical roles. In early 2010, Matthew led a council-based program for the accelerated rollout of the NBN in South East Queensland, resulting in the selection of NBN second release sites at both Springfield Lakes and Toowoomba. Matthew is
co-chair of the Broadband Today Alliance, a rapidly growing collaborative group of local governments with members in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.

Preparing local government for the NBN