Artificial Intelligence is no longer an emerging technology - it is an engineered system actively reshaping how societies operate, produce, and grow.
Today, engineers are not just building smarter tools; they are designing the foundations of AI-driven infrastructure - from autonomous systems and large-scale data platforms to intelligent networks that adapt, optimise, and learn in real time.
As AI moves from experimentation to integration, the questions are no longer if it will change the world, but how those changes will unfold - economically, socially, and systemically. What does it mean when intelligence becomes embedded in our energy grids, transport systems, supply chains, workplaces, and cities? What new capabilities are being created - and what second-order effects follow?
Join our panel and networking reception, hosted by UNSW Engineering, to discover the next phase of AI.
We’ll explore:
The real-world future applications of AI
What’s emerging beyond the current generation of AI tools
How AI-driven infrastructure is transforming productivity, work, and the economy
We invite you to join us in examining not just AI itself, but the future it is actively engineering.
Lee Hickin leads the Australian National AI Centre (NAIC), with a mission to enable and support Australian industry and society as it adopts and accelerates through AI technology and services. Lee has over 30 years’ experience in the technology industry in technical, sales and business development roles. Before joining the federal government, Lee was the CTO for Microsoft ANZ and led the Asia region for Microsoft’s global Responsible AI team.
Lee has worked across the UK, Asia and Australia. In addition to his time at Microsoft, Lee led the Internet of Things team for Amazon Web Services in Asia Pacific. He was also a CISSP security architect with RSA Security and worked at Tivoli and IBM as a software engineer.
During his time in industry, Lee has supported governments around the world as an independent contributor. This includes having been a member of the Singapore AI-Verify Board and a founding member of the NSW AI Assurance Committee. Lee has a Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Business and Information Technology from Bournemouth University.
Kavita is a seasoned technology leader with a strong track record in effecting transformational changes to meet strategic and commercial goals. With over two decades of experience in various technology roles, she has specialised in f inancial services, covering areas such as superannuation, investments, digital, data, cloud, lending, and corporate technology. This extensive expertise was developed during her tenure at AMP, AustralianSuper, and ANZ, where she held various technology leadership positions.
At AMP, Kavita is the Chief Technology Officer, where she leads the group's technology strategy, ensuring a digital-first approach that supports AMP’s vision of a simplified and customer-focused business. This includes the shaping and deployment of AI Technology capabilities at scale. Kavita also leads the Enterprise Portfolio Value Management office, which ensures the enterprise-wide transformation portfolio delivers AMP’s strategic priorities with agility. Kavita is deeply passionate about continuous learning, excellence, and unlocking individual potential to build high performing teams and foster growth.
Dr Sue Keay is Director of the UNSW AI Institute and an expert in robotics, AI, and automation. She founded Robotics Australia Group and leads initiatives that translate research into real-world impact. A fellow of ATSE, she serves on multiple advisory boards, including Visionary Machines. Sue is a member of the Kingston AI Group and Chief Executive Women. She holds a PhD in Earth Sciences (ANU), an MBA from the University of Queensland, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute for Company Directors.
Professor Toby Walsh is an ARC Laureate Fellow and Scientia Professor of AI at UNSW and CSIRO Data61, and adjunct professor at QUT. He is a strong advocate for limits to ensure AI is used to improve our lives, having spoken at the UN, and to heads of state, parliamentary bodies, company boards and many other bodies on this topic. He is a Fellow of the Australia Academy of Science, and was named on the international "Who's Who in AI" list of influencers. He has authored two books on AI for a general audience, the most recent entitled "2062: The World that AI Made".
Engineering the Future: AI Evolving
