IDSS 2025 program

Browse the plenary program. This page will be updated regularly — please check back for the concurrent program launch in August.

Plenary program and speakers

Marek Kowalkiewicz headshot

Keynote speaker

Marek Kowalkiewicz, Professor & Chair in Digital Economy at QUT Business School and Thinkers360 Top 100 Global AI Thought Leader

Marek Kowalkiewicz is the author of The Economy of Algorithms: AI and the Rise of the Digital Minions, winner of the 2024 Australian Business Book Award (Technology). Marek has led global innovation teams in Silicon Valley, founded SAP’s Machine Learning Lab in Singapore, and held research roles at Microsoft Research Asia. His work focuses on helping leaders understand and navigate the business implications of AI and algorithmic systems.

Adam Spencer headshot

Plenary facilitator

Adam Spencer: broadcaster, author and Australia’s favourite maths nerd!

One of Australia’s most loved broadcasters, science communicators and maths geeks Adam Spencer excels at vibrant and incisive conversations. Prepare to laugh while you learn as Adam brings our seminar to life. Plucked from would be academia while reading for a PhD in Pure Mathematics at the University of Sydney, Adam won Triple J’s inaugural Raw Comedy competition and soon commenced a 6 year stint on the highly successful breakfast show with Wil Anderson. He followed this up by hosting ABC Sydney Breakfast and The Summer Drum on ABC TV. He is an author of 7 best selling books on popular mathematics and the highly respected NerdNews weekly blog.

Plenary one, Monday 17 November

20th Anniversary Retrospective (37 Years of IDSS)

Graeme Innes headshot

Graeme Innes AM

Chancellor of Central Queensland University & NDIS board member

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Kim Birch headshot

Kim Birch

Advisory services

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Geoff Atkins headshot

Geoff Atkins

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Join us for a reflective celebration of IDSS's remarkable 37-year journey since 1988. This retrospective explores how injury and disability schemes have transformed, examining major reforms, evolving claims management practices, and emerging risks such as psychological injuries. Our speakers Geoff Atkins, Kim Birch (CTP Insurance Regulator South Australia) and Graeme Innes AM (Central Queensland University & NDIS board member) will share insights on scheme design challenges and outcomes, and reflect on predictions made decades ago. Through this historical lens, we'll understand how past experiences shape today's ecosystem and informs future direction.

Plenary two, Monday 17 November

The Great Debate - Reimagining Injury and Disability Schemes

Estelle Pearson headshot

Estelle Pearson

Director and Principal, Finity Consulting

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Jason Lardelli headshot

Jason Lardelli

Executive Director, Return to Work Victoria

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David Bacon headshot

David Bacon

General Manager People Risk Claims (CTP&WC), QBE Australia

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Prepare for a lively, light-hearted debate that tackles important aspects of scheme design in a fun way, while still delivering serious underlying insights. Some of our brightest (and bravest!) scheme experts will argue for and against adopting a NZ-like scheme in Australia, taking positions they might not even hold themselves and opening an international can of worms in the process! This interactive session includes audience voting and engagement and may, through spirited debate, challenge conventional thinking and explore innovative approaches to scheme reimagining.

Plenary three, Tuesday 18 November

Experiences From Within - Navigating the Complex Injury and Disability Ecosystem

Matthew Ames

Matthew Ames

Non-executive Director

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Michelle Sterling speaker

Michele Sterling

Professor in the RECOVER Injury Centre and Director of the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence: Better Health Outcomes for Compensable Injury, The University of Queensland, Australia

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The injury and disability ecosystem is complex. It involves many different parties, including employers, treatment providers and health researchers, to work together to support the injured person or participant at the centre.

This session aims to give a voice to these parties. It explores how participant outcomes can be improved through enhanced coordination across the wider ecosystem and a more holistic participant experience. Petrina Casey (Safework), Michele Sterling (Centre of Research Excellence in Better Health Outcomes for Compensable Injury) and Matthew Ames (Non-executive Director) bring a unique mix of experiences to discuss innovations occurring in their space, current barriers and challenges, and potential solutions to better connect ecosystem components.

By painting a picture of the wider ecosystem, you'll have an opportunity to ponder and design scheme improvements in a more holistic manner. 

Plenary four, Tuesday 18 November

The Future — AI and Technology

Dr Kate Conway headshot

Dr Kate Conroy

AI Safety and Assurance Advisor — Data and AI, Department of Customer Service for Open Data and Small and Family Business, Queensland Government

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Brian Hartzer headshot

Brian Hartzer

CEO, Quantium Health

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Tim Johnson headshot

Tim Johnson

Head of Intelligent Solutions Delivery, Suncorp Group

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Explore how rapidly advancing AI and other emerging technologies are reshaping the future for insurance schemes, stakeholders and service providers. This forward-looking session examines technological opportunities, practical business applications, and critical governance considerations as we navigate this digital transformation. Dr Kate Conroy (Queensland Government), Brian Hartzer (Quantium Health), and Tim Johnson (Suncorp Group) will discuss current industry developments, identify key opportunities and risks, then engage in facilitated discussion about the considerations we all face. Understanding how technology connects within our ecosystem is crucial for advancing better outcomes while managing associated challenges. 

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Three actuaries networking at an event. Photo is within a view finder