Sydney Cloud & Datacenter Convention 2026

ATTENDEES

1100

+

Industry Attendees*

48 %

Senior Management*

30 %

C-Level Attendees*

60 +

Sponsors/Exhibitors

35 +

Expert Speakers

Event Venue

16 September 2026

01.00 PM - 06.00 PM

17 September 2026

08.00 AM - 06.30 PM

ICC Sydney, Exhibition Centre, Hall 4

Event Brief

The Sydney Cloud & Datacentre Convention 2026 returns bigger, bolder and more future-focused than ever before. As AI adoption accelerates and cloud demand surges across industries, the need for resilient, scalable and sustainable digital infrastructure has never been greater. Over two dynamic days, this landmark gathering will unite data center operators, cloud providers, hyperscalers, investors, engineers, technology innovators and enterprise leaders to explore the technologies, strategies and partnerships powering the next era of digital growth.
This year's expanded edition introduces three concurrent tracks, offering deeper insights and specialized discussions across the entire digital infrastructure ecosystem.

Track 1) Data Center Stage - Explore the future of data center design, construction, sustainability, energy strategy and operational excellence as facilities scale to meet the AI and high-density compute boom.
Track 2) Cloud, AI & Compute - Dive into the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure - from AI-ready architectures and GPU clusters to cloud transformation, automation and next-generation compute platforms.
Track 3) Interconnect World Stage - A dedicated half day forum for the networks and connectivity powering the digital economy, featuring discussions on subsea cables, IXPs, fibre infrastructure, edge connectivity, and the growing importance of interconnection ecosystems.
The convention will kick off in the afternoon of 16 September, setting the stage with high-impact keynote discussions, panels and networking opportunities, and continue through a full day of thought leadership, panels, and masterclasses on 17 September, culminating in an evening close. With expanded content, deeper technical conversations and unmatched networking opportunities, the Sydney Cloud & Datacenter Convention 2026 is where the region's digital infrastructure leaders come together to connect, collaborate and shape the future of cloud, AI and data centres.

Event Agenda

1:00 PM-1:45 PM

Registration Desk

Registration

Scan your QR Ticket & Get your badge

1:45 PM-1:50 PM

Welcome Address

1:50 PM-2:10 PM

Opening Keynote: The Future of Data Centres in Australia: Growth, Power & Delivering at Scale

This opening keynote explores how Australia can balance rapid data centre growth with energy availability and infrastructure readiness – focusing on what it will take to deliver capacity at scale in a market where power access, project timelines and supply chains are becoming increasingly critical to deployment.

2:10 PM-2:40 PM

International Keynote: From Hyperscale to Hyper-Density: How AI is Redefining Data Centre Design & Operations

The industry is shifting from hyperscale to hyper-density, where performance is no longer defined by size, but by how much compute can be packed into every rack, megawatt, and square meter. With AI driving rack densities beyond 50-100kW, traditional designs are being reengineered with liquid cooling, advanced power architectures, and highly automated operations. This keynote explores how AI is fundamentally redefining data centre design, pushing operators to rethink infrastructure, efficiency and scalability – and how these approaches translate into real-world deployments across different markets..

2:40 PM-3:00 PM

Sponsor Keynote: Operational Excellence at Scale: Optimising Performance, Resilience & Efficiency

This keynote explores how operators can optimise performance, resilience and efficiency across the entire lifecycle- from design and deployment to day-to-day operations. The session will highlight best practices in automation, predictive maintenance, energy optimisation, and workforce enablement, while addressing the challenges of scaling infrastructure without compromising reliability or sustainability. Join this session to discover how organisations are leveraging innovation and data-driven strategies to build smarter, more agile and future-ready data centre operations.

3:00 PM-3:40 PM

Panel: Power, Land & Permits: The Real Bottlenecks to Scaling Data Centres in Australia

From grid limitations and zoning challenges to site selection strategies and emerging secondary markets, the discussion will explore how developers, investors and operators can navigate an increasingly complex landscape. Can Australia keep pace with global demand, or will these bottlenecks redirect growth elsewhere?

Panelist

Matthew Madden

Senior Managing Director - APAC Data Centre Solutions

CBRE APAC

3:40 PM-4:10 PM

Afternoon Break

4:10 PM-4:30 PM

Sponsor Keynote: AI is no longer just Compute: Scaling the Physical Layer for Data Centres

As AI capacity grows, the pressure on data centres is no longer limited to compute. Power, cooling, pathways, fibre density, cable management, and physical-layer design all influence whether a data hall can scale, change, and operate reliably.

This session explains why the physical layer must be included in the discussion of AI infrastructure. It will cover how high-density AI and cloud environments increase cabling complexity, why point-to-point cabling can address individual links but becomes harder to manage at scale, and how a structured physical layer supports traceability, fault isolation, staged growth, and safer change control.

The session will close with a forward-looking view of connected data centres.

Speaker

Justin Bean

Technical Systems Engineer - Data Centres

Panduit Australia

4:30 PM-4:55 PM

Panel: Unifying BMS, EPMS, and DCIM into a Single Controls Platform

Panelist

Leroy D'Souza

Head of Data Centres - SI Buildings Australia

Siemens

4:55 PM-5:35 PM

Fire-Side Chat: The Data Centre CEO Outlook: Scaling Infrastructure in a Competitive Market

In this candid fire-side chat, CEOs share their perspectives on navigating growth, managing risk and positioning their organisations to lead in an increasingly competitive and capital-intensive AI driven landscape balancing growth ambitions with infrastructure, energy and delivery realities.

Scaling at Speed - How CEOs are balancing rapid expansion with operational resilience and long-term strategy
Overcoming challenges in managing power constraints, rising costs and increasing competition for land and talent
Where are leaders investing today to stay ahead in the evolving AI infrastructure ecosystem?

Panelist

David Hirst

CEO

Macquarie Technology Group

9:00 AM-9:30 AM

International Keynote: From Deployment to Decision: Building Infrastructure That Keeps Pace with Agentic AI.

This presentation would bridge the realities of deploying infrastructure for gigawatt training campuses today with the future demands of agentic, always-on AI systems.

Speaker

Anahita Mouro

Global Leader

Google

9:30 AM-9:50 AM

Keynote: Freedom, Control & Resilience: The New Priorities Shaping Cloud Strategy

A broader executive-level discussion around:

Avoiding infrastructure lock-in
Interoperability and reversibility
Geopolitical and regulatory pressures
How enterprises are reassessing cloud strategy in a more complex global environment

Speaker

Terry Maiolo

Vice President and General Manager, Asia Pacific

OVHcloud

9:50 AM-10:10 AM

Sponsor Keynote: The 1 MW rack and going beyond the sidecar – Optimizing the future of 800VDC for power distribution

As data centres and high-performance computing environments scale to unprecedented levels, traditional power distribution architectures face critical limitations. This session explores the next frontier in energy delivery: the 1 MW rack and the evolution beyond sidecar designs through advanced 800VDC strategies. We will examine how 800VDC optimizes efficiency, reduces losses, and supports the growing demands of AI workloads and hyperscale infrastructure. Attendees will gain insights into design considerations, safety standards, and integration approaches that enable sustainable, high-density power distribution for future-ready facilities. Join us to understand why 800VDC is not just an alternative—it’s the foundation for powering the next generation of compute.

Speaker

Mark Deguara

General Manager Data Centres, Secure Power Division

Schneider Electric ANZ

10:10 AM-10:50 AM

Panel: Direct Liquid Cooling: From Commissioning to Operation

Panelist

Mark Roberts

Data Centre Market Development Director - Asia Pacific

Castrol

10:50 AM-11:20 AM

Morning Break

11:20 AM-11:40 AM

Sponsor Keynote: Independent Conditioned Power for Data Centres

Off-grid Conditioned Power up to 500MW Burgeoning power demand requires innovative solutions when the grid can’t cope. This British engineering group brings together three highly regarded leaders in their field to offer an independent power solution to data centers. Bergen Engines, (formerly Rolls-Royce Bergen Engines) of Norway, Italian generator manufacturer Marelli Motori and the German Gold Standard UPS producer, Piller Power Systems, comprise the Power Solutions Division of Langley Holdings plc.

Speaker

Jonathan Davis

Managing Director

Piller Australia

11:40 AM-12:00 PM

Sponsor Keynote: datacenterHawk Session

Speaker

Dedi Iskandar

Regional Director – Asia Pacific

datacenterHawk

12:00 PM-12:20 PM

Sponsor Keynote: Cooling the AI Boom: Deploying Next-Generation Thermal Strategies at Scale

This keynote explores the next generation of thermal management strategies reshaping modern data centres - from direct-to-chip liquid cooling to full immersion solutions and hybrid cooling architectures. This session will also address real-world deployment challenges, cost considerations and the path to integrating advanced cooling technologies into both new builds and existing facilities. Join us to learn how innovative thermal strategies are enabling the sustainable growth of AI infrastructure.

12:20 PM-12:40 PM

Fire-Side Chat: Constructing the Next-Gen Data Centre: Designing for Scalability, Speed & Sustainability

This fire-side chat will explores how operators and designers are tackling the challenges of constructing facilities that are scalable, energy-efficient and agile, while supporting AI, cloud and hyperscale workloads in a fast-moving and resource-constrained environment. Attendees will gain insights into design strategies, innovative construction methods and operational practices that future-proof data centres for the decade ahead.

Using low-carbon materials, water-efficient design and green building certifications.
Devising strategies to accelerate construction timelines without compromising quality or efficiency
Ensuring high-density operations meet environmental and regulatory goals while delivering uptime and efficiency

12:40 PM-1:00 PM

Sponsor Keynote: The Data Centre Supply Chain: Building Resilience for the Next Phase of Growth

This keynote will examine the root causes of today's supply chain disruptions and what must change to build a more resilient, agile and future-ready ecosystem. Gain insights into how industry leaders are rethinking procurement strategies, strengthening supplier partnerships, localising supplier networks and leveraging innovation to mitigate risk. Join this session to understand how the data centre sector can evolve its supply chain to keep pace with the demands of the AI era.

1:00 PM-2:15 PM

Lunch

2:15 PM-2:35 PM

Principal Keynote: Practical Sustainability in Data Centres: Delivering Efficiency at Scale

This keynote explores actionable strategies for building and operating data centres that are energy-efficient, resource conscious and environmentally responsible. The session will also highlight real-world case studies demonstrating how leading operators balance performance, scalability and sustainability. Join this keynote to understand how to drive long-term value while reducing environmental impact in the rapidly evolving data centre landscape.

2:35 PM-2:55 PM

Sponsor Keynote: TBC

Speaker

Gaven Gu

Sales Manager

BeeHe

2:55 PM-3:35 PM

Panel: The Physics of AI Infrastructure: Rethinking Power, Cooling & Efficiency for the Next Generation of Data Centres

AI workloads are fundamentally changing the physical requirements of data centre infrastructure, particularly around power density, thermal management and system efficiency. This panel is a strategic conversation about how operators and designers must rethink infrastructure engineering to support next-generation AI environments. Key discussion themes:

The relationship between compute density, thermals and energy consumption
System-level optimisation across cooling and power infrastructure
Improving efficiency without compromising uptime or performance
Lessons data centres can take from industrial engineering environments
The future direction of high-density AI infrastructure

Panelist

Jim Rose

Data Centre & Commercial Buildings Lead

Danfoss ANZ

3:35 PM-4:05 PM

Afternoon Break

4:05 PM-4:45 PM

Panel: Building Faster: The Role of Electrical Design, Standardisation and Supply Chains in Data Centre Delivery

With demand outpacing supply, speed to market has become a defining competitive factor in data centre development. Electrical systems - often on the critical path - are now a key determinant of how quickly capacity can be delivered. This panel will explore:

The impact of equipment lead times and global supply chains
Standardisation vs custom design
Prefabrication and modular electrical systems
Collaboration between consultants, contractors, and suppliers.

The focus is on how the industry is adapting to deliver projects faster without compromising quality, safety, or scalability.

Panelist

Ras Jayawickrama

Executive General Manager – Operations

IPD Group

4:45 PM-5:25 PM

Closing Panel: Building the Data Centre of 2030: Scaling Infrastructure for AI and Beyond

The next decade will redefine how data centres are designed, powered and managed. This closing panel explores the future of high-performance, resilient and sustainable facilities built to support AI-driven workloads and hyper-scale demand, while navigating evolving energy, design and operational requirements. Industry experts will discuss emerging architectural trends, advanced power solutions and the role of AI in optimizing operations, cooling and energy-efficiency. Attendees will leave the conference with a forward-looking view of how data centres can evolve to meet both technological and environmental challenges.

Future-ready architecture: Designing flexible, modular and high-density data centre layouts for evolving workloads
Next-gen power strategies: Integrating renewable energy, on-site generation and smart grid technologies for reliability and efficiency
AI-driven operations: Leveraging AI for predictive maintenance, workload optimisation and real-time energy management
Talent for 2030: Identifying emerging roles in AI, automation and sustainable operations, and addressing the shortage of specialised talent

7:30 AM-9:00 AM

Registration Desk

Registrations Open

9:50 AM-10:20 AM

Opening Keynote: Australia’s Connectivity Future - Powering a Digital & AI Economy

As AI and cloud demand surge, Australia’s connectivity infrastructure must scale faster than ever. This keynote explores the investments, policies and infrastructure priorities positioning Sydney as a key digital gateway in the region

10:20 AM-10:40 AM

Keynote: Data Centre Growth and the DCI Market: How Far Into Connectivity Will Hyperscalers Go?

Speaker

David Kennedy

Managing Director

Venture Insights

10:40 AM-11:00 AM

Morning Break

11:00 AM-11:40 AM

Panel: Subsea, Fibre & Interconnect - Building Resilient Global Connectivity

From new subsea cable systems to terrestrial fibre expansion, connectivity is being redefined at scale. This panel explores how Australia is strengthening its global connectivity, redundancy and capacity to meet future demand

The role of subsea cables in connecting Australia to APAC and beyond
Designing resilient, redundant network infrastructure
Where are the next major connectivity investments?

Panelist

David Trad

CEO

Vine Networks

Panelist

Hamid Maani

Consultant

Panelist

Dan Whitford

Founder & Principal

Critical Infrastructure Consulting

Panelist

Dave Pearson

Chief Revenue Officer

WAVESQUARED

11:40 AM-12:00 PM

Keynote: AI is Rewriting Network Demand - Are Our Connectivity Networks Ready?

AI workloads are fundamentally changing how data is generated, moved and consumed - placing unprecedented pressure on networks. This keynote explores how AI is reshaping traffic patterns, latency requirements and infrastructure design, and what it means for the future of connectivity

Speaker

Matthew Schultz

Partner & Director

Gravelroad Group

12:00 PM-12:20 PM

Keynote: 5G, Edge & AI - The New Network Architecture

The convergence of 5G, edge computing and AI is reshaping network architecture. This keynote explores how next-generation connectivity is enabling real-time applications and transforming enterprise operations

12:20 PM-1:00 PM

Panel: Securing Critical Connectivity Infrastructure in a Digital-First World

As reliance on connectivity grows, so do risks. This panel explores how organisations can protect networks against cyber threats, outages and geopolitical disruptions.

Cyber threats targeting telecom and network infrastructure
Building resilient, secure connectivity systems
The role of regulation and public-private collaboration

1:00 PM-2:15 PM

Lunch

2:15 PM-2:35 PM

Fire-Side Chat: From Fibre to Power: Solving the Infrastructure Bottlenecks Behind AI Growth

As AI and hyperscale deployments accelerate globally, the challenge is no longer simply building data centres - it is activating them at speed. Power availability, high-voltage infrastructure, transmission access and network connectivity are increasingly becoming interdependent variables, with delays in one area creating knock-on impacts across the broader digital infrastructure ecosystem. This fire-side chat explores how infrastructure providers are navigating the growing entanglement between energy and connectivity, and what operators, developers and enterprises need to consider as they plan the next generation of AI-ready environments.

2:35 PM-3:15 PM

Closing Panel: The Future of Connectivity - Intelligence, Autonomous & Always-On

Connectivity is evolving into intelligent, self-optimizing networks. This closing panel will explore how AI and automation will redefine connectivity in the next decade - and what organisations must do to prepare

Panelist

Sean Rinas

Head of Connectivity

NEXTDC

3:15 PM-5:00 PM

Sessions on-going in Plenary/ Main Hall

7:30 AM-9:00 AM

Registration Desk

Registrations Open

8:50 AM-10:30 AM

Sessions on-going in the Plenary/Main Hall

10:30 AM-11:00 AM

Morning Break

11:00 AM-11:40 AM

Panel: Scaling AI Infrastructure: Power, Compute & Cost Realities

AI workloads are pushing infrastructure to its limits - driving unprecedented demand for GPUs, energy, and scalable cloud capacity. This panel explores how organisations are navigating the physical and financial realities of scaling AI

The true cost of AI: compute, power and infrastructure investments
GPU supply, capacity constraints and emerging alternatives
Designing efficient, scalable infrastructure for AI workloads

Panelist

May Lam

Chief Information Officer

Australian Payments Plus

Moderator

Ben Pattison

Founder, Data, AI & Advanced Analytics Leader

Runik

11:40 AM-12:00 PM

Special Keynote: The AI-Empowered Enterprise: From Experimentation to Execution

AI is moving beyond experimentation into core business strategy. This keynote will explore how organisations are scaling AI across the enterprise, overcoming barriers and delivering measurable outcomes. What does it take to turn AI ambition into real impact?

Speaker

Pieter Vorster

Chief Data & AI Executive

Westpac

12:00 PM-12:20 PM

Keynote: Securing the AI & Cloud Era: Trust, Risk & Governance at Scale

As AI and cloud adoption accelerates, so do concerns around security, ethics and governance. This keynote explores how organisations can build trusted AI systems while managing risk and ensuring compliance. What does responsible AI look like at scale?

12:20 PM-1:00 PM

Industry Deep-Dive Panel: AI & Cloud Transformation Across Industries: Lessons from Pilots to Enterprise Rollouts

Organisations are accelerating AI and cloud adoption across industries: from banking and healthcare to retail and manufacturing. Yet many initiatives stall at the pilot stage. This panel will bring together industry leaders to share real-world lessons on scaling AI and cloud transformation, overcoming organisational and technical barriers and delivering measurable business value

What separates successful enterprise rollouts from stalled AI pilots?
Industry specific use cases driving real impact and ROI
Overcoming data, integration and organisational challenges at scale

Moderator

Bijal Sejpal

Founder

Omameh

Panelist

Dr Tom Gao

Chief Technology & Digital Services Officer

City of Sydney

Panelist

Kate Carruthers

AGSM

UNSW Business School

1:00 PM-2:15 PM

Lunch

2:15 PM-2:35 PM

Keynote: The Future of Computing: Cloud, Edge & Quantum Convergence

The next era of innovation will be driven by the convergence of cloud, edge and quantum computing. This keynote explores how distributed, high-performance architectures will reshape industries. How should organisations prepare themselves for this major transformation?

2:35 PM-3:15 PM

Panel: Neo Clouds vs Hyperscalers: The New Battle for AI Infrastructure

A new generation of AI-native “neo clouds” is challenging traditional hyperscalers with GPU-first, specialised platforms. This panel examines whether they will disrupt the cloud market- or coexist as niche providers.

Cost, performance and flexibility for AI workloads
What differentiates neo clouds from AWS, Azure and Google Cloud?
Will enterprises shift or adopt a hybrid cloud strategy?

Panelist

John Henderson

General Manager

Centuria DC

3:15 PM-3:35 PM

Keynote: The Intelligent Enterprise 2030: Competing in an AI-First World

As AI, cloud and data converge, organisations must rethink how they operate and compete. This forward-looking keynote will explore what the enterprise of 2030 will look like- and the strategic priorities leaders must act on today.

3:35 PM-4:05 PM