Highlights from ACS Canberra: Leadership, Innovation, and Technology
28 Oct 2025 | By Jenalle Bushby, Canberra Branch Manager
Highlights
What is the one thing that come to your mind when we talk about empowering productivities through leadership?
The first thing that comes to my mind is “enabling others to succeed.”
Empowering productivity through leadership isn’t just about driving output, it’s about creating the conditions where people feel trusted, supported, and motivated to perform at their best. That means removing barriers, giving autonomy, providing clarity of purpose, and recognising contributions so individuals and teams can thrive.
It was inspiring to hear from our guest speakers, Kylie Watson (Head of Cyber Security DXC Tecnology) and Charles McHardie AM (CIO Services Australia) who shared their insights on "Empowering Productivity Through Leadership" on Tuesday 28 Oct 2025 at the National Portrait Gallery Canberra with a full house of passionate professionals.
It was an important and interesting discussion and points of view with impacts of AI, Cyber security in the workplace and now to Quantum as well.
Charles McHardie AM highlighted that to truly empower productivity, organisations must “focus on people first, then process, and then technology.” This approach, he noted, ensures that transformation efforts are sustainable and deliver measurable value.
Kylie Watson reinforced the importance of culture and trust in fostering innovation, stating that “creating a collaborative environment that inspires innovation, accountability, and continuous growth, giving people space for innovation through secure design is absolutely vital in this age of AI and quantum.”
Their discussion explored how advances in AI, cyber security, and quantum computing are reshaping leadership, productivity, and the future of work.
The event sparked thoughtful conversations among passionate professionals eager to explore how leadership, innovation, and technology come together to drive organisational performance in the digital age.
The ACS Canberra Branch extends its sincere appreciation to our event sponsor, Calleo, and table sponsors, DXC Tecnology, TBF Digital, Agile Digital, APVMA for their continued partnership and contribution to the ACS and Canberra tech community.
We would like to sincerely thank our guest speakers, Kylie Watson and Charles McHardie AM, for sharing their expertise; our Branch Chair, Annie Ryan, Chief Operating Officer at APVMA; our wonderful panel facilitator, Eric Nguyen, ACS Canberra BEC member; our event coordinator, Caroline Sha; and everyone who attended or contributed to making this event a success.
Thank you all for your active participation and thoughtful engagement with ACS.
As we continue to navigate a rapidly evolving digital landscape, leadership remains central to empowering productivity and driving meaningful change. The ACS Canberra Branch remains committed to providing platforms where members can connect, share insights, and lead with impact.
Stay tuned for our upcoming events as we continue the conversation on leadership, innovation, and the future of digital transformation.
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If you’d like to learn more about ACS membership or explore how ACS can support your organisation or professional development, please contact Jenalle Bushby at Jenalle.Bushby@acs.org.au
Find out more about ways we can work with you, contact us: acs.canb@acs.org.au
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