Digital Modernisation: Unlocking Success Beyond Legacy Systems with Synergy Group Australia

27 Oct 2025 

Highlights

Legacy systems shouldn’t define your future.

  • Across the federal government, more than 110 major digital projects are underway - yet many agencies remain constrained by outdated systems that drain budgets, limit innovation, and expose critical risks. Too often, attempts to replace these systems have failed at great cost.
  • This event equip you with the knowledge, insights, and practical steps to successfully modernise your digital environment - and avoid the pitfalls that plague so many transformation programs.

Last week (14 Oct), the ACS (Australian Computer Society) Canberra had pleasure to host Synergy Group for a special event on Digital Modernisation: Unlocking Success Beyond Legacy Systems.

A huge thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the conversation. It was great to see many passionate professionals exploring how we can move beyond outdated infrastructure, liberate innovation, and strengthen cyber resilience in our agencies. The data is clear: legacy systems slow us down, tie up precious budget and talent, and open the door to risk.

Special thanks to our speaker, Ian McDermott, Partner, Digital & Strategic Transformation at Synergy Group Australia for sharing his 30+ years of global experience in government transformation. His insight on why projects fail (and how to set them up for success) was especially impactful.

Here are a few key take-aways:

  • Recognising ageing environments isn’t just “IT debt” and it directly impacts agility, innovation and risk.
  • Modernisation must be thoughtful: alignment with current systems, governance and purpose matters more than just “rip and replace.” 
  • Digital transformation is as much about people, process and culture as it is about technology. 
  • Networking with peers facing similar legacy-challenges was invaluable — it’s clear we’re not alone.

Here’s to continuing the journey of modernisation, if you have something to share, please let me or Ian Mcdermott know, as we are looking for SME speaker(s) for our next Digital Modernisation event in 2026.

Thanks again to Synergy Group for your ongoing support by sponsoring and speaking at ACS (Australian Computer Society) events, and to the TBF Digital team, especially Sarah-Louise MacDonald, for being such a great member and advocate for ACS.

Find out more about ways we can work with you, contact us: acs.canb@acs.org.au

About the ACS Canberra Hub
The ACS Hub is a custom-built space for members to meet, collaborate, and attend events. Meeting rooms are also available for hire by both members and non-members.

📅 Book a room or find out more about upcoming events and member benefits.

 

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