NewsWrap Friday 27 February 2025
In this episode of NewsWrap, InnovationAus.com editor Justin Hendry and James Riley discuss the changing AI policy landscape, the DTA's naughty list and a sudden IBM value crash.
Feb 26, 2026•14 min•Ep. 228
InnovationAus Podcast
James Riley and the InnovationAus team talks to corporate, academic and political leaders about what’s driving the transformation of Australia’s economy toward a 21st Century mindset. InnovationAus is an independent publication that reports on government policy as it affects technology-based innovation across the nation’s growth industries. From mining and agriculture to financial services, MedTech, cyber security and advanced manufacturing. The journalism focuses on the opportunities that align with Australia’s strategic priorities and connects government, institutional researchers, investors, entrepreneurs and the mainstream business community.
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Episodes
NewsWrap Friday 20 February 2025
In this episode of NewsWrap, InnovationAus.com editor Justin Hendry and James Riley discuss Andrew Charlton's attendance at the AI Impact Summit in India, the Queensland Premier David Crusafulli on PsiQuantum and NSW Minister for Planning Paul Scully on a new semiconductor packaging facility being built in western Sydney – and everything else that happened in tech this week.
Feb 20, 2026•17 min•Ep. 227
High energy lessons from Virginia's data centre alley - Victor Hoskins podcast
Victor Hoskins is the CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority in Virginia, a state that boasts the highest concentrations of data centres in the world. In this episode of the Commercial Disco, he talks to James Riley about making the most of the current data centre boom, and says there are lessons that Australia can learn from the Virginia experience.
Feb 16, 2026•25 min•Ep. 226
NewsWrap Friday 13 February 2026
In this episode of News Wrap, editorial director James Riley and editor Justin Hendry examine what's ahead in 2026, including the government's outstanding legislation agenda, the Strategic Examination of Research and Development, and the DTA's disappointing review of tech mega deals.
Feb 12, 2026•17 min•Ep. 225
Australia can lead on low-carbon concrete – if we act now
In this episode of Commercial Disco , SmartCrete CRC chief executive Clare Tubolets warns that Australia risks missing a multibillion-dollar global opportunity in low-carbon concrete unless governments maintain ambitious net-zero targets and help remove the systemic barriers to adoption. She explains why Australia’s research, supply-chain collaboration and technical capability put it in a strong position to lead -- but only if policy settings, procurement frameworks and risk-sharing mechanisms e...
Jan 22, 2026•15 min•Ep. 217
Rozetta Institute chief executive Paul Dalby
Australia talks endlessly about innovation, but struggles to turn ambition into impact. In this episode of Commercial Disco , Rozetta Institute chief executive Paul Dalby explains why the real problem isn’t technology or talent, but coordination — and how fixing systemic barriers across AI, energy and critical minerals could unlock billions in national value. Dalby outlines Rozetta’s unconventional, self-funded model and argues for a sharper focus on agency, resilience and industrial strategy in...
Jan 19, 2026•21 min•Ep. 224
AI journalist and author Jacob Ward
In this episode of Commercial Disco , journalist and author Jacob Ward argues that AI is accelerating faster than our understanding of human behaviour, creating systems optimised to exploit our cognitive biases rather than elevate our decision-making. He warns that without new safeguards — from “cognitive liberty” protections to cultural norms that reject over-reliance on AI — we risk flattening human creativity, autonomy and agency at global scale.
Jan 14, 2026•23 min•Ep. 218
NewsWrap - Year in Review December 2025
In this special episode of InnovationAus' weekly NewsWrap, join publisher Corrie McLeod, editor Justin Hendry and correspondent James Riley on a trip down memory lane, reliving the big themes of the year's reporting.
Dec 18, 2025•20 min•Ep. 223
National Reconstruction Fund chief executive officer David Gall
David Gall outlines the National Reconstruction Fund's strategy, emphasizing that patient capital, not investable companies, is Australia's real constraint. He explains how the NRF supports firms in priority areas like medtech and critical minerals, aiming to retain and expand Australian innovation while crowding in private investment. The discussion covers specific investments like Synchron and Arafura, detailing the fund's pipeline, engagement process, and focus on broader economic and social impact.
Dec 16, 2025•23 min•Ep. 216
NewsWrap Friday 12 December 2025
In this episode of News Wrap, editorial director James Riley and editor Justin Hendry examine the attention Australia's social media ban is gathering around the world, the government walking back a plan for expert AI advisers and Defence's evolving tech stack.
Dec 11, 2025•21 min•Ep. 222
SAP vice president for global public sector Ryan van Leent
In this episode of Commercial Disco , SAP’s Ryan van Leent explains why the future of government AI depends as much on knowing when not to apply artificial intelligence as on building new capabilities. He unpacks the risks of agentic AI, the limits of automation, and the practical steps needed to shift public-sector AI from endless pilots into trusted, production-grade systems.
Dec 10, 2025•19 min•Ep. 219
Chris Crozier, chief information officer, Department of Defence
In this episode of the Commercial Disco, Defence chief information officer Chris Crozier discusses the tech challenges and opportunities for the organisation - and outlines the best way for potential SME suppliers to engage with the department.
Dec 09, 2025•18 min•Ep. 221
NewsWrap Friday 5 December 2025
InnovationAus senior staffers Justin Hendry and James Riley cover a week's worth of tech industry news stories, including a deep dive into industry reaction to Australia's National AI Plan, as well as the sweeping board-level changes at the Tech Council of Australia.
Dec 04, 2025•20 min•Ep. 220
Tony Haymet, Chief Scientist
In this episode of Commercial Disco, Australia’s chief scientist Professor Tony Haymet argues that the nation must become an “AI maker, not an AI taker,” linking the growth of hyperscale compute to sovereign capability, scientific infrastructure and community engagement. He also explores how misinformation, Indigenous knowledge systems and national research priorities will shape Australia’s scientific and technological future.
Dec 03, 2025•34 min•Ep. 215
Rebekah Cassidy, chief executive AusBiotech
In this episode of Commercial Disco , AusBiotech chief executive Rebekah Cassidy challenges the long-held belief that Australia struggles with biotech commercialisation, pointing to a wave of untold success stories already competing globally. She also outlines the need for nationally coordinated life sciences policy, greater industry–government collaboration, and the growing opportunities at the intersection of biotech, data and AI.
Nov 25, 2025•19 min•Ep. 213
NewsWrap Friday 21 November 2025
In this episode of News Wrap, editorial director James Riley and editor Justin Hendry unpack the CSIRO job cuts, an upcoming digital duty of care for platform giants, Defence’s Copilot rollout and foreign suppliers pushing back on data localisation rules.
Nov 20, 2025•17 min•Ep. 214
NewsWrap Friday 14 November 2025
In this episode of News Wrap, editorial director James Riley and reporter Joseph Brookes look into the government's statement on STEM diversity, a public service AI plan, Australian companies making it through a global quantum program, and why CSIRO is grounding missions style research.
Nov 13, 2025•14 min•Ep. 212
DIGI managing director Sunita Bose
In this episode of Commercial Disco , DIGI managing director Sunita Bose speaks with James Riley about the balance between regulating big tech and recognising the industry’s own work to build safer digital spaces. She discusses the evolution of Australia’s misinformation code, shifting global approaches to online harms, and how emerging AI challenges are reshaping the guardrails for responsible innovation.
Nov 11, 2025•20 min•Ep. 211
NewsWrap Friday 7 November 2025
In this episode of News Wrap, editorial director James Riley and editor Justin Hendry unpack new data showing Australia will miss its 1.2 million tech jobs target and is going backwards on digital competitiveness, why OpenAI could end up banned for young Australians, Ghost Sharks, the PM's Prize for Science and more.
Nov 06, 2025•16 min•Ep. 210
Minh Hoang, youth innovation ambassador, eSafety Commissioner’s Advisory Council
In this episode, The Commercial Disco sits down with Minh Hoang, youth innovation leader and member of the eSafety Commissioner’s Advisory Council, to discuss how AI is reshaping culture, politics and identity. Hoang warns that “when you import technology, you import its politics,” calling for an Australian AI strategy that protects national values. From Gen Z’s “clanker” slang for robots to the global race for AI dominance, he explores how young people are balancing optimism, creativity and cau...
Nov 05, 2025•20 min•Ep. 205
NewsWrap Friday 31 October 2025
In this episode of News Wrap, editorial director James Riley and editor Justin Hendry dig into the proposed Technology Prosperity Deal with the US, planned copyright reforms to force AI giants to pay creators and all the latest on the national AI plan.
Oct 30, 2025•11 min•Ep. 209
NewsWrap Friday 24 October 2025
In this episode of News Wrap, InnovationAus editor Justin Hendry and editorial director James Riley explore the government's changes to procurement rules and whether they will level the playing field for local tech suppliers, the exit of the Tech Council CEO and much more.
Oct 23, 2025•14 min•Ep. 208
Paul Myler, founder and chief executive, StratQ
The new US-Australia critical minerals agreement promises to unlock US $8.5 billion in investment for priority projects over the next six months. In this episode of Commercial Disco , Justin Hendry and Paul Myler -- former deputy chief of mission at Australia’s Washington embassy and founder of StratQ -- unpack what's in the deal and why it matters.
Oct 21, 2025•18 min•Ep. 207
NewsWrap Friday 17 October 2025
In this episode of NewsWrap, InnovationAus editor Justin Hendry explores the debate around what is a sovereign supplier and the behind the scenes work to change the definition for Defence and tech firms.
Oct 16, 2025•14 min•Ep. 206
NewsWrap Friday 10 October 2025
In this wrap-up tech and innovation policy news, InnovationAus.com editor Justin Hendry and senior reporter Joseph Brookes dive into the drama from Senate Estimates, unpack Treasury's bizarre AI report and break down why the government's long-awaited 'tell us once' laws actually matter.
Oct 09, 2025•14 min•Ep. 204
NewsWrap Friday 3 October 2025
In this weekly wrap-up of Australia's tech and innovation policy news, InnovationAus.com senior reporter Joseph Brookes covers the latest discussion from the Strategic Examination of R&D review and the underspend of the Medical Research Future Fund, among other top stories.
Oct 02, 2025•12 min•Ep. 203
SeeMePlease founder Katie McDermott
In this episode of Commercial Disco , SeeMePlease founder Katie McDermott talks about building a user testing platform that puts accessibility first, the lessons she brought from her time as NSW’s chief digital officer, and the challenges startups face navigating government procurement.
Oct 01, 2025•13 min•Ep. 201
NewsWrap Friday 26 September 2025
With Anthony Albanese now penciled in for a meeting with Donald Trump at the White House on October 20, expect to hear about sizeable investments in data centres and renewables. InnovationAus editor Justin Hendry talks through the week's innovation news with James Riley.
Sep 25, 2025•14 min•Ep. 202
China tech policy expert Phillippa Jones
In this episode of Commercial Disco , China tech policy expert Phillippa Jones unpacks how Beijing’s long-term innovation strategy has been reshaped by the “Deep Seek moment” and what it signals for the global technology race. She traces the evolution from Made in China 2025 to new capital market models for funding science and technology, explains how the next five-year plan will set the direction for AI, robotics and quantum, and offers a perspective on where Australia should focus its comparat...
Sep 22, 2025•13 min•Ep. 193
Dawn Massa-Stancavish, CEO of US-based Massa Products Corporation
InnovationAus editorial director James Riley speaks with Dawn Massa-Stancavish, CEO of US-based Massa Products Corporation, about the company’s legacy in sonar and its role in supplying the Virginia-class submarines. Dawn shares her perspective on AUKUS, stressing the need for Pillar II to move in parallel with submarine programs and calling for greater involvement of SMEs in defence innovation. She also highlights collaborations with Australian suppliers and universities, and why agile supply c...
Sep 20, 2025•21 min•Ep. 200
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