AI Technology Advancement Committee
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology Advancement Committee within the Australian Computer Society (ACS) serves as a driving force in accelerating the development, adoption, and practical application of cutting-edge AI technologies across Australia. Bringing together leading experts from academia, industry, and government, the committee is focused on advancing the technical foundations, capabilities, and innovation pathways that underpin the next generation of AI systems.
Artificial Intelligence has rapidly matured into a transformative general-purpose technology, enabling breakthroughs in areas such as machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and autonomous systems. As AI capabilities continue to evolve, there is a growing need to ensure that technical advancements are robust, scalable, interoperable, and aligned with emerging industry standards and best practices.
The primary mission of the ACS AI Technology Advancement Committee is to foster technical excellence and innovation in AI. Through research collaboration, technical guidance, and thought leadership, the committee works to identify emerging technologies, promote the development of reference architectures and frameworks, and support the adoption of advanced AI solutions across key sectors of the economy.
By convening a network of specialists and practitioners, the committee provides a platform for knowledge exchange, experimentation, and the translation of research into real-world outcomes. It plays a critical role in identifying opportunities for investment, supporting innovation ecosystems, and contributing to the development of technical standards that enhance the reliability, performance, and scalability of AI systems.
The ACS AI Technology Advancement Committee is committed to strengthening Australia’s position as a leader in AI innovation. Through collaboration, advocacy, and technical leadership, it aims to accelerate the responsible advancement of AI technologies—ensuring they deliver tangible value, drive economic growth, and support a globally competitive digital future.
MACS Snr CP
Andrew Bell
Member
Andrew is a Data and Architecture professional who has over 20 years of industry experience designing and managing large Business Intelligence and line of business solutions. Andrew is passionate about empowering businesses to make fast, accurate and creative decisions backed by data. Andrew's background as a solicitor and programmer enable him to educate people on the importance and implications of security and the law when establishing and running a data practice. For the past 13 years Andrew has focused on the public and utilities sectors and is currently the Initiative Lead, Data Engineering and Delivery at Essential Energy.
AACS
Benjamin DiMarco
Member
Ben has over 14 years of legal and advisory experience specialising in cyber risk, privacy, technology law, financial insurance and dispute resolution. He has acted in over 300 data breaches providing triage, privacy, strategic and claim support to companies.
Ben leads Willis Towers Watson's Australia and New Zealand cyber and technology risk team providing insurance, assessment and consulting services to domestic and international clients. Ben focuses on helping clients understand their exposure and developing responsive risk and resilience strategies matching business objectives and support needs.
He regularly conducts workshops for client covering topics such as scenario tabletops, executive awareness, data and privacy governance, breach quantification, applied case studies, consensus-based action plans, third party risk, supply chain due diligence and insurance alignment.
Ben is the National Cyber Risk and Governance stream leader for the Australian Society of Computers & Law and their Queensland Chair. He also sits on the Privacy and Data Law Committee for the Queensland Law Society, and is a regular guest lecturer at the Queensland University of Technology.
Ben is a leading privacy and technology risk speaker and has in recent years delivered papers and presentations to bodies including the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner's Asia Pacific Forum, the Association of Corporate Counsel, the AusCERT National Security Conference, the Australian Information Security Association National Conference and to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia.
His recent work includes drafting manuscript cyber insurance wordings, managing complex data breach liability claims, advising on cyber security policy and procedure documents, helping organisations strengthen approaches to data privacy, coordinating complex client insurance placements and delivering risk consulting projects.
Until late 2018 Ben's legal practice involved a broad range of litigated and non-litigated matters. Ben assisted in the drafting of numerous cyber wordings used in the Australian market and designed incident response and privacy frameworks used by Australian and International organisations.
From 2016 to 2018 Ben worked with a leading San Francisco legal team on international cyber and technology claims involving data breaches, malware, mandatory notification laws, class actions, regulatory actions and PCI assessments.
FACS CP
David Rudduck
Member
Throughout his 25+ year career in the technology industry, David has a track record of challenging the status quo and disrupting legacy thinking and systems. A former Australian Computer Society “Digital Disruptor” awardee, he is always asking “Why?” and looking for more efficient ways to achieve desired outcomes, whilst also improving the impact on the communities served. After selling his business to a major cyber insurer, he stayed on and built out their Australian incident response practice, providing career pathways and opportunities for many amazing people – some not even from a tech background – before exiting after 25 years at the helm of a business he literally started in his mother’s basement. Beyond his professional endeavours, David is deeply passionate about mental health advocacy, drawing from his own journey and experiences. David is committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment within the cybersecurity industry, nurturing the next generation of talent and promoting mental wellness for all.
AACS
Rakesh Sharma
Member
Rakesh Sharma is a senior Cyber and AI security practitioner with 20 years of multi-disciplinary experience across global financial institutions and leading product security organizations in the APAC/ASEAN and ANZ regions. He currently serves as Chief Advisor at CYAIFI -an AI think tank, and is well recognised as a thought leader, author and mentor. He has successfully led and provided strategic advisory for large-scale cloud transformation, data enablement, and security engineering initiatives. Rakesh is also a member of ISACA, Cloud Security Alliance and other organisations where he contributes to AI research publications, certification exam and training development, mentoring and open-source initiatives.
AACS
Vibs Agrawal
Member
Vibs holds a B.Tech. and M.Tech. in Data Analytics and is a Graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors. Vibs brings 18 years of experience deploying machine learning at scale across industries including retail, medial devices, health, aviation, media, financial services and public sector in more than 5 continents. He additionally holds multiple architecture certifications across all major cloud technology providers. He has held senior leadership roles including Director of AI and Data at Deloitte and currently heads the AI and Innovation function at WA state government. Vibs is passionate about the opportunity in time that we have here in Australia to leverage AI and boost productivity and living standards in the community. Vibs also sits on advisory boards at University of WA along with teaching applied AI in a visiting capacity and has been personally educating the boards end executives of primary and secondary schools on AI Governance which aligns with his passion for AI in education sector contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 4 of UNESCO.
AACS
Lloyd McKie
Member
Lloyd McKie is a Solution Architect and Technical Lead at IBM, based in Perth, Western Australia. He specialises in Hybrid Cloud Architecture, Software Development, and the design of secure, scalable AI systems for regulated industries. Lloyd is passionate about responsible AI adoption, technical excellence, and advancing practical, ethical AI solutions that deliver real-world value.
MACS
Ruwangi Fernando
Member
Dr Ruwangi Fernando is an accomplished IT expert and AI specialist with a strong academic, industry and consulting background. Dr Fernando completed her PhD at Victoria University in collaboration with Data61, CSIRO and the Department of Transport in Victoria. She chairs the Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Australian Computer Society Victoria and is a member of The Department of Home Affairs Multicultural Women’s Reference Group.
Dr Fernando has a strong history of advocating for gender equity in STEM especially addressing the intersectional challenges faced by Women of Colour (WOC) in STEM. She was recognised for her efforts and awarded a STEM Women Changemaker by the Australian Academy of Science, Melbourne Asian Game Changer 2022 award by Asia Society and Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll in 2023. Dr Fernando founded STEM Sisters, a pioneer organisation that empowers STEM women of colour. She spearheads six award-winning programs to break down systemic barriers and promote equal access to opportunities in STEM for WOC. Under her leadership, STEM Sisters won many awards, including the Techdiversity Business (2023) and Media (2023) Awards, the Victorian International Education Excellence Award 2022, the Multicultural Excellence Award 2022, the Inclusive Volunteer Award (2025) and the WISE grant from the Department of Industry, Science and Resources.
MACS Snr CP
Arun Kannan
Member
Arun leads Data, Analytics & AI for APAC at Infosys, delivering responsible AI, data governance, and enterprise transformation across major Australian organisations. He brings deep technical expertise, strong industry and academic networks, and a track record of accountable, outcome-focused program delivery. As a strategic and purpose-led leader, he is committed to advancing ethical, human-centred technology and contributing practical insights to strengthen leadership in responsible AI and shape Australia’s digital future