In this third Summer Series episode, we spotlight two century‑old Australian manufacturers - InfraBuild and Dux - who are using AI not as hype, but as a practical lever for safety, service coverage, and productivity.

• From Sharmy Francis, Innovation Manager at InfraBuild, we hear how automating product tagging on 24/7 rolling mills strengthened end‑to‑end traceability, removed ergonomic risks, and created new career pathways - upskilling seasoned operators into robotics and software-enabled roles.
• From Simon Terry, CEO at Dux, we hear how introducing an AI voice agent bridged hard-to-staff hours (5am–9pm across AU/NZ time zones), improved customer access to support 24/7, and relieved teams from the least desirable shifts - without job losses.

Across both stories, the human dimension looms large: open communication with staff, visible executive sponsorship, and responsible AI governance that accelerates adoption rather than slowing it. The call to action is clear: Australian industry cannot afford to sit this one out - go sooner, go harder, start small and safe, and let momentum compound.

Key Takeaways

• Start with a specific problem. Narrow scope (e.g. traceability tagging, 24/7 call coverage) beats broad ambitions. Deliver one outcome, then iterate.
• Safety + productivity can move together. Automating ergonomically risky tagging tasks improved both operator safety and 100% traceability.
• Guardrails tame risk. Domain “sandpits,” curated knowledge, human oversight of every call, and continuous training mitigated hallucinations and elevated quality.
• No jobs lost - better jobs created. AI absorbed unpopular hours and repetitive tasks; organisations invested in new roles (data scientists, data engineers, analysts, supply chain optimisation, robotics operators).
• Culture is the multiplier. Be transparent with teams, celebrate quick wins, and normalise “fail fast, learn fast”. Executive sponsorship and cross‑functional AI governance keep adoption safe and fast.
• Data compounds value. The first use case unlocks richer data, revealing adjacent optimisation opportunities across operations and service.
• Australia needs the tailwind. With rising input costs and a productivity gap, practical AI is a rare lever for competitiveness - industry must act now.

Read Australian Industry Group’s report Artificial Intelligence: Positive for companies, their people, and Australian Industry.

Note: This recording is from a live event and the audio quality may vary.

Contact the Industry Development & Policy team here.

Dive deeper into this topic by listening to our previous DBrief episodes Summer Series: 

• Getting Started: The AI Adoption Challenge for Industry
• Executing AI in complex settings

In this episode, we spotlight two industries where the stakes couldn’t be higher - healthcare and superannuation - and ask: how do organisations build trust, navigate regulation, and introduce AI responsibly in emotionally sensitive environments?

Our panel brings together three leaders implementing AI at scale:

• Greg Hill, Head of Data Strategy, Analytics and Insights, AustralianSuper, shares how an empathy‑led, consultation‑driven approach is helping uplift AI capability across investment, member, and enterprise teams — without overwhelming staff or compromising trust.
• Elizabeth Turner, Segment Director for Health & New Zealand, ISS Australia, reveals how her team tackled hospital food waste using computer vision, and why starting with the problem, not the technology, was the key to success.
• Rita Arrigo, National AI Centre, reflects on responsible AI, cultural fit when choosing vendors, and why visibility across AI projects can spark innovation and reduce duplicated effort.

From navigating regulated environments and cybersecurity, to building communities of practice and managing expectations around generative AI, this conversation explores the human, technical, and organisational dynamics needed to implement AI safely and meaningfully.

Key Takeaways

• Start with the problem, not the technology. Both organisations emphasised problem‑definition as the foundation for successful AI adoption.
• Empathy‑led change management works. Deep consultation, listening, and internal “consulting mindsets” help overcome fears and build genuine buy‑in.
• Responsible AI requires cultural fit. Choosing vendors aligned with organisational values is as important as technical capability.
• AI can strengthen (not replace!) human judgment. Communities of practice, executive education, and bottom‑up capability uplift ensure adoption sticks.
• Regulated environments can enable innovation. Standards like HL7 support safe data sharing while unlocking new clinical and operational insights.
• Integration is essential for long‑term impact. Interfaces, workflows, and data governance must evolve to embed AI into core operations.
• Cybers AI is no longer bundled into the “cyber risk” bucket. Instead, leaders now see that AI is critical for defending against the rising volume and sophistication of cyber‑attacks - providing detection, monitoring, and response capabilities that humans alone can’t match.

Read Australian Industry Group’s report Artificial Intelligence: Positive for companies, their people, and Australian Industry.

Note: This recording is from a live event and the audio quality may vary.

Contact the Industry Development & Policy team here.

Dive deeper into this topic by listening to our previous DBrief episode Summer Series: Getting Started - The AI Adoption Challenge for Industry.

In this episode, we explore one of the most pressing questions for Australian industry: why is AI adoption still so low, and what will it take to change that?

Our panel brings together three unique perspectives:

• Martin U. Ripple, Group Chief Executive, ANCA - a leader in CNC machines -shares how his company overcame internal resistance and is now pushing the boundaries with virtual employees and workflow innovation.
• Keith Ritchie, Head of Communications and Government Affairs, Siemens Australia and New Zealand, explains why digitalisation and AI are critical for productivity and decarbonisation - and how accessibility is transforming opportunities for SMEs.
• John O’Mahony, Partner, Deloitte Access Economics, unpacks new research on the barriers to adoption and the economic dividend Australia could unlock by accelerating AI uptake.

From practical steps like hackathons and data cleaning to big-picture policy ideas such as tax incentives, this conversation explores the cultural, technical, and strategic shifts needed to make AI a driver of competitiveness rather than a curiosity.

Takeaways

• Leadership and curiosity are essential to overcoming resistance and building confidence in AI.
• Data quality - not just structure - is a major barrier for SMEs looking to implement AI successfully.
• AI adoption is often driven by external suppliers and customer expectations, but long-term success requires clear business strategies.
• Digitalisation and AI together can unlock productivity, sustainability, and innovation across supply chains.
• Accessibility of industrial AI tools means SMEs have unprecedented opportunities to compete globally.
• Policy levers, like targeted tax incentives, could accelerate adoption and deliver significant economic gains.
• Ethical leadership and strong governance frameworks are critical for safe and effective AI implementation.

Read Australian Industry Group’s report Artificial Intelligence: Positive for companies, their people, and Australian Industry.

Note: This recording is from a live event and the audio quality may vary.

In this episode, Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox joins us to review Australia’s economic landscape in 2025. He reflects on a year marked by slow growth and persistent inflation, outlining why stronger government action is essential to reignite private sector confidence.

We explore the pressures of rising energy costs, the country’s transition to net zero, and the growing role of AI across Australian industry. Innes also examines how businesses are reshaping their workforce strategies, the evolving workplace relations environment, and the regulatory uncertainty influencing investment decisions.

It’s a big‑picture conversation about what’s holding the economy back - and what needs to shift for Australia to compete and innovate in 2026 and beyond.

Takeaways

• Inflation remains one of the economy’s most persistent pressures. 
• Strong, clear government action is needed to help restart private‑sector investment and growth. 
• Businesses need greater certainty to manage the transition to net zero effectively. 
• AI is increasingly seen by Australian companies as a tool that enhances - not replaces - jobs. 
• Post‑election workplace relations reforms are creating significant change and increasing compliance demands. 
• Skills and training systems must evolve quickly to keep pace with emerging technologies. 
• The national energy debate will remain central to economic and policy discussions. 
• A productive partnership between government and industry is essential to drive future prosperity. 

Here are the links mentioned in the podcast episode: 

• DBrief special episodes & election series: DBrief: Federal Election 2025 Special Episodes 
• Budget position: Federal Budget 2025–26—restart private sector engine 
• Election certainty: We need a clear election result 
• Global outlook: Global forecasts—fragile stability 
• Net zero targets & projections: DCCEEW Emissions Projections 2023; CEFC recapitalisation & 2035 target 
• AI case studies:  Artificial Intelligence: Positive for companies, their people, and Australian Industry
• Apprentices & employer barriers: Opinion: Employers behind apprentices; Job satisfaction outcomes 
• Wage Review decision: 3.75% increase—Australian Industry Group statement 
• Productivity & wages linkage: Productivity uplifts needed 

In our new report, the Australian Industry Group and the Australian Government’s National Artificial Intelligence Centre explore how Australian businesses are embracing and integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their daily operations, highlighting how AI benefits companies, their people, and Australian industry. The report covers six diverse companies - two of which join us in this podcast.

Discover how Dux revolutionised customer support by deploying an Agentive AI voice-agent system, ensuring hot water issues are resolved quickly—even after hours. Built with strict safety protocols and multilingual capability, it streamlines cases, sends instant diagnostic links, and integrates seamlessly with human teams. The results? Faster response times, 75%+ first-call resolution, higher customer satisfaction, and global interest in a scalable, future-ready solution.

We also discuss AI adoption in the domestic steelmaking industry. InfraBuild shares innovative approaches to sustainability and traceability through AI technology, including implementing a bundle tagging machine to enhance product traceability, collaborating with academic institutions for R&D, and upskilling the workforce to adapt to automation.

Key Takeaways

• Effective support is essential for maintaining customer relationships, and after-sales service is crucial for customer satisfaction.
• AI in customer support can solve the challenge of operating across different time zones.
• Finding staff for early hours is difficult, and roles can be demanding - AI helps alleviate this pressure.
• Traceability in steel production is vital for quality assurance, and automation improves safety and efficiency.
• AI implementation can unlock operational bottlenecks and strengthen customer confidence through robust traceability.
• AI enhances decision-making, not replaces human workers.
• Upskilling the workforce is critical for adapting to new technologies.
• Building a business case for AI involves more than financial returns.

Download the full report Artificial Intelligence: Positive for companies, their people, and Australian Industry

Contact the Industry Development & Policy team here.

In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath and Tennant Reed discuss the ongoing COP30 conference in Brazil, focusing on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) reform in Australia, the major issues being addressed at COP30, particularly the financial mechanisms for climate action, and the role of industry in achieving sustainability. They also explore Australia's position in global climate leadership and the implications of international decisions on the Australian economy. 

Takeaways 

• The EPBC Act is outdated and needs reform. 
• Streamlining project assessments is crucial for environmental protection. 
• COP30 negotiations navigate significant financial issues related to climate change. 
• Developing countries demand more financial support from developed nations. 
• The choice between natural and engineered solutions (capturing carbon) to bring temperatures back below 1.5°C or accepting a higher temperature overshoot with severe impacts – especially for Pacific nations. 
• The significance of COP30 for Australian industry and how businesses can play a role in decarbonization efforts. 
• Border adjustment mechanisms could open new market opportunities for cleaner industries, but companies must first secure the funding to invest in clean technology. 
• Australia's credibility in climate negotiations is mixed but improving. 

Contact the Industry Development & Policy team here.

In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath sits down with David Martin, Director for Innovation and Emerging Technologies at the Australian Industry Group, to unpack the Strategic Examination of Research and Development (SERD) - a once-in-a-generation review commissioned by Government but steered by an independent panel of industry leaders. The review takes a fresh look at how Australia supports research, innovation, and commercialisation.
 
They explore why Australia, despite its world-class research institutions, continues to lag behind in business R&D investment and commercialisation. The conversation covers:

• Why Australia’s venture capital market remains risk-averse and how that limits startups and scaleups.
• The 150+ fragmented government programs that confuse rather than connect.
• Proposals such as an Intellectual Property Bank to simplify how university-generated research reaches industry.
• The need for a Ministerial Council for Innovation to improve coordination between federal and state governments.
• How regulation, skills shortages, and short political cycles are stifling productivity and long-term innovation.

This discussion offers a candid look at the real barriers to innovation and what it will take for Australia to finally turn great ideas into great industries.

All three SERD submissions by the Australian Industry Group are available here.

In this episode, Louise McGrath and Dr Jeffrey Wilson unpack a new report by the Australian Industry Group titled Trade, Tariffs and Supply Chains. The report explores the impact of recent trade tariffs on Australian industries, and the hosts delve into the strategies businesses are adopting to manage ongoing supply chain disruptions. They also highlight the critical need to strengthen Australia’s engagement with Asia, including improving language education and cultural literacy, to unlock greater trade opportunities in the region. 

Key Takeaways 

• Trade tariffs have introduced uncertainty, influencing investment decisions across Australian industries. 
• Supply chain disruptions remain a major concern for manufacturers, exacerbated by tariff-related pressures.
• Australian manufacturers are increasingly investing in digital logistics technologies to improve resilience. 
• The concept of “grey tape” refers to indirect regulatory burdens that complicate business operations. 
• Asian language education in Australia is in decline, posing a challenge to regional engagement. 
• Cultural literacy is vital for building meaningful connections with Asian markets. 
• The New Colombo Plan is a promising initiative for fostering ties with Asia, but further efforts are needed.

In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath and Dr Jeffrey Wilson explore the complexities of Australia’s economic landscape, including challenges posed by time zones, public holidays, and the need for a unified economic market. They examine trade agreements - particularly those with New Zealand and ASEAN - and highlight the growing importance of digitalisation in trade processes.

The conversation also includes an update from the recent East Asia Business Council meetings in Malaysia, held on the margins of the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ meetings. Key topics include demographic challenges across the region and the impact of global trade policies, especially those originating from the US.

Key takeaways

• Australia’s time zone differences present significant business challenges.
• Public holidays vary widely across states, affecting productivity.
• The TTMRA aims to establish a single economic market between Australia and New Zealand.
• Trade agreements such as RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) are vital for regional economic cooperation.
• Digitalisation in trade can reduce corruption and enhance efficiency.
• Youth demographics in Asia offer both opportunities and challenges.
• US tariffs disproportionately affect Asian economies.
• Machine-to-machine communication is essential for modern trade.
• ASEAN’s focus on small businesses provides a valuable model for Australia.
• The focus on small businesses in ASEAN is a model for Australia.

Contact the Industry Development & Policy team here.

The Economic Impact of Barcodes

In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath speaks with Marcel Sieira, Chief Operating Officer of GS1 Australia, about the critical role of supply chain data standards in today's economy. 

They discuss the history and importance of barcodes, the significant economic impact of these standards, and real-world applications in various sectors such as retail and healthcare. 

The conversation also explores future innovations in supply chain standards, barriers to adoption, and common misconceptions about GS1.