“Data doesn’t care about your emotions ”
Neil is a sought-after keynote speaker, media commentator, data advisor and smart communities specialist. Neil’s speaking points include:
The social and economic innovation challenge of Australia.
Digital transformation and business disruption.
Data-driven decision making in the age of Artificial Intelligence.
Data, Privacy, and Ethics in the Digital World.
Technology trends and directions.
Technology failure, truth, lies and reality.
Anatomy of complex technology projects: Why they have become so high-risk.
Complex leadership from the front line of battle to the boardroom.
Neil’s recent presentations:
Creating Value from Artificial Intelligence for Local Government - July 2025.
Gympie Chamber of Commerce and Local Council - Future Ready - July 2025.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) - Digital and Cyber - 2025 - Various.
Greater Whitsundays Allaanice - Decarbonisation Accelerated - May 2025.
BiiG (Business Improvement and Innovation in Government) Conference - May 2025
Digital Industry Road Tables, Various, National - 2024.
2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Legacy Forum - March 2023.
Greater Whitsunday Housing Summit - December 2022.
Clubs Queensland - Data, economics, politics and community - August 2022.
Resources Centre of Excellence - Innovation, digital, data, decarbonisation and diversification - August 2022.
Resources Centre of Excellence - Transformation of Region, Queensland - March 2022.
West Queensland Alliance of Councils - Digital Connectivity, Charleville - March 2022.
Transparency and accountability of Government, Victoria - November 2021.
Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Local Council - Economic way forward, Queensland - May 2021.
Brisbane Business Hub - Data, digital, smart city and economic recovery - Several dates in 2020/2021.
Western Queensland Alliance of Councils (held in Richmond, Queensland) - Data, digital and connectivity - May 2021.
Gympie Chamber of Commerce and Local Council - Economic way forward, Queensland - March 2021.
Digital Transformation post-COVID - March 2021.
Regular (current) media commentator on data, privacy and digital.
Data and insights, Clubs Queensland, November 2020.
Post-COVID economics, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland, October 2020.
Smart Cities Council; Data, and the rebuild of our cities (podcast), April 2020.
The Australian economy and government, November 2019.
The South East Queensland City Deal, Brisbane, Australia, November 2019.
Smart Cities, truth, lies and assets, Melbourne, Australia, November 2019.
The ethical consideration when using your most precious asset: your data. Asia Pacific Lottery Association, Brisbane, Australia, October 2019.
Empowering communities’ social and economic growth through data transparency. Smart Cities Week, Washington, DC, United States, October 2019.
Trust and transparency within Australian Local Government. Local Government Managers Association, Townsville, Australia, September 2019.
Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, moderator Smart Infrastructure panel with Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, August 2019
Smart Cities Council - Civic Data: The Power of Collective Community Intelligence, August 2019.
Australian Tax Officer Leadership Development - Data and a public purpose, July 2019.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (multiple locations) - Future of the economy 2019.
Queensland Government – Agricultural productivity 2019.
Public and private sector executive leadership forums (multiple) - data and insights.
Smart Cities Council (Data with a public purpose) 2019.
Telstra Vantage (Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide) - Future of cities and Local Government 2019.
Civic Innovation (Smart Cities) 2018.
Transparency and accountability in government through data 2018.
Data and democracy 2018.
Smarter Infrastructure for Queensland through data 2018.
Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) Future Cities Summit, Cairns 2018.
Queensland Small Business Week, Rockhampton 2018.
Outback Aerodrone Symposium, Keynote, Barcaldine 2018.
LGAQ Annual Conference Keynote, Brisbane, 2018.
“Neil has presented on multiple occasions at the Brisbane Business Hub. His data insights, economic trends and predictions have supported local businesses with effective business strategies. His leadership provides practical, clear and simplified advice for effective execution. Neil is a highly valued partner of the Brisbane Business hub with many businesses seeking his mentorship”
“At a time when conversations around open data and enhanced transparency across all levels of government are geared towards enacting action and change, Neil’s expertise as an advocate for making the complex, simple is in high demand.”
“We feel we have partnered with a person that has a real interest in not only our organisation but in seeing our region move forward, economically and socially.”