Presented in partnership with Austrade, the Australian AI Summit brought together founders, investors, corporates, policymakers, and technology leaders for two days of rigorous discussion on how Australian AI companies can scale, compete, and lead in the United States.
Across keynotes, panels, fireside conversations, and community events, the Summit examined not only the commercial opportunity for Australian AI in the U.S. market, but also the systems—capital, policy, infrastructure, and partnerships—that underpin sustainable growth.
Day One focused on market entry, enterprise adoption, and the realities of scaling Australian innovation in the United States. Opening remarks from Steven Marshall and Rachel Howard set the tone for a program centered on opportunity, collaboration, and practical insight. A keynote from Keri Smith (Accenture) explored Australia’s AI opportunity on the global stage, followed by company showcases and a candid discussion on selling to U.S. enterprise customers with perspectives from Artefact USA, Accenture, and NVIDIA.
Sessions throughout the day examined the state of AI in corporate America and the economic and policy forces shaping global AI development, with contributions from Abdul (Abs) Zamerli, Steven Marshall, and Charles Custeau (Blackstone). The afternoon turned to capital strategy and investment decision-making, with insights from Intel Capital, Antler, and Necessary Ventures, alongside a deep dive into Agentic AI led by Karl Redenbach. A fireside chat with Catherine Walker (Orange Girl), from Xero’s founding team, offered founder-level perspective, while David Politis and Charlie Newark-French addressed how AI is reshaping leadership and business decision-making. The day concluded with practical guidance on U.S. growth from Terry Brenner (LexisNexis) and an Australian NYC Tech Community Meet-Up that connected Australian innovators with New York’s AI ecosystem.
Day Two shifted the lens to the platforms, policies, and partnerships that enable AI at scale. The morning opened with a fireside conversation between Dr. Sarah Cooper and Ross Bauer (AWS), offering a big-tech perspective on infrastructure, customer demand, and what lies ahead. A panel featuring Microsoft, GTM Guild, and Dstillery—moderated by Dr. Cooper—explored how Australian companies can access the platforms, data environments, and commercial pathways required to grow in the U.S.
New York City’s expanding role in the global AI economy was highlighted by NYCEDC, followed by a policy discussion with Dr. Olivia Shen (USSC) and Rachel Howard (Austrade) on the strategic settings shaping AI adoption across Australia and the United States. Afternoon sessions brought the conversation back to leadership and lived experience, with founder insights from Peter Cooper, executive perspectives from Belinda Neal (Goldman Sachs), and closing remarks from Steven Marshall and Rachel Howard that captured the momentum, ambition, and shared purpose of the two-day program.
The Australian AI Summit NYC underscored the depth of Australian innovation and the importance of cross-border collaboration in shaping the future of AI. Thank you to all speakers, moderators, partners, and participants for contributing insight, clarity, and forward-looking vision to an exceptional program.
