Hall & Wilcox’s inaugural Tech Week explores the latest issues in technology, innovation and the law

How can data create economic opportunities and social outcomes that improve the lives of individuals? What are the risks for governments and companies that collect and use huge volumes of data? And should private individuals be concerned about the use of their data, even if it’s for important economic and social outcomes?

These are some of the topics to be discussed by key industry speakers at Hall & Wilcox’s inaugural Tech Week, being held from 15-19 August.

Across five sessions, expert panels will discuss the most important recent issues and trends, such as blockchain and crypto, the Consumer Data Right, the outlook for mergers and acquisitions in the digital technology industry, and how corporate and government leaders can use technology innovatively to solve problems and drive change.

Tech Week brings together high-calibre speakers from the government, private and public sector, who will offer valuable insights to attendees on this dynamic and evolving area of law.

Tech Week leader Ben Hamilton said, ‘We are delighted to be hosting this five-day event and are excited to hear from our expert panels. If you are in the technology sector, transact with technology, have an interest in how technology is affecting trade or commerce, or concerned about cyber risk, then this event will be of interest to you.'

The sessions are:

15 August

Innovation, data and the whole economy: facilitated by leading technology lawyers Ben Hamilton and John Gray, this panel discussion will explore the ways that data and innovation can lead to economic improvements and opportunities that can significantly improve the lives of individuals. Speakers include Victor Dominello, Minister for Digital and Customer Service; Natasha Doherty, Managing Director, Accenture Australia; Paul Franklin, Executive General Manager, ACCC; Tom McMahon, Deputy CEO, Tech Council of Australia; and Jenny Young, EY Oceania Consumer Markets, Managing Partner, EY.

16 August

Spotlight on cyber: facilitated by leading cyber lawyer and head of Hall & Wilcox’s cyber practice Eden Winokur, this panel discussion will explore ASIC’s approach to cyber and expectations of companies and their directors, the key trends and risk mitigation strategies from global leading cyber security company CrowdStrike and some of the challenges currently faced by the cyber insurance sector from global leading broker, Marsh. Speakers include Phillip Magness, Senior Manager, Markets Enforcement, ASIC; Hannah Morgans, Growth Leader, Pacific, Cyber Practice, Marsh; and Paul Pratley, Principal Consultant – Incident Response, CrowdStrike Services.

17 August

Decrypting crypto and making sense of blockchain: our expert panel will decrypt all things blockchain and crypto including institutional adoption of crypto, why traditional finance is getting involved, crypto as payments, Defi, and NFTs (not just the art) but tokens to demonstrate provenance and ownership and the Metaverse. Facilitated by Partner John Bassilios, speakers include Caroline Bowler, Chief Executive Officer, BTC Markets; Liya Dashkina, Head of Investor Relations and Investment Operations, Reinventure; Karl Mohan, General Manager in Asia Pacific, Crypto.com; Jess Renden, CEO, Cointree; Steve Vallas, Managing Director, Blockchain APAC.

18 August

Taking tech businesses to market – capital raising and corporate transactions: our expert panel will discuss current trends in IT M&A and capital raising, key considerations in a corporate transaction, insight on recent deals, including the key issues encountered from both sides, and how the lockdown era has changed capital raising. Facilitated by Head of Frank Jasmine Koh, speakers include: Lauren Clinnick, CEO and Marketing, Lumi Interactive; Jarron Puszet, Executive Director, 333 Capital; Adam Ryan, Professor of Practice (Entrepreneurship), Monash University and Tom Smalley, Investment Manager, Skalata Ventures.

19 August

Celebration of Innovation: using technology to solve problems: our expert panel will shine a spotlight on how they have innovatively used technology to solve problems. Facilitated by Partner Jacqui Barrett, speakers include: Nick Northcott, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder, Eudaemon Technologies; Pete Williams, Chief Edge Officer, Deloitte; Evan Wong, co-founder and CEO, Checkbox; and Hall & Wilcox COO Sumith Perera.