Digital NSW 2026 Showcase

AI is rewriting what services look like, how decisions get made, how teams are structured, and what the public expects from the state that serves them. But the more powerful the tools become, the more deliberate we have to be about what stays human — judgement, critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and the cognitive capacity to challenge the machine when it's wrong. As NSW shifts to an AI-enabled operating model, the leadership task isn't just adopting the technology; it's protecting and growing the human capability that gives government its legitimacy. The next public service has to be both intelligent and unmistakably human — and that's yours to build.

NSW's Secretaries take the stage for a frank conversation about how the state delivers outcomes that no single cluster owns. With capability, funding and accountability sitting across many agencies, the question is no longer whether to work across them — it's what operating model, governance and risk posture would actually unlock outcomes at scale.

• The reuse imperative: what does it take for one cluster to stand on what another has already built — and what's still in the way?
• The operating model question: what changes to governance, investment and workforce design would actually unlock outcomes at scale?
• Bold by design, responsible by default: can trust and assurance make Secretaries bolder, not slower, when deploying AI and data across portfolios?

Perfect time to swap notes and compare what’s working across teams and sectors.

Grab lunch, have a wander, and chat with industry partners and peers about practical ideas you can take back to work. Arguably the most important part of the day!

As organisations race to adopt AI, the challenge is no longer whether to use it, but how to scale it responsibly. In this keynote, Commonwealth Bank shares its approach to identifying high-value use cases, embedding governance and guardrails, and balancing innovation with trust and accountability. A practical look at what it takes to move from AI experimentation to enterprise-wide adoption—and the lessons government can take from it.