GIW Federal 2025: Michael Boots on Simpler, Smarter, and Built for the Future of Government

At the Government Innovation Showcase Federal, Michael Boots of Pure Storage shared insights on how agencies can modernize their data infrastructure while keeping operations uninterrupted. He highlighted a practical example from a Canberra-based customer who upgraded from a decade-old storage platform to AI-ready, all-flash infrastructure, achieving a seamless transition with no downtime.

Key takeaways from Boots’ session included:

• Seamless modernization: The Canberra upgrade moved from legacy systems to AI-ready platforms without disrupting operations.

• Innovation analogy: Boots compared the upgrade to transitioning from Thomas Edison’s bamboo filament lightbulb to a Bluetooth-connected LED with 45,000 colours—done online and iteratively.

• Removing the cost of failure: The new system encourages experimentation without risking data integrity.

• Empowering agencies: Teams can test and implement new technologies confidently, supporting AI adoption and modern workflows.

"We're encouraging people to go and find your fan. Don’t worry about the implications if you get it wrong." – Michael Boots

Boots emphasized that modern infrastructure is about more than speed or capacity—it enables public service teams to innovate safely, responsibly, and efficiently. By providing resilient platforms that support experimentation, agencies can drive transformation while maintaining security and operational continuity for the Australian community.