Aidan Tudehope to champion sovereign AI in Australia

The Pearcey Foundation has named Macquarie Technology Group co-founder Aidan Tudehope as the 2026 Pearcey Orator. He will speak on the case for sovereign AI in Australia.

Tudehope, a joint 2023 Pearcey Medallist, is set to deliver the address as part of the foundation's annual oration series, which examines major issues raised by the adoption of new technologies in Australia.

The appointment places one of the country's longstanding technology executives at the centre of a debate that has gained urgency as governments and companies weigh how much critical digital infrastructure, data handling and AI development should remain under domestic control.

Tudehope co-founded Macquarie Technology Group with his brother, David, and has served on its board since 1992. He is Managing Director of the Hosting Group, which includes cloud services, government and data centres, and also leads the company's government business unit.

That background gives him a direct connection to policy debates over secure systems and the handling of sensitive information. Macquarie's government cloud and cyber security operations focus on clients with strict requirements for data protection and local control.

AI debate

The address will focus on Tudehope's view that Australia should develop its own sovereign AI capability rather than rely solely on overseas platforms and models. The theme reflects broader questions facing the local technology sector around economic value, national resilience and ownership of strategic digital assets.

In comments released with the announcement, Tudehope said artificial intelligence presents Australia with a strategic choice.

"Every major industrial shift has presented Australia with a choice: remain a passive consumer or step up as an active architect of our future. As AI redefines the global economy, we have arrived at another pivotal moment - where today's decisions will echo for generations," said Aidan Tudehope, Managing Director of the Hosting Group, Macquarie Technology Group.

He also pointed to early adoption by local industries while arguing against a defensive approach to the technology.

"Beyond personal productivity gains, forward-thinking Australian industries are already leveraging AI to redefine what is possible and reshape traditional sectors. While we must address the essential social considerations and guardrails of transformative tech, caution alone cannot be our strategy. Backed by world-class talent, cutting-edge R&D, and an unshakeable pioneering spirit, Australia is primed to innovate rather than merely consume - to shape AI rather than simply inherit AI," Tudehope said.

National platform

The Pearcey Oration is one of the foundation's leading forums for discussion about Australia's technology direction. The series began in 2008 with an address by CSIRO's Dr Terry Cutler and has since featured senior figures from government, research and industry.

Past speakers have included former NSW minister Victor Dominello, former NSW Chief Data Scientist Ian Oppermann, Silicon Quantum Computing Chief Executive Officer and Founder Professor Michelle Simmons, Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic, Australian Taxation Office executive Jeremy Hirschhorn, UK data ethics figure Roger Taylor and technologist Paul Shetler.

The oration is intended to give an established expert space to examine critical issues created by the spread of advanced technologies through the economy and society. In that context, sovereign AI sits within a broader national discussion about how Australia can build local expertise while responding to security, regulatory and commercial pressures.

Industry profile

The Pearcey Foundation was established in 1998 in memory of Australian computing pioneer Dr Trevor Pearcey. Its work focuses on raising the profile of the local information and communications technology sector and recognising the people who have shaped it.

Tudehope's appointment also links the oration to a senior executive with deep experience in infrastructure and government technology markets. His role at Macquarie spans data centres, cloud operations and cyber security, areas increasingly tied to how AI systems are hosted, governed and deployed.

In a separate comment, Tudehope reflected on the significance of the speaking role.

"I am incredibly honoured to have been invited to deliver the 2026 Pearcey Oration at Melbourne Connect. Over the years, the Pearcey Oration has been delivered by some of Australia's most respected technology leaders and thinkers. To be asked to join this distinguished list is both humbling and a privilege," Tudehope said.