Victor Dominello to headline 2025 Pearcey Oration in Melbourne

Victor Dominello has been announced as the keynote speaker for the upcoming 2025 Pearcey Oration in Melbourne.

The Pearcey Foundation confirmed that Dominello, a former senior New South Wales Government minister, will deliver this year's Pearcey Oration. Dominello is widely recognised for his role as the inaugural Minister for Customer Service and Digital, a position he commenced in 2019. During his twelve years in the NSW Cabinet, his portfolios included Digital Government, Innovation, Finance, and Aboriginal Affairs.

Dominello played a leading role in implementing several public sector initiatives, such as the Department of Customer Service, Service NSW, and the Digital Restart Fund. These efforts received international recognition for changes in how the NSW public sector delivers services.

Themes of the oration

In the upcoming Pearcey Oration, Dominello will address the rapid transformation of work and skills shaped by the convergence of technologies, the effects of climate change, industry evolution, and geopolitical shifts in global trade.

"Technology convergence offers a path to a more efficient, more equitable, and more responsive society. And, as we navigate energy transition, the shifting demographics of our workforce, and massive civil and defence infrastructure projects, we have the opportunity to create better, safer, and more effective ways of working," said Dominello.

Dominello intends to focus his oration on the ongoing digitalisation of Australian society, outlining a future that leverages rapid technological change for the benefit of the nation. According to the Pearcey Foundation, the oration is set to cover the societal impacts of technological advancement, especially as they relate to Australia's workforce, infrastructure, and energy sectors.

Pearcey Oration's national significance

The Pearcey Oration is considered by many in the sector to be Australia's most significant technology lecture. It is designed to offer an influential platform for leading figures in the technology field to discuss issues that arise from new and established technologies being introduced into society.

Notable past speakers have included Dr Ian Opperman, former Chief Data Scientist for NSW; Professor Michelle Simmons AO, CEO and Founder of Silicon Quantum Computing and 2018 Australian of the Year; the Honourable Ed Husic MP, former Federal Minister for Industry and Science; Jeremy Hirschhorn, Second Commissioner for Client Engagement at the ATO; Roger Taylor, Chair of the UK Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation; and the late Paul Shetler, technologist, entrepreneur, and government adviser. The first Pearcey Oration was held in 2008, delivered by Dr Terry Cutler from the CSIRO.

Event details and context

This year's oration is scheduled to take place at Melbourne Connect, located in Carlton, Victoria. The event will be held as part of Melbourne Connect Innovation Week, a gathering that combines research from The University of Melbourne with expertise from Australian industry, startups, and government stakeholders in the innovation sector. The oration will also coincide with the presentation of the Victorian 2025 Pearcey Entrepreneur Award.

The sit-down dinner event provides an opportunity for professionals and academics to engage directly with topics at the forefront of Australia's digital transformation.