DCAT After The Show 2026

In this keynote, Dr. Christine Allen will share a practical vision for the future of bio/pharma: a digital-by-design approach to drug development where experiments, decisions, and supply chains are connected through a modern data backbone. She will explore how AI, high-throughput automation, and cloud-native infrastructure can expand the formulation and process design space while addressing what matters from the start, including patient experience, manufacturability, cost-per-dose, and supplier resilience across regions. Drawing on lessons from integrating AI into established development workflows, she will highlight what makes digital transformation durable: tools designed with domain experts, transparent trade-offs, and human-in-the-loop decision support that strengthens scientific judgment. The talk will also touch on how these approaches can identify critical issues earlier and strengthen the path from development to commercialization.

Thomas Altmann is the Executive Vice President for Innovation and New Technology at ACWA Power, where he has led transformative initiatives in clean energy and desalination for over 13 years. With more than three decades of global experience, Thomas is recognized as a leading expert in deploying breakthrough technologies that accelerate sustainable infrastructure. Previously, he held senior leadership roles at ILF Consulting Engineers and Bechtel, overseeing large-scale energy and desalination projects across international markets. At ACWA Power, he established the company’s Innovation Department, launched its flagship Innovation Days, and drove key achievements including up to 80% reductions in desalination energy use, deployment of AI/ML in plant operations, creation of a 30-patent IP portfolio, and formation of ACWA Power’s IP Holding Company. Thomas serves on global innovation and R&D boards, including the International Desalination Association, MIT Technology Review Global Panel, and XPrize Desalination Competition. He holds a Master’s in Chemical Engineering and advanced innovation credentials from MIT Sloan and IMD.

Andrew joined the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) in February 2024 from the NSW Government. He has extensive senior leadership, stakeholder engagement, communication and management experience from a mix of industry and government executive roles. At the AEMC, Andrew is responsible for leading the strategic direction and delivery of comprehensive market design Reviews and Rule Changes to provide policy recommendations that inform decision-making and support the achievement of strategic objectives to deliver for the long-term interest of energy consumers. Focusing mostly on the wholesale and retail components of the energy sector, Andrew’s current work priorities include projects on Consumer Energy Resources, consumer protection frameworks, future wholesale market design and supporting reliability. Andrew brings proven success in regulatory, program and policy development, implementation and advocacy; building, leading and motivating teams; and identifying strategic directions, implementing change and delivering customer-focused outcomes and reforms. Andrew has over 20 years’ experience working in and around energy in a variety of roles, and brings perspectives from his time at government agencies, an energy peak body, energy market participants and ministerial offices. He has held senior executive positions with a strong focus on developing and implementing strategies and programs for energy market reforms, policy and regulatory analysis and development, consumer protection and support, stakeholder engagement and technical regulation.

Graham, Managing Director at Estates 360, brings over two decades of experience delivering estate-related programmes, in both client and consultancy capacities. Specialising in complex organisational programmes, he has led masterplanning, capital project and estate management teams. His educational portfolio includes schools and HE institutions, and ranges from 20 year masterplans to research supercomputing facilities, and from listed building conversions to on-campus transport infrastructure. Beyond educational estates, Graham draws on his experience in operational and delivery roles leading schemes across diverse sectors including local government, healthcare, heritage, infrastructure, retail, commercial, and aviation. Graham's previous roles include Head of Construction, Maintenance, and FM at a local authority, and as Head of a Regional Project Management team at an international consultancy. His focus is on assisting clients in navigating the competing challenges of ageing infrastructure, diminishing funding, net zero commitments, and the impacts of the fourth industrial revolution.