In a fast-moving market, the organisations that act now will be best placed to improve efficiency, strengthen competitiveness, and unlock new value.

This interactive discovery session gives your team a clear, structured pathway from AI interest to implementation.

What you’ll gain
• A practical understanding of AI and its business applications.
• An AI readiness assessment across strategy, infrastructure, data, governance, talent, and culture.
• A prioritised set of 2–3 AI pathways for your organisation.
• Clear next steps to support adoption and action.

Who it’s for
Executives, senior leaders, and decision makers across business, research, government, and health.

Session format
3–4 hours | Flexible | Facilitated workshop

Ready to get started? Book your Discovery Session now  or watch the video to learn more here.

Talk to Innovation Central Adelaide and start your AI pathway today!

The post AI Pathway for Business – gauging AI ambition and turning it into action. appeared first on Innovation Central Adelaide.

The agricultural sector is operating in an environment defined by increasing variability—across climate, costs, labour and markets. But uncertainty doesn’t have to mean loss of control. Instead, it’s reshaping how decisions are made on-farm.

At Farming for the Future with Confidence in Berri, the Innovation Central Adelaide team will be both exhibiting as a Bronze Sponsor and delivering a keynote presentation exploring how growers can build confidence through better decision systems.

As ICA Director Dr Kathryn Anderson notes, “The future of farming isn’t about more technology—it’s about better decisions under uncertainty.”

A shift in how farming systems operate

The traditional model of farming experience was built in relatively stable conditions. Today, that stability has shifted. Weather patterns are more volatile, input costs change rapidly, labour availability fluctuates, and markets increasingly demand traceability and proof of practice.

This is not a temporary cycle—it represents a structural change in the operating environment.

“We’re not seeing more problems—we’re seeing more variability. The challenge is learning how to respond to that in real time.”

As a result, experience alone is no longer sufficient. It remains essential, but it now needs to be supported by timely signals and connected systems that help interpret what is changing.

From practices to systems

Richard Dodsworth, ICA Tech Advisor will deliver a presentation with a simple but powerful reframing:

Farming is shifting from a set of practices to a system of:

• Sense what’s happening
• Decide what matters
• Respond appropriately

In this model, technology is not the driver—it is the enabler underneath the system, improving visibility and decision support without removing control from the grower.

Connected systems, not complexity for complexity’s sake

A connected farming system is often misunderstood as increased automation or surveillance. In reality, it is about reducing blind spots and improving context.

• Instrumentation improves visibility
• Automation supports repeatable decisions
• Connectivity brings context across variables

As Kathryn Anderson explains, “The system doesn’t replace the farmer—it reduces the blind spots around decision-making.”

Different regions, different pathways

There is no single model for adoption.

Some regions operate with highly integrated, data-driven systems, while others take a more selective and pragmatic approach—layering digital tools onto established farming practices.

Both approaches reflect the same underlying shift: decisions increasingly depend on integrated information, not isolated inputs.

Relevance for the Riverland

For growers in the Riverland, this shift opens practical opportunities in areas such as:

• Water management through more responsive irrigation decisions
• Improving consistency and quality across vineyard blocks
• Strengthening market access through verified data and provenance

The key question is not what technology to adopt, but where better information could reduce risk and improve decisions.

A space for collaboration and learning

Innovation Central Adelaide works as a neutral convening platform, bringing together industry, research and technology partners to explore real-world challenges. In collaboration with research partners and industry stakeholders, the focus is on enabling experimentation and building capability over time.

“Confidence doesn’t come from certainty—it comes from having better ways to decide when certainty is gone.”

Growers do not need to adopt everything at once. Instead, the goal is to create pathways to learn what works within their own systems.

Visit us in Berri

Join the ICA team at Farming for the Future with Confidence on Wednesday 29 April 2026 at the Berri Hotel. Come visit our stall and hear more about how digital innovation and applied research are supporting the future of agriculture in South Australia.

The post ICA hits the road: Farming for the Future with Confidence appeared first on Innovation Central Adelaide.

In the heart of South Australia, Innovation Central Adelaide (ICA) stands as a beacon of collaboration and progress, serving as a critical hub within Cisco’s National Industry Innovation Network (NIIN).

The centre is tasked with the mission of fostering partnerships between academia, industry, and government, ultimately driving technological advancement in sectors that will define the future of the region. Under the leadership of Dr Kathryn Anderson (who recently took the helm as Director, ICA), the centre is poised to reshape the industrial landscape of South Australia, leveraging cutting-edge digital solutions and creating opportunities for sustainable growth.

A Vision for the Future

Anderson brings a fresh and dynamic approach to the centre’s mission. Reflecting on her early days in the role, she noted that ICA is in the process of evolving its strategic focus.

While the vision is still taking shape, the foundational elements of ICA’s work remains clear. Anderson envisions the centre as a place where industries can collaborate to solve both practical and complex challenges, particularly in smart health, Industry 5.0, and smart infrastructure. This broad range of focus areas illustrates the centre’s adaptability and its capacity to innovate across sectors.

In particular, Anderson highlighted the importance of ensuring that ICA’s work stays grounded in real-world impacts. “For me, it comes back to where I started, as a social scientist, which is to make sure that the people are really central… The focus on innovation by humans, for the world, natural and social.” This human-centred approach to innovation is a core value that will shape how ICA tackles challenges in the future.

Factory of the Future and Digital Health Design Lab

One of the cornerstones of ICA’s work is its dual emphasis on Flinders’ Factory of the Future and the transition and evolution of manufacturing, and its Digital Health Design Lab, one of 5 national Cisco specialised centres in the National Industry Innovation Network, with a focus on digital health systems.

South Australia’s manufacturing sector is a prime example of an industry ready for transformation, through Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0. Anderson sees ICA as a bridge between large companies, including manufacturing and utilities companies, and the region’s vibrant small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs), which make up a significant portion of the state’s economy.

The health sector is one where the Digital Health Design Lab leads the way under Cisco Chair in Digital Health, Professor Trish Williams. Setting the standard for information infrastructure and breaking ground in medical devices for more than a decade, the new collaboration between ICA and the Digital Health Design Lab is fostering technology solutions to critical healthcare issues.

This dual focus allows ICA to serve the needs of different industry segments, from advanced manufacturing companies looking to adopt cutting-edge technologies to smaller enterprises eager to improve their operations through cost-effective innovation, to public delivery of essential services.

Through its work, ICA seeks to answer pressing questions such as, “If this is how technology might assist you, what is it going to do to the bottom line?” Importantly, Anderson notes that this “bottom line” is not solely financial – it encompasses environmental impacts as well. “The bottom line may well be the environmental bottom line, for example, you might find processes that take carbon out and make manufacturing simpler.”

Supporting SMEs and Indigenous Communities

South Australia is home to many forward-thinking SMEs, particularly in the manufacturing sector. Anderson remarked on the progressive nature of these companies, saying, “South Australian SMEs are quite forward-thinking, they’re quite adaptable, and there’s that progressiveness that’s always there.”

However, she acknowledges the challenge of access to technology and its cost, which can be a barrier for smaller companies. This is where ICA comes in, providing value through initiatives such as the ICA Innovation Projects, which help SMEs explore new technologies and adopt them in a way that is both affordable and sustainable.

The centre is also committed to ensuring that innovation benefits and engages with the wider community, including South Australia’s Indigenous populations.

While direct outreach and collaboration with Indigenous businesses is in early stages, Anderson stressed the importance of diverse perspectives in ICA’s future work: “First Nations people have been innovators for millennia and there is a lot to be learnt from indigenous approaches to knowledge and innovation, which are often more systems-focused, and this is what is needed for innovation today”.

Collaboration with Academia

At the heart of ICA’s mission is its role as a facilitator of collaboration between universities and industries.

Anderson refers to ICA as an “open door” to the university, enabling companies to engage with academic research and development in a way that is often difficult to achieve independently. “We know that universities and businesses have different ways of working,” she said. “For there to be effective engagement, those ways of working need people – an articulation point that helps navigate the pathways within the university and through the business sectors.”

This articulation point is crucial for ensuring that companies, particularly SMEs, can benefit from the wealth of knowledge and resources that universities offer.

Anderson’s vision for ICA includes not only fostering these partnerships but also helping students engage with real-world industry challenges. “One of the things that I think we absolutely are going to need is a workforce that has an innovative mindset but also knows how to do the research properly.” By connecting students with industry in a meaningful way, ICA is preparing the next generation of innovators for the workforce of the future.

Smart Cities and Sustainability

ICA is positioned to be a key player in the development of smart cities in South Australia, another area that excites Anderson.

“Smart cities as a concept is so broad,” she remarked. “It’s everything from traffic lights assisting travel times to data in your buildings that makes it better for people’s movement, to making it easier to manage and maintain.” By integrating technology into urban infrastructure, ICA aims to shape the future of urban living in a way that benefits both the economy and the environment.

Sustainability is a core element of ICA’s mission, as South Australia continues to push for zero-carbon targets and environmentally friendly technologies. “Sustainable technologies and zero-carbon targets are a big drive for South Australia,” Anderson explained. “We know that’s a big part of the future.” ICA will play a crucial role in supporting the state’s green technology initiatives, particularly in advanced manufacturing and environmental sustainability.

Building a Better Future

Innovation Central Adelaide, under the leadership of Dr Kathryn Anderson, is on the cusp of transforming South Australia’s industrial landscape. From supporting SMEs and fostering university-industry collaboration to developing smart cities and sustainable technologies, ICA’s work is setting the stage for a more innovative, resilient, and sustainable future.

As Anderson continues to shape the centre’s vision and strategy, ICA will undoubtedly become a critical player in South Australia’s economic and technological advancement, driving both local and global impact.

The post Driving Innovation and Collaboration: The Role of Cisco’s Innovation Central Adelaide appeared first on Innovation Central Adelaide.

On Thursday, June 26, 2025, Innovation Central Adelaide (ICA) proudly hosted Tech for Every Woman: Thriving, Opportunity & Connection at Flinders Tonsley Lecture Theatre, bringing together a dynamic community of thinkers, creators, and changemakers from across the Flinders Innovation Precinct. The event, supported by Thriving@Flinders and the Medical Device Research Institute (MDRI), celebrated women in technology and championed inclusive progress across research, industry, and society.

From admin teams and academic researchers to software analysts and engineers, the room buzzed with energy and collaboration. Whether participants were seasoned tech leaders or simply tech, curious, the message was clear: everyone has a place in the digital future.

Keynotes That Sparked the Conversation

We were honoured to welcome:

• Dr Fabiana Santana, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Enterprise and Infrastructure), Flinders University
• Vanessa Sulikowski, Distinguished Solutions Engineer, Cisco

Both leaders spoke candidly about the evolving tech landscape and underscored the importance of diversity of thought, continuous learning, and cross-sector collaboration.

Panel: “Do We Need More Women in Tech, or More Women Who Want Tech?”

This lively and thoughtful panel drew fresh perspectives from:

• Tania Leiman – Professor & Dean of Law
• Richard Dodsworth GAICD – Technology Advisor, Flinders University
• Kirsty Mosley – IDS Digital Experience Delivery & Governance
• Stephen Blakeney – National Innovations Manager, Medical Device Partnering Program
• Alicia Mitchell – PhD Candidate, Flinders University MDRI & MAXM Skate team contributor
• Cassie Hames – Analyst, Nukon

Panellists explored themes around representation, purpose, driven innovation, and the need to design careers, and technologies, with inclusivity built in from the start.

Alicia Mitchell’s contributions were especially memorable, spotlighting wearable tech research with the MAXM Skate team, which supports post-op recovery for knee trauma patients worldwide. ICA is proud to help amplify data-driven solutions like MAXM that connect real-world impact with digital innovation.

What Happened Outside the Auditorium

Attendees took full advantage of networking time, sharing ideas, forging new collaborations, and discovering the incredible depth of research happening at Flinders and across the Tonsley Innovation District. Conversations flowed over light refreshments, and many walked away with new connections and practical inspiration to bring back to their teams.

ICA’s Vision in Action

For ICA, this event wasn’t just a celebration, it was a strategic step toward shaping a more inclusive tech future. By showcasing talent like Alicia Mitchell and enabling cross, industry dialogue, we continue to strengthen our commitment to collaboration, human, centred design, and innovation that truly serves society.

To everyone who joined us, thank you. Let’s keep pushing boundaries, lifting voices, and powering tech for everyone.

The post Tech for Every Woman appeared first on Innovation Central Adelaide.

On June 25th, the creative tech community gathered at ILA – The Lab in Light Square, Adelaide, for the highly anticipated launch of Power Her Up, an initiative designed to ignite entrepreneurial journeys for women in creative technologies. Led by award-winning founder Onnie Chan, the event marked the beginning of an eight-month program featuring workshops, panels, networking events, and a virtual festival aimed at reshaping South Australia’s innovation landscape.

Among the evening’s standout contributors was Dr Kathryn Anderson, Program Director of Innovation Central Adelaide (ICA), who joined the launch as a guest speaker. Anderson brought her signature warmth and strategic insight to a live conversation titled “Shall We Trust AI: Friend, Foe, or Frenemy?”, a session that sparked thoughtful dialogue on the evolving role of artificial intelligence in society and innovation.

ICA, a collaboration between Flinders University and Cisco, plays a pivotal role in bridging academia and industry through digital solutions. Anderson’s participation underscored ICA’s commitment to inclusive innovation and its support for emerging talent in tech. Her presence also highlighted ICA’s broader mission: to foster collaboration, empower diverse voices, and drive sustainable growth across South Australia’s tech ecosystem.

The launch event drew around 100 attendees and featured interactive experiences with the new Power Her Up platform, which will serve as a digital hub for women across metropolitan and regional SA. The initiative is backed by partners including ThincLab, Stone & Chalk, AEDA, and AVCon, and is already gaining traction as a catalyst for change.

While the June event reached full capacity, the next Power Her Up gathering is set for August at Stone & Chalk, offering more opportunities for connection and collaboration. For those interested in joining the movement, updates and registration details are available at powerherup.com.au.

As Anderson shared in her bio, “Innovation Central Adelaide works between Flinders University, industry, government, and business to solve innovation challenges using digital solutions.” Her contribution to Power Her Up exemplifies this mission, blending technology with society, and knowledge with action.

Here’s to charging ahead together and creating more opportunities for women in creative technology.

The post Power Her Up appeared first on Innovation Central Adelaide.

Securing the Future of Med-Tech: ICA Hosts Roundtable on Cybersecurity in Healthcare

Innovation Central Adelaide (ICA) was pleased to host the Tech in Sight Executive Roundtable: Cyber Secure Devices in Med-Tech on 11 June 2025 at Flinders Festival Towers. This critical gathering brought together leaders and subject matter experts from across the cybersecurity, med-tech, and digital health sectors to explore the future of secure healthcare technologies and the challenges that come with an increasingly connected clinical landscape.

Why This Matters

The rise of digital and data-connected medical devices has created unprecedented opportunities for improving patient outcomes and streamlining healthcare systems. However, with this advancement comes heightened vulnerability. Legacy software, fragmented data protocols, and inadequate maintenance practices have exposed med-tech systems to a growing surface of cyber threats. This roundtable was designed to address those concerns directly—fostering dialogue on practical strategies for embedding cybersecurity across the entire lifecycle of medical technologies, from design and implementation to end-of-use decommissioning.

Who Was in the Room

Guided by Professor Trish Williams, Cisco Research Chair and Professor in Digital Health Systems at Flinders University, the roundtable facilitated deep discussion on real-world scenarios, research applications, and collaborative pathways. Professor Williams is globally recognised for her leadership in health informatics and cybersecurity, and her expertise framed the event’s key themes.

Participants included:

• Specialists in cybersecurity from both healthcare and IT sectors
• Device manufacturers and med-tech innovators
• Researchers and policy advisors
• Members of the National Industry Innovation Network (NIIN)
• Representatives from Flinders University’s Medical Device Research Institute (MDRI)

Special thanks to our host, PVC Fabiana Santana MAICD, for creating space for this strategic dialogue and contributing to the research lens behind the discussion.

Key Insights

The roundtable revealed a spectrum of critical perspectives and actionable insights. Some of the key themes included:

• Cybersecurity is now a fundamental component of patient safety and healthcare operations
• Greater consistency is needed around compliance frameworks and international standards
• Medical device maintenance and end-of-life planning must include cyber risk mitigation
• Human factors, culture, training, and communication, play an essential role in security
• Economic pressures can hinder innovation unless cyber resilience is prioritised
• Clear lines of accountability and ownership are crucial across development cycles
• Cybersecurity must be integrated into the design phase, not added retrospectively
• AI-powered anomaly detection holds promise but depends on reliable data foundations

Professor Williams noted, “We must treat cyber resilience with the same urgency as infection control or device sterilisation,” underscoring the importance of rethinking cybersecurity as a clinical responsibility rather than a technical afterthought.

What’s Next

The insights generated during the roundtable will inform an issues paper currently in development, a resource intended to guide policy, research, and implementation strategies across government, industry, and academia. ICA is committed to advancing this work, ensuring that future med-tech solutions are secure by design and inclusive in practice.

If you or your organisation are working in med-tech, digital health, or cybersecurity, and wish to be part of future Tech in Sight conversations, please contact Kathryn Anderson at: kathryn.anderson@flinders.edu.au.

Let’s continue building a safer, smarter healthcare ecosystem together. Follow Innovation Central Adelaide on LinkedIn for upcoming roundtables, collaborative opportunities, and impact-driven innovation.

The post ICA Executive Roundtable Cybersecure Devices in MedTech appeared first on Innovation Central Adelaide.

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Kathryn Anderson as Program Director of Innovation Central Adelaide (ICA).

As our national network of innovation and industry collaboration continues to expand and strengthen, we welcome Kathryn to lead ICA into a new chapter.

With over 20 years of experience in university-industry research and engagement collaborations, as well as roles in leadership, sponsorship, and lifelong learning, Kathryn is well-equipped to drive our mission for industry-based research and learning forward. Kathryn’s background includes working with private enterprise, government bodies, industry associations and the for-purpose sector.

Kathryn has consulted in economic development and entrepreneurship and held national and international leadership positions in university-industry engagement bodies. She has held leadership positions at Flinders University, the New Venture Institute, UniSA, and Adelaide Fringe, before taking on PhD studies into innovation districts, earning multiple awards for her research and teaching.

In addition to her compelling work history, Kathryn brings a valuable perspective as an industry-engaged researcher, and a research-engaged professional.

Welcome to ICA, Kathryn, it is great to have you onboard!

The post Introduction of Kathryn Anderson appeared first on Innovation Central Adelaide.

Innovation Central Adelaide (ICA), a collaboration between Flinders University and Cisco, is sending a powerhouse trio of computer science and engineering students to Melbourne this November to compete in MasterTech, a national hackathon hosted at Cisco Live. Think MasterChef, but for coders and creators, where the secret ingredients are cutting-edge tech and sustainability.

The Challenge: Reimagining the Sustainable Store of the Future

Sponsored by Coles Group, the inaugural MasterTech challenge tasks student teams from across the country with designing technology-driven solutions for a sustainable retail future. Participants will dive deep into Coles’ vision for next-generation stores, developing prototypes that could transform the way Australians shop, interact, and conserve resources.

The stakes are high, winning teams may earn the chance to collaborate directly with Coles Group on further developing and potentially commercialising their solutions, in partnership with their Innovation Centre and university.

Meet ICA’s Dream Team

Representing ICA, the South Australian student team includes:

• Alistair Macvicar – Bachelor of Computer Science
• Zechariah Wicks – Bachelor of Software Engineering / Networks and Cybersecurity (Hons)
• Charles de Jong – Bachelor of Information (Networks and Cybersecurity)

These students are set to bring creativity, technical excellence, and problem-solving prowess to one of the country’s most visible tech stages.

Cisco Live: Where Innovation Meets the Spotlight

Held at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, Cisco Live is Cisco’s flagship annual event, attracting over 8,000 attendees in person and more than a million viewers online. With representation from C-suite executives, IT professionals, industry leaders, and global media, including potential coverage by outlets like the Australian Financial Review and Sunrise, the five-day hackathon will place ICA’s team and their prototype in front of a truly global audience.

Expect live crosses from the hackathon, spotlights on innovation, and live blogging from ICA across the event. Sharing this content will boost both visibility and inspiration.

ICA and the National Industry Innovation Network

ICA’s participation is part of a larger movement led by the National Industry Innovation Network (NIIN), launched in 2020 and now entering its third year at Cisco Live. The NIIN connects universities and industry partners to accelerate collaborative research and innovation across Australia.

This year, over 50 NIIN representatives will contribute to keynotes, innovation summits, and the World of Solutions stand, showcasing groundbreaking projects from Cisco’s Research Chair programs and its specialised Innovation Centres. ICA’s contribution aligns with its broader mission to foster real-world impact through university-industry partnerships.

Flinders University’s involvement spans multiple fronts, including the Cisco Chair in Digital Health (Professor Trish Williams) and the Cisco NetAcademy, reinforcing the strong collaborative ties between education and enterprise.

Stay Connected

To learn more about ICA’s journey at MasterTech or to follow live coverage from Cisco Live:

• Program Director: Dr Kathryn Anderson (she/her)
• Email: kathryn.anderson@flinders.edu.au
• Phone: 08 8432 4759 (redirects to mobile as needed)
• Follow ICA: Innovation Central Adelaide on LinkedIn

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