Keynote Speakers

Cameron Costello
A proud Quandamooka Traditional Owner

Tuesday 26 May

Cameron Costello, a proud Quandamooka Traditional Owner from Moreton Bay, will open the day by sharing Indigenous perspectives on Country. Through his experience and consultancy work across business, government, and community, Cameron will explore how cultural knowledge systems and place-based decision-making can strengthen stewardship, resilience, and long-term planning. His keynote encourages delegates to reconnect with the landscapes they serve and consider how traditional knowledge can inform future water solutions.

Dr Margaret Cook

Australian Research Council Fellow at the Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University

Tuesday 26 May

In her keynote, Dr Margaret Cook, will explore how history shapes our relationship with water. Drawing on her acclaimed book, A River with a City Problem, Margaret will examine flood risk, resilience, and urban planning, highlighting lessons from past decisions and the urgent need for proactive climate preparedness. Her keynote challenges the sector to rethink how we plan, build, and live with water for a more resilient future.

Tammy Falconer
KPMG

Wednesday 27 May

In a world of rapid growth and rising service expectations, AI and data infrastructure are becoming essential tools for enabling efficiency, resilience and scalability. Tammy Falconer from KPMG brings a pragmatic, real-world perspective on how organisations are embedding AI into core business, not as an experiment, but as an operational necessity. She’ll explore how AI, digital transformation, data centres and intelligent systems can support sustainable housing growth and drive better outcomes across the water cycle.