Day 1, 1.45-2.30pm
Breakout Session (A): Precision Ag & Data Analytics Across Sectors
Day 2, 9.45-10.30am
Tech Talk: Statups Driving AgriNext – Farm to Market Solutions
Charles Simons is a key executive at BioScout, holding the title of Chief Sales and Revenue Officer. He brings extensive experience in the viticulture and wine industries to the AgTech company, which specializes in real-time, in-field airborne disease detection for crops. Charls is noted for combining his hands-on vineyard experience with emerging technology, such as consulting on the refinement and application of BioScout’s devices to manage disease pressure in vineyards. He focuses on helping growers streamline operations and make smarter, data-driven decisions regarding disease treatment and resource management.
Day 1, 1.45-2.30pm
Breakout Session (A): Precision Ag & Data Analytics Across Sectors
Dr Cong Vu is the Founder of NanoSoils Bio, an AgTech start-up pioneering the use of nanotechnology to transform agriculture. Raised in a multi-generational farming family, Cong’s roots in agriculture run deep. His academic journey began in medicine, but a relentless curiosity about applying medical engineering principles to farming led him to earn a PhD in Nano-medicine at UNSW. Today, Cong combines scientific expertise with entrepreneurial vision to tackle one of the world’s greatest challenges—sustainable food production. Through NanoSoils, he works closely with farmers and industry leaders to deliver innovative solutions that improve soil health, boost productivity, and ensure a resilient future for agriculture.
Day 2, 11-11.45am
Workshop: Drones & Imagery for Multi-Sector Crop & Livestock Monitoring
Edward Barraclough is the Founder and CEO of Drone-Hand Inc, Australia’s first autonomous drone systems company transforming livestock and land management through practical autonomy and machine-vision technologies.
With hands-on experience in agriculture and professional drone operations, Edward leads the development of autonomous drone and fixed-camera platforms that help producers improve efficiency, safety and visibility; even in remote areas without connectivity.
His work spans semi-autonomous quadcopters, long-range VTOL aircraft and automated drone-dock systems, as well as fixed-camera analytics for livestock performance and welfare.
Edward’s approach is grounded in real operational challenges, collaborating with industry partners across Australia and internationally.
2050 Ag Report – Opening Keynote Farming in 2040 – From production to global plate
Joe is Managing Director of Internet Innovations who provide Reliable Internet and Mobile Connectivity.
Internet Innovations work across industries such as agriculture, construction, energy, healthcare, and mining.
They solve connectivity problems that major providers won’t.
Their goal is to keep your operations connected, productive, and sustainable.
Prior to establishing ININ, Joe spent 20 years on a family farm. After completing an Electrical and Electronic Engineering Degree he has had thirty years’ experience in the Telecommunications sector. Holding executive roles at South Australia Police, T-Mobile (UK), Optus, NBN Co and Telstra
Day 2, 2-2.40pm
Panel: Bridging The Talent Gap – Digital & Innovation Skills Across the Value Chain
Dr Ray Johnson is a graduate in agricultural science from the University of Sydney and holds a PhD from the University of New England. He was a senior research scientist with the Victorian Department of Primary Industries before moving into senior leadership roles in agribusiness. He has more than 30 years’ experience across the animal nutrition and health, stockfeed, aquaculture, pet food and livestock genetics sectors. His senior executive roles have included Chief Executive of the NSW Farmers’ Association and Chief Executive of Genetics Australia Cooperative, Australia’s largest livestock genetics organisation. He is currently the Managing Director of Agricultural Appointments, an agribusiness recruitment company.
He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. His previous board appointments include the Fisheries Research & Development Corporation (FRDC), the CRC for Innovative Dairy Products, and the Australian Meat Processors Corporation (AMPC). He also served for seven years on the Research Advisory Committee of the Australian Farm Institute. Ray has extensive national and international agricultural experience and comes from a farming background.
Day 1, 10-10.45am
Panel: Securing Water Futures – Innovation Across Sectors & Markets
Soner Bekir is the driving force behind Algaesys, a company using algae and other sun-loving organisms to clean wastewater and turn it into something useful. Not an engineer or a farmer, Soner spent 30 years in enterprise and government IT and finance before deciding that solving environmental problems would be more rewarding — and involve fewer meetings. He reinvested the proceeds from selling his multinational IT consulting business into sustainable technology and has spent the past three years bringing Algaesys to market.
For agriculture and industry, the benefits are significant: reduced or eliminated wastewater disposal constraints, the ability to reuse water, and the added bonus of producing high-quality organic fertiliser, stock feed, or feedstock for anaerobic digestion. The solution depends on the wastewater and the application, but the principle is simple — treat the whole system, not just the symptoms.
With agriculture accounting for around two-thirds of Australia’s water use, Soner is focused on practical solutions that help maximise the value of water where and when it’s available. His work across regional, rural and municipal facilities — from dairies and breweries to abattoirs and feedlots, and through international missions in Southeast Asia — reinforces one clear message: the opportunity to improve how we use and reuse water is here, and the time to act is now.
Topic/Session
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