James Riley and the InnovationAus team talks to corporate, academic and political leaders about what’s driving the transformation of Australia’s economy toward a 21st Century mindset. InnovationAus is an independent publication that reports on government policy as it affects technology-based innovation across the nation’s growth industries. From mining and agriculture to financial services, MedTech, cyber security and advanced manufacturing. The journalism focuses on the opportunities that align with Australia’s strategic priorities and connects government, institutional researchers, investors, entrepreneurs and the mainstream business community.
Episodes
Friday Sep 26, 2025
Friday Sep 26, 2025
With Anthony Albanese now penciled in for a meeting with Donald Trump at the White House on October 20, expect to hear about sizeable investments in data centres and renewables. InnovationAus editor Justin Hendry talks through the week's innovation news with James Riley.
Monday Sep 22, 2025
Monday Sep 22, 2025
In this episode of Commercial Disco, China tech policy expert Phillippa Jones unpacks how Beijing’s long-term innovation strategy has been reshaped by the “Deep Seek moment” and what it signals for the global technology race. She traces the evolution from Made in China 2025 to new capital market models for funding science and technology, explains how the next five-year plan will set the direction for AI, robotics and quantum, and offers a perspective on where Australia should focus its comparative strengths in critical minerals, processing and energy.
Saturday Sep 20, 2025
Saturday Sep 20, 2025
InnovationAus editorial director James Riley speaks with Dawn Massa-Stancavish, CEO of US-based Massa Products Corporation, about the company’s legacy in sonar and its role in supplying the Virginia-class submarines. Dawn shares her perspective on AUKUS, stressing the need for Pillar II to move in parallel with submarine programs and calling for greater involvement of SMEs in defence innovation. She also highlights collaborations with Australian suppliers and universities, and why agile supply chains are key to sovereignty.
Friday Sep 19, 2025
Friday Sep 19, 2025
In this episode of NewsWrap, senior reporter Joseph Brookes heads to the Tech Council of Australia's summit in Sydney, covering contributions from Industry minister Tim Ayres, NSW Premier Chris Minns and federal assistant minister Andrew Charlton, among others.
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
In this episode of the Commercial Disco, Dr Andrew Charlton discusses Australia's opportunity to fully participate in the emerging global AI market, both as host to tens of billions of dollars worth of AI data centres, and for Australian companies building AI models and applications for global markets.
Tuesday Sep 16, 2025
Tuesday Sep 16, 2025
In this episode of The Commercial Disco, GBG’s head of data innovation Michael Harmer explains why the case for a national ID in Australia is “dead in the water,” arguing that the country’s existing identity infrastructure, anchored by government-verified documents and services like the DVS, already delivers world-class assurance. Harmer discusses how AI is both a threat and an opportunity for digital identity, the importance of behavioural context in fraud detection, and why mobile credentials will shape the future of secure and privacy-preserving identity verification.
Monday Sep 15, 2025
Monday Sep 15, 2025
After three years of war in Europe, Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko says his country has become a real-time battlefield laboratory, producing vast troves of invaluable data. Successfully defending against the Russian invasion has produced an amazing ecosystem of innovators from all over the world. The Ambassador says there are lessons and opportunities for Australia.
Friday Sep 12, 2025
Friday Sep 12, 2025
Can Australia play an outsized role in the global regulation of Big Tech? Do we have the middle-power muscle to bring together a coalition of countries that would have the combined heft to push back on tech overreach?
Tech Policy Design Institute co-founder and CEO Johanna Weaver digs deep into the global political and technological forces shaping the world right now.
Friday Sep 12, 2025
Friday Sep 12, 2025
In this episode of NewsWrap, InnovationAus editor Justin Hendry explores the $US$1 billion PsiQuantum Series E capital raise and looks at how the Australian and Queensland governments' US$250 million fits in.
Friday Sep 05, 2025
Friday Sep 05, 2025
In this episode of NewsWrap, InnovationAus senior reporter Joseph Brookes and James Riley dive into the latest issues papers published by the Robyn Denholm-led Strategic Examination of R&D.