Announcing our new Institute for Digital Innovation and AI
The new initiative will cement Melbourne Business School as a leader in the era of digital transformation, innovation, automation, applied AI, and analytics at scale.
The Institute for Digital Innovation and AI (IDIA) will support Australian and global organisations in navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of digital technologies, AI adoption, automation, digital innovation, and data-driven decision making.
Led by Professor Ujwal Kayande, the Institute will focus on creating real-world impact through upskilling executives, applied research in these areas, and strategic partnerships that enable senior leaders to make more confident, future-ready decisions.Professor Ujwal Kayande is a pioneer in analytics and AI in business, having previously founded and directed the Centre for Business Analytics.
The Centre for Business Analytics established the School as a leader in business analytics education and practice, and worked closely with corporate partners to build the case for evidence-based decision making.
While IDIA takes inspiration from the success of the Centre for Business Analytics, it also represents a strategic leap forward, said Professor Kayande.“The digital transformation challenges faced by the School’s clients now span far beyond analytics,” he said.
“They include redesigning customer journeys with AI, navigating platform business models, rethinking workforce capability in the age of automation and AI, and developing leadership mindsets that are fit for a digital world.”
Professor Jenny George, Dean of Melbourne Business School, noted that the Institute’s formation is part of a broader effort to position the School at the forefront of the important issues for business, now and in the future.
“The Institute for Digital Innovation and AI strengthens our ability to serve business and society at a critical moment,” she said.
“It enables us to deliver on our mission in new ways: helping leaders not only respond to technological change but shape it. We’re excited to see how IDIA grows and the partnerships it will forge.”
A more holistic approach to digital innovation
The activities of the Centre for Business Analytics will now be subsumed within IDIA, as part of this expanded vision that goes beyond analytics to include broader organisational transformation.
“Organisations no longer see AI and automation as isolated capabilities - they recognise the need for strategic integration of these tools into their operating models, cultures, and leadership agendas,” Professor Kayande said.
“The Institute will help them do just that: by building internal capability, testing and scaling solutions, and connecting them with global best practice and local expertise.”
The new Institute has three key priorities:
Executive Education and Leadership Development: the IDIA will deliver high-impact programs to help senior leaders, boards, and functional executives make sense of AI, digital, analytics, and automation. This will be executed upon from a strategic and organisational point of view, not from a technical lens. These programs will range from bespoke, client-specific engagements to open enrolment programs and collaborative academies.
Applied Research and Industry Trials: The Institute will engage in research that is both rigorous and relevant, with a focus on real-world implementation. Collaborating with business and public sector partners, IDIA will design and evaluate experiments, pilot new technologies, and generate insights that are immediately actionable.
Strategic Insight and Advisory: Through convening advisory boards, roundtables, and diagnostic assessments, IDIA will provide strategic guidance to partners navigating uncertainty in areas such as AI regulation, workforce transformation, digital ethics, and innovation governance.
The Institute will also continue to offer the successful Data for Decision-Makers program that has been delivered to over 3,000 senior executives across the world and the Generative AI for Business program launched in early 2025.
Guided by industry innovators
To guide its activities and ensure strong industry alignment, the IDIA will be forming an Industry Advisory Board composed of senior leaders from across the Australian corporate landscape and globally.
Its current members include:
- Wendy Stops (Chair), Non-Executive Director of Coles Group and Melbourne Business School, Member of the PwC Governance Board, and a former Senior Managing Director at Accenture.
- Adam Powick, recently retired CEO of Deloitte Australia and a visionary technology advisor to several companies.
- Christelle Young, Managing Director of T2 Tea, a long-time champion of applied AI in business, and a 2016 alumna of the Master of Business Analytics program at MBS.
- Kee Wong, Non-Executive Director at Car Group, the Australian Energy Market Operator and the Australian Business Growth Fund among others, and member of the University of Melbourne Council.
This group already brings extraordinary insight, credibility, and networks to the Institute, and will help steer its strategy, partnerships and engagement efforts.Other members will be added to the Board in the near future.
To stay up to date with the latest developments, follow the official Institute LinkedIn page.
To find out more about how we can help you or your organisation with your digital innovation and AI requirements, visit our Short Courses or For Organisations pages.
