Institute for Digital Innovation & AI

Institute for Digital Innovation and AI (IDIA): Connecting research and practice in AI and digital innovation.

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About
Core Pillars
Industry Engagement
IDIA Team
Board
Corporate Partners
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The Institute for Digital Innovation & AI (IDIA, pronounced “<em>Idea</em>”) at Melbourne Business School brings together business leaders and academics to translate digital innovation and artificial intelligence into real-world impact.

The Institute for Digital Innovation & AI (IDIA, pronounced “Idea”) at Melbourne Business School brings together business leaders and academics to translate digital innovation and artificial intelligence into real-world impact.

IDIA was established in mid-2025 to support leaders and organisations in navigating the opportunities and challenges of digital technologies and AI. It does so by delivering research-based insights that are grounded in real-world practice.

Building on the strong legacy of the Centre for Business Analytics, IDIA expands Melbourne Business School’s long-standing commitment to applied research and industry collaboration.

Through industry-engaged research, education, and executive programs, IDIA supports organisations in building capability, making better decisions, and responsibly harnessing AI and digital technologies for sustained business value.

Core Pillars

Executive Education

Build AI literacy and leadership through immersive, applied learning experiences.

Applied Research & Frameworks

Evidence-based insights and practical frameworks for responsible AI adoption.

Industry Collaboration

Co-design solutions with partners to address real-world digital challenges.

Thought Leadership & Community

Convene leaders, academics, and practitioners to share insights shaping the future of AI.

Themes

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Leading organisations and competing in an AI world

How should organisations leverage AI including leadership, decision-making, automation, and operating models?

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Digital technology and AI’s impact on jobs, organisations, economies and society

How are digital and AI technologies transforming our industries, jobs, markets, and communities?

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The evolution of responsible AI deployment and governance

How can we ensure digital technologies, including AI, are being governed and deployed responsibly within organisations?

The Institute for Digital Innovation & AI (IDIA)

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. 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.

Industry Engagement

The Institute for Digital Innovation & AI (IDIA) was developed in collaboration with industry and supports a wide range of initiatives.

Empower Leaders
Identify Opportunities
Implement and Scale

Develop AI leadership capability through executive programs and workshops.
Equip teams with practical knowledge to implement and govern AI responsibly.
Build shared understanding of AI’s potential and limitations.

Assess digital and AI readiness across the organisation.
Identify high-value use cases for digital innovation and AI.
Benchmark against industry best practice and emerging technologies.

Support strategy execution through applied research and advisory.
Embed responsible AI frameworks, governance and measurement.
Drive sustainable transformation that creates business and societal value

IDIA Team

Ujwal Kayande

DIRECTOR (IDIA) AND PROFESSOR OF MARKETING

Ujwal Kayande is Professor and Inaugural Director of the Institute for Digital Innovation & AI (IDIA) at Melbourne Business School. He previously founded the School’s Centre for Business Analytics in 2014 and served as Director until 2021. He is a globally recognised expert in marketing analytics, AI, and digital transformation. Awarded several times for his research and teaching, he works closely with organisations to help them address the opportunities and challenges of our digital age. With his signature Data for Decision-Makers program, he has helped over 3000 senior executives change their mindsets to become more data-driven. He is an Advisor to several organisations across the world, including L’Oréal, T2 Tea, Brandcomms.ai, Lauretta.io, and Zetaris.

Cheryl George

DIRECTOR - STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS (IDIA)

As Director of Strategic Partnerships at IDIA, Cheryl brings over 25 years’ experience helping organisations adopt technology and expand into new markets. She has held senior roles across government, industry and research, and is deeply connected to Australia’s innovation ecosystem. Formerly Commercial Director at CSIRO’s Data61, she led the establishment of Australia’s National Artificial Intelligence Centre and developed the Australian Government’s first AI Roadmap and AI Ethics Framework, shaping national approaches to digital innovation and responsible AI.

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Jacob McMahon

INSTITUTE COORDINATOR (IDIA)

Jacob McMahon is Coordinator at the Institute for Digital Innovation & AI (IDIA) where he supports program delivery, events and operations, and fosters stakeholder engagement and collaboration. Prior to joining IDIA, Jacob worked at Scale Space in London, a joint venture between Imperial College and Blenheim Chalcot, where he managed events and operational activities and worked with AI and automation tools to improve efficiency. He holds a Bachelor of Business from La Trobe University.

Jon Whittle

DISTINGUISHED FELLOW AND PROFESSOR (IDIA)

Professor Jon Whittle is Australia's leading thought leader on AI for business. A former technical lead at NASA and director of CSIRO's AI capability, he also founded Australia's National AI Centre. He has a global reputation for applying AI to achieve real world impact with a human-centred approach, having worked with or advised Boeing, the Federal Aviation Administration in the US, Google, Microsoft, NASA, Australian Super, Medibank, BHP, Supreme Court Justice of Victoria, state and federal governments. He has worked extensively in the US, the UK, UAE, Germany and Australia. He is author of two books on AI: Responsible AI - Best Practices for Creating Trustworthy AI Systems, and AI for Business - A Guide to AI Adoption. He also hosts the award-winning podcast, CSIRO Presents Everyday AI. He regularly appears in the media, having recently been interviewed for ABC Radio, The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, The AFR, Sky TV and ABC TV.

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Board

Wendy Stops

CHAIR, INSTITUTE FOR DIGITAL INNOVATION & AI (IDIA)

Wendy is currently a Non-executive Director of Coles Group, Melbourne Business School and PwC Australia’s Governance Board. She also chairs the Industry Advisory Board for the Institute of Digital Innovation and AI (IDIA) at Melbourne Business School, Chairs the Fitted for Work Future Fund, and is a member of the AICD’s Governance of Innovation & Technology Advisory panel. Wendy was until recently Chair and Non-executive Director of Fitted for Work, a Deputy Chancellor and Council Member at the University of Melbourne and has previously held board positions at Blackmores (including as Chair), Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Altium, and has been involved in advisory committees/boards with the Federal government, Kearney ANZ and Chief Executive Women.

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Christelle Young

BOARD MEMBER

Christelle Young is the Managing Director of T2 Tea and a distinguished executive with extensive experience in strategy, transformation, technology, and data analytics. Formerly the Chief Data & Analytics Officer at L’Oréal South Asia Pacific, Middle East & North Africa, she has led significant transformation initiatives across 33 countries.

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Kee Wong

BOARD MEMBER

Kee Wong is an experienced Non-Executive Director with nearly 40 years of senior roles across various sectors, including technology, services, retail, food and beverage, and property. He is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor, particularly in startups and growth companies globally. Kee has held multiple board positions and currently chairs the Governance of Innovation and Technology Panel for the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).

Mihir Shukla

BOARD MEMBER

Mihir Shukla, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Automation Anywhere, is an innovator who has positioned the company as a global leader in agentic process automation. A pioneer of the digital workforce, he created AI agents to automate complex, repetitive tasks and free people for higher-value work. Over 20 years, Mihir has led Automation Anywhere to numerous awards and partnerships with some of the world’s largest organisations. Previously, he held leadership roles across supply chain, internet, e-commerce, and wireless markets.

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Adam Powick

BOARD MEMBER

Adam Powick is a senior executive and advisor with deep experience in professional services and technology. Most recently CEO of Deloitte Australia, he led the nation’s largest professional services firm with 13,000 people. Over his career, Adam has held senior leadership roles across Deloitte’s Asia Pacific and Global Consulting practices, growing major technology and management consulting businesses. Since retiring from Deloitte, he has returned to his technology roots, advising clients and emerging companies in Australia and Asia on growth, innovation, and AI.

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Institute for Digital Innovation & AI Corporate Partners

Patron Partners

Corporate & Associate Partners

QBE | Centre for Business Analytics | Melbourne Business School

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IDIA was established to help organisations and leaders better understand the opportunities digital technologies and AI present, and provide acces to the skills, real world insight, and expertise needed, to realise new value through their adoption and use.