From AI to Cybersecurity: How Australia and Israel are tackling tomorrow’s biggest challenges together
The Australia-Israel Innovation Summit, held in Sydney recently, brought together Australian and Israeli experts and business leaders to discuss how to harness technology and innovation to tackle pressing global challenges.
Dave Sharma addresses the Summit
Hosted by the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce (AICC), the Summit focused on disruption, cybersecurity, and digital transformation under the theme “Boost Agility, Drive Transformation.” With over 250 attendees, the Summit offered both insights and practical solutions to help organisations adapt in an era marked by rapid change.
Opening the event, Doug Ferguson, NSW Chairman and Head of Asia & International Markets at KPMG, expressed admiration for Israel’s innovative spirit. Ferguson highlighted KPMG’s commitment to creativity and innovation, sharing that the firm is “inspired by Israel and the AICC.” He noted that while businesses globally face mounting challenges, Israel exemplifies resilience and the ability to adapt under adversity.
The event’s opening session set a reflective tone with AICC Chair Jillian Segal acknowledging the difficult global context but praising Israel’s perseverance. “Despite the dark time, Israel continues to exemplify light over dark, resilience over failure,” she said. Segal emphasised that the Summit was “an opportunity to learn more about resilience and innovation”.
Following the welcome remarks, Dave Sharma, Liberal Senator for NSW and former Australian Ambassador to Israel, addressed Israel’s role in a turbulent region, calling the ongoing conflict with Hamas a “subset of a larger, decades-long struggle.” Sharma noted that Hamas aims to “isolate and delegitimise Israel,” but expressed confidence that “Israel will prevail in this war, coming out stronger” and ultimately making the region better off. He encouraged attendees to look to Israel’s innovation ecosystem, which he believes “will be supercharged by all of this.”
The Summit featured a keynote address by Saul Singer, co-author of “Start-Up Nation” and “The Genius of Israel”, who explored Israel’s pioneering approach to innovation. “Our world is changing extremely quickly,” Singer stated, adding that the countries which place the future first will be the most innovative. He compared adopting new technology to a major shift, like the transition from horse-drawn carriages to cars, stressing that nations need “imagination and leadership” to thrive. Singer praised Israel’s non-materialistic, mission-oriented culture, noting that Israelis “learn in the army that it’s not about me; it’s about my unit, my family, my people.” He said that this attitude shapes Israel’s workforce, with young Israelis quickly assuming significant responsibility and approaching problems with a team mindset.
Singer’s ideas on collective responsibility resonated throughout the Summit. He shared that Israel has one of the lowest rates of “deaths of despair,” attributing this to a sense of purpose ingrained in the culture. “In Israel, people are ambitious but within the sphere of something bigger,” he said. This mission-driven approach, he argued, makes Israelis feel “necessary” and connected, a mentality that businesses around the world could benefit from by creating workplaces that foster community and shared purpose.
The Summit continued with sector-specific panels, including a session on “The Future of Building”. The panel featured experts like Ran Laufer, Managing Partner of REACH, and Amit Haller, Co-Founder and CEO of Neovi, who discussed how technology could address pressing issues in the property sector. Laufer spoke about using innovation to “create value” in building maintenance, noting a start-up that allows tenants to “request cleaning by demand.” Haller, whose company aims to reduce construction time, said, “We can assemble homes in an extremely quick timeframe; fixing the housing crisis.” He added that such technology “opens a lot of doors” for sustainable development and economic resilience.
Aidan Coleman, CTO of Scentre Group, addressed roadblocks in property innovation, explaining that the sector often faces “too many regulations and a high level of fragmentation.” Coleman said, “We’re going into a world of software and data; changing the game for us.” The panel discussed green construction and multigenerational housing as emerging trends that could significantly impact the Australian housing market. Inbal Shenfeld, Chief of Staff at Helios, highlighted the importance of sustainable materials like green steel, which, she noted,“ has major importance for Australia and allows the country to be self-dependent.”
Cybersecurity took centre stage in the next panel, “Navigating Cyber Security Risk and the Next Threat Horizon.” Udi Mokady, Founder and Executive Chairman of CyberArk, opened the discussion by emphasising that digital transformation requires robust security frameworks. “We’re only as strong as our weakest link in the supply chain,” Mokady stated, stressing that third-party vulnerabilities remain a top concern. He discussed the rise of machine identities and how CyberArk’s recent acquisition of Venify for $1.5 billion expanded their market share. Despite the conflict in Israel, Mokady praised his team’s resilience, noting that “even with 10-15% of employees serving in reserve duty, productivity was over 100%.”
Adi Ashkenazy, CEO of Skylight Cyber, warned about the power of AI tools in cyberattacks, specifically deepfakes and identity theft. “The tools we now have to steal identities are very powerful,” he said, adding that attackers are mimicking organisational personalities to defraud companies. Liat Hayun, Co-founder of Eureka Security, echoed these concerns, explaining that AI “introduces challenges as data is used to train the AI.” The panel concluded that AI-enhanced tools are essential for defending against cyber threats, but that organisations must “get the basics right” in compliance and security practices.
The Summit’s focus shifted to “Digital Transformation at Scale” in a discussion moderated by Ross O’Toole, Director of Industry at Optus Enterprise and Business. Leah Balter, CIO of Bunnings, shared insights on the company’s journey from in-person retail to a robust online platform. “Our core mission is about people adopting tech and change,” she said. Liat Nadai Arad, Chief Transformation Officer at Tel Aviv Sourasky Ichilov Medical Center, emphasised that healthcare will need to transform to address the growing demand. “The global crisis of public healthcare is that there are too many patients for the number of practitioners,” she explained, outlining the role of data in improving future care.
Panellists also discussed the importance of data in enhancing customer experience and operational efficiency. Debra Sutton, General Manager Asia Pacific at WalkMe, said that “the most difficult part of any transformation project is people.” She stressed the need for solutions that make technology more accessible, noting that technology should “assist, not hinder” employees and customers alike. Sutton added that “it’s important we have the ability to easily adopt that technology,” underscoring the importance of a supportive, data-driven approach.
The final panel of the day, “The Big Tech Trends Driving Global Investment & Opportunity,” examined emerging technologies and investment directions. Shlomo Dvorat, Co-Founder of Viola Ventures, shared his company’s approach to funding outliers. “We like to invest in companies that can be transformational,” he explained. Yuval Illuz, COO of OurCrowd, pointed to AI as the next big frontier, noting it’s “broad and profound impact” on industries such as pharmaceuticals and cybersecurity. Quantum computing also featured prominently, with panellists agreeing that when combined with AI, it could “revolutionise sectors from cybersecurity to drug discovery.”
Wrapping up the Summit, Michelle Blum, CEO of AICC NSW and QLD, extended her gratitude to all involved. She highlighted the Summit’s ongoing mission to link Australian and Israeli innovation, stating, “Such partnerships are essential for future-proofing businesses and economies.” She urged attendees to take the lessons of resilience and community from Israel back to their organisations, reinforcing the event’s theme of agility and transformation.
