Modernise, Scale AI, Justify Spend: The CIO Mandate for 2026

Thursday, 26 March, 2026 @11:00am

Date Thursday, 26 March, 2026 Time 11:00am -12:00pm AEDT Location Zoom link will be available upon registration. Register to Access Recording Register

In February 2026, ADAPT surveyed 226 Australian CIOs responsible for technology strategy across organisations representing a significant share of national GDP.

The data reveals a complex reality with CIOs under pressure to modernise core platforms, scale AI responsibly, and deliver measurable business outcomes.

Nearly 28% of mission-critical applications still depend on legacy platforms, creating structural drag on transformation. At the same time, AI ambition is rising, but governance maturity and organisational readiness remain uneven.

The result is a shift in how CIOs prioritise initiatives, evaluate partners, and justify transformation internally. Scrutiny is intensifying, and funding increasingly depends on cross-functional justification and credible ROI narratives.

What do CIOs expect from their tech partners in this climate?

How can your teams align to their mandate – not just their technology roadmap?

In this 55-minute virtual briefing, you’ll gain exclusive client-only insights to help sharpen your positioning, align to the CIO’s mandate, and strengthen early-stage conversations in 2026.

Key Takeaways Top Australian business priorities and tech initiatives in 2026 Platform modernisation realities and legacy dependency AI governance maturity and scaling constraints Shifting CIO expectations in vendor engagement Key challenges influencing local CIO decision-making

Meet the Moderator & Speaker

Gabby Fredkin Head of Analytics & Insights

Gabby’s primary role is managing analysis to produce ADAPT’s actionable insights. He has extensive experience in using data to identify technology trends... More

Gabby’s primary role is managing analysis to produce ADAPT’s actionable insights. He has extensive experience in using data to identify technology trends to support Australian organisations.

Using modern data science techniques, he provides ADAPT and its customers with confidence in the accuracy and validity of the information used for ADAPT’s research, advisory and events.

With a passion for creating stories with data, Gabby is consistently rated as one of the top speakers at ADAPT’s events. In roundtable discussions, he specialises in using statistics to initiate thought-provoking discussions.

Gabby is effective in translating information into insights, enabling ADAPT’s customers to become more data-driven.

Gabby’s primary areas of expertise are:

Advanced AI and ML practices, including AI ethics.
Building models to benchmark and predict IT performance.
End-user behaviour and human-centred design.
Cross-functional team design and value, such as DevSecOps.

Anthony Saba Managing Director, Transformation Services

Anthony leads the growth, strategy, and delivery of ADAPT’s Transformation Services and Go-to-Market Services Business Units. He is driven by a core... More

Anthony leads the growth, strategy, and delivery of ADAPT’s Transformation Services and Go-to-Market Services Business Units.

He is driven by a core belief that we are experiencing a modern industrial revolution, one that will fundamentally reshape how business is done and pose serious challenges to the future of many Australian organisations and industries.

In this environment, success will not necessarily favour incumbents, or those with the deepest pockets or broadest resources, but rather organisations who are most able to ADAPT quickly and effectively to the evolving needs of their customers, employees and ecosystems.

With this belief, ADAPT is evolving into a critical platform that Australia’s enterprise leaders, local solution providers, and trusted advisors can rely on to succeed over the next decade.

By removing barriers, democratising access to proven expertise, promoting local ANZ innovation, and enabling rapid, meaningful connections between leaders and experts, ADAPT is committed to helping Australia not just survive, but thrive in the complex and uncertain times ahead.