Breakfast briefing: Industrial AI and the Future of Manufacturing

The ARC Digital Manufacturing Hub and UQ Centre for Enterprise AI invite you to a breakfast briefing event with research and industry leaders in digital manufacturing and Industrial AI.

Date: Friday 15th May 2026

Time: 7:30am-10:00am AEST

Location: Room 227, UQ Brisbane City Campus, 308 Queen Street, Brisbane

Hear about the emerging research highlights from Professor Dimitrios Georgakopoulos (Swinburne University of Technology and Director of the ARC Hub for Digital Manufacturing) and on the impact on practice from Professor Matthew Dargusch (Associate Dean Research, Faculty of Engineering, Architecture, and IT, The University of Queensland) on research highlights and impact on practice.

The event will also feature an expert panel moderated by Professor Shazia Sadiq (Director of the ARC Training Centre for Information Resilience and the UQ Centre for Enterprise AI, The University of Queensland) to unpack the emerging opportunities and challenges for digital manufacturing and industrial AI.

AGENDA

Speakers

Professor Dimitrios Georgakopoulos

Director, ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Future Digital Manufacturing, Swinburne University of Technology

Talk title: Digital manufacturing - Advancing industrial productivity and resilience via digital twins, physical dependency-aware AI, and co-creation with the industry.

Abstract: Digital Manufacturing aims to make the industry more productive, resilient, and globally competitive than ever. To achieve this, we are co-creating with the industry advanced digital twins for effectively representing in the digital word complex physical entities in manufacturing, such as sophisticated industrial machines, materials and products, and people involved in production. To dramatically improve industrial productivity and resilience we devise physical dependency aware AI/ML models that help optimize production outcomes, e.g., by predicting production issues (such as inefficiencies, product inconsistencies, unplanned maintenance issues) and correct them before they occur. In this talk we also discuss ongoing development of a novel digital manufacturing platform that standardizes the combination of the above technologies and reduces the cost and effort of  developing digital manufacturing solutions. We present examples of digital manufacturing solution from a pool of over thirty digital manufacturing projects we have conducted jointly with industry partners in a variety of sectors ranging from food, steel, composites, to tools and vehicles. More importantly, we outline directions, challenges, and opportunities for digital manufacturing  that can transform the industry.

Professor Matt Dargusch 

Associate Dean Research, Faculty of Engineering, Architecture, and IT, The University of Queensland

Talk title: AI in Advanced Manufacturing

Bio: Professor Dargusch is an internationally recognised leader in advanced manufacturing and materials engineering, with more than two decades of leadership in the field. He is currently Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology at The University of Queensland, and has led major national research initiatives including as Director of the ARC Research Hub for Advanced Manufacturing of Medical Devices. Professor Dargusch has authored more than 400 refereed publications, with over 35,000 citations, he is widely recognised for translating research into real-world impact, securing over $10 million in competitive and industry funding in recent years and collaborating with major partners such as Airbus, BAE Systems, Stryker and Cook Medical. His contributions have been recognised with numerous international awards, including the Thatcher Brothers Prize from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) in the UK, The Anders Gustaf Ekeberg Tantalum Prize and the TMS Technology Award. A passionate educator and mentor, he has supervised more than 42 postgraduate researchers to completion, many of whom now hold senior positions in industry and academia. His teaching excellence has been recognised with a national Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning.

Panel discussion

Opportunities and challenges for digital manufacturing and industrial AI

Moderator: Professor Shazia Sadiq FTSE, Director of the ARC Training Centre for Information Resilience and the UQ Centre for Enterprise AI

Panellists:

Will Shrapnel, Founder and Managing Director, HeliMods

Dr Yadan Luo, Senior Lecturer, Data Science discipline, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, UQ

Associate Professor Ida Someh, Associate Professor, Business Information Systems discipline, UQ Business School

Contact: For any questions regarding this event, including invitations and registration details, please contact Kate Aldridge via k.aldridge@uq.edu.au