 Speaker Biographies
William Ruh
Chief Executive Officer, Digital, Lendlease Corporation
Mr. William Ruh is the Chief Executive Officer for LendLease Digital. In this role, he is focused on building out advanced automation and analytics capabilities, as well as driving the global strategy, operations and portfolio of digital services across all of LendLease businesses. His portfolio includes the Innovation Group, Living Utilities, Technology in Property, DesignMake and the IT organization.
Prior to joining LendLease, Mr. Ruh was the CEO of GE Digital and the Chief Digital Officer for GE. He grew the overall GE digital sales 2.5x and established the GE Digital business unit. During his tenure, Mr. Ruh led the charge to develop the first cloud-based platform for the industrial world. A recognized expert in the emerging Industrial Internet of Things he helped establish the Industrial Internet Consortium, was a member of the US Dept of Commerce Digital Economy Board of Advisors, Executive Board member of the Bay Area Council as well as the Co-Chair of the Bay Area Council India Initiative and is a member of the board of the Magna Corporation.
Tooran Alizadeh
Associate Professor of Urbanism and Telecommunication Planning
Director of Urban Studies Major/Minor, The University of Sydney
Associate Professor Tooran Alizadeh utilises cross-disciplinary knowledge and methodologies to gain new vital perspectives into the ever-growing complexities of cities in the age of advanced technological challenges and opportunities. She has investigated the socio-spatial patterns of telecommunication infrastructure deployment in Australia and beyond; if and how the advanced infrastructure is accounted for in the strategic plans for the future of our cities; and finally the extent to which smart city initiatives respond to the strategic challenges of each city and its citizens. Her work has resulted in over 80 refereed publications; and made meaningful contributions to the public discourse around the urban and equity implications of the National Broadband Network in Australia - evidenced by numerous prime time TV and radio interviews, and hundreds of quotations in the print media.
James Sherrard
Partner, PwC Australia
James Sherrard is the National Managing Partner for the 400 strong Infrastructure team at PwC. James has 25 years experience in leading teams across the globe to deliver complex infrastructure projects. He has worked in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Australia and Asia on both heavy and social infrastructure projects. The infrastructure team at PwC works at all phases of a project’s lifecycle including strategic planning, business case development, financing, transactions, project management and property planning.
James has particular interest in project governance, risk mitigation and procurement planning. Whilst leading the team James continues to work with the pubic and private sector on maximising their return on investment. James is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and has formal qualifications in building, business and law.
Daniel Gannon
SA Executive Director, Property Council of Australia
Daniel Gannon is one of South Australia’s leading and most influential industry executives.
Over the past six years Daniel has spearheaded successful and historic campaigns to abolish commercial stamp duty, reform land tax and defeat punitive taxes on CBD car parks and banks. Advocacy outcomes like these have increased South Australia’s investment attractiveness - particularly the state’s property and real estate sectors.
In 2020, Daniel was named one of South Australia's 50 Most Influential People, while in 2018 he was named one of South Australia’s Top 40 Leaders Under 40 and one of the state’s Top 50 Powerbrokers.
“Often credited as one of the most strategic operators in South Australia,” the 2020 list says of Daniel, “[he is] a forceful yet smooth operator.”
Throughout his career, Daniel has worked across Local, State and Federal Government policy spheres. He has also driven significant change in the property and investment industry as the South Australian Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia – now arguably the state’s most powerful association.
He is a skilled, effective and resilient leader, communicator, public speaker, and influential high-profile advocate with 15 years’ experience, as well as significant public policy, governance and government relations proficiency.
In addition to government and not-for-profit board experience, Daniel has credibility with media, experience in developing and communicating complex policies, the ability to talk directly and powerfully with private and public sector leaders, and the drive and tenacity to achieve strategic outcomes.
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