Event season is well and truly underway at BLACKROC, and we kicked off 2025 with a high-energy, high-impact breakfast session that packed out our Brisbane HQ.
On Thursday, April 10, we welcomed an engaged crowd for an in-demand discussion on one of the most talked-about topics in business today: Agentic AI and autonomous decision-making.
The conversation went well beyond buzzwords. It was clear there’s a genuine appetite for practical, executive-level insight into how this new wave of AI is changing the way work gets done—and what to do about it now.
Chaired by BLACKROC’s Managing Director, Jason Roulston, the morning brought together three senior voices leading the conversation on AI adoption in enterprise environments:
- Brad Milliken, Partner at Deloitte
- Thuy Lam, CEO & Head of R&D at blackbook.ai
- Sarah Nystrom, Commercial Analyst at Flight Centre Travel Group
Each speaker brought a unique perspective—across consulting, innovation, and corporate operations—making for a lively and layered discussion about what’s happening right now inside some of Australia’s most well-known companies.
Key Themes from the Morning
Agentic AI Is Already Here
Agentic AI isn’t just a future concept—it’s already quietly transforming business operations. From finance to marketing to customer service, AI agents are being embedded into workflows to make decisions in real time and operate independently, without constant human input.
It’s Not About Replacing People
One of the strongest messages of the morning: Human expertise isn’t going anywhere. The real opportunity lies in combining agentic systems with deep human insight. Skills like process mapping and project leadership—once taken for granted—are now more essential than ever.
Live Demo: From Theory to Reality
The crowd was treated to a live demo of ActionFabric.ai, Australia’s first Agentic AI platform, by Thuy Lam. Watching AI autonomously manage real business functions was a standout moment, proving just how close the future really is.
Execs Want ROI, Not Hype
Across the board, the panel reinforced that C-level leaders care about impact—not novelty. They want scalable, measurable results and governance frameworks that keep AI’s autonomy productive and in check.
Governance and Control Are Still Crucial
No conversation about AI is complete without talking about risk. As these systems evolve, so must the guardrails. The speakers shared thoughtful takes on how to balance speed, innovation, and compliance without slowing progress to acrawl.
What’s Next?
This conversation confirmed what we already suspected—Brisbane’s business and tech leaders are ready for more. More depth. More honesty. More unfiltered insight. And that’s exactly what we’re delivering next. Join us for FailCon 20/20 – Lessons from the Other Side of Success, a panel discussion that leans into the uncomfortable but essential truth: failure is part of the process.
This is not your standard leadership event. It’s raw, real, and refreshingly unfiltered.
We’re bringing together some of Brisbane’s most respected leaders to share the missteps, hard lessons, and personal stories that rarely make it to the highlight reel. Featuring:
- Neil Glentworth, Managing Partner, DunneMedforth
- Ray Kitchingman, Chief Financial Officer, Chandler
- Karen Howard, FAICD, Co-Founder, Alloggio
- Franc Zvonar, Chief Executive Officer, Cherryielding and Chief Commercial Officer, Square One Capital
If you’ve ever failed fast, failed quietly, or failed publicly—you’ll feel right at home.
