Advancing Trust & Identity for Higher Education and Research Roundtables 2026

The Australian Access Federation (AAF) invites you to join our state‑based Roundtable breakfast series, focused on the challenges and opportunities shaping Trust and Identity across the research and higher education sector.

Building on the inaugural Roundtable held in Sydney last year, these sessions will feature a distinguished panel from across the community, and are designed to foster open dialogue and the exchange of ideas that can help inform future sector roadmaps and strategic directions.

These session will bring together leaders from across the community, and explore how trust and identity is evolving — and how we can work collectively to shape their future.

Register now for one of these sessions below, being held across the nation in Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

Who should attend

CIO’s and CISO’s in the higher education and research sector
National Research Infrastructure leaders
AAF project partners and collaborators
Government representatives
Industry partners to the higher education and research sector

Advancing Trust and Identity in Higher Edcation and Research Roundtable

Register now

Brisbane

7 May
8.30-12.00 noon
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre

Melbourne

28 May
8.30-12.00 noon
Monash Conference
Centre

Adelaide

1 June
8.30am-12.00 noon
SAHMRI
Foyer

Perth

15 July
8.30-12.00 noon
University Club of Western Australia

Meet the panellists

Karl Sellmann

Chair AHECS (Australian Higher Education Cybersecurity Service)

Karl Sellmann is the Chief Information Security Officer at Flinders University and Chair of AHECS, where he leads efforts to strengthen cyber security across the higher education sector. With experience spanning higher education since 2007 and prior leadership roles in industries such as defence, retail, and logistics, Karl is a strategic technology leader known for driving digital transformation and fostering innovation. He is a strong advocate for building collaborative ecosystems that connect academia and industry to address emerging digital challenges and support secure organisational growth.

Greg Sawyer

Chief Executive Officer, CAUDIT

Greg joined CAUDIT as Director, Cybersecurity in January 2020 and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in April 2022. He brings over 25 years of experience in the higher education sector, having held various technical and leadership roles at the University of Sydney and UNSW Sydney. Prior to this, Greg served 11 years in the Australian Army, specialising in electronics, radio communications, and cypher, including a UN deployment in Cambodia. Greg holds a Master of Business Technology and is a 2018 graduate of the CAUDIT Leadership Institute.

John Scullen

Head of Trust and Identity Strategy and Futures, AAF

John is the Head of Trust & Identity Strategy and Futures at the Australian Access Federation. He is responsible for helping to adapt AAF’s services to meet stakeholder needs in a rapidly changing external environment. With 25 years’ experience in the higher education and research sector, John has a strong track record of successfully delivering large, complex projects and in developing innovative approaches to business and technology solutions.

Meet the Chairs

Heath Marks

CEO, AAF

Heath Marks was appointed by the Council of Australian University Directors of Information Technology (CAUDIT) in July 2009 to head a team to deliver the sustainable operations of Australia’s Trust and Identity services for Research and Education. This includes the national trust authentication framework the Australian Access Federation (AAF), and the Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID) Consortium Lead for Australia. He is an IT professional with a wealth of management experience in the successful delivery of transformational Information Technology within the tertiary education and research sector supporting the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). Heath participates in many national and international committees and working groups on trust, identity, cybersecurity, and company strategy.

Margie Jantti

Deputy CEO, AAF

Deputy CEO of the AAF, Margie is well known in the sector, holding significant leadership roles, including Director Library Services University of Wollongong (UOW), former Chair of the Council of Australasian University Librarians (CAUL), former member and Chair of the ORCID Governance Group, former Board Director of the AAF, Board Director of CAVAL, and member of the Cambridge University Press Australian and New Zealand Advisory Board.