Stephen Rue, Chief Executive Officer, Optus

20 Aug 2025

The exclusive keynote featured Stephen Rue, Chief Executive Officer of Optus, bringing together senior leaders from business, technology and the public sector for a timely discussion on the future of telecommunications in Australia. Stephen shared his leadership vision for Optus and reflected on the opportunities and challenges facing the sector amid ongoing transformation, competition and changing customer expectations.

The address explored Optus’s strategic priorities around growth, customer focus, innovation and organisational renewal, alongside the evolving role of telecommunications in Australia’s digitally connected economy. Key themes included AI and automation, 5G and digital services, cybersecurity, resilience and data protection, as well as the importance of restoring trust and strengthening relationships with customers and communities.

The session also examined the sector’s broader role in building a sustainable, inclusive and resilient digital future, highlighting the importance of digital equity, social responsibility and continued innovation as connectivity becomes increasingly central to Australian society and business.

The Venue

ANZ Offices, 833 Collins Street, Docklands, Floor 10, All Studios, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Image Gallery

Event Speakers

Stephen Rue

Chief Executive Officer

Optus

Event Partners

Wipro

Wipro Limited is a leading technology services and consulting company focused on building innovative solutions that address clients’ most complex digital transformation needs. Leveraging our holistic portfolio of capabilities in consulting, design, engineering, and operations, we help clients realize their boldest ambitions and build future-ready, sustainable businesses. With over 250,000 employees and business partners across 66 countries, we deliver on the promise of helping our customers, colleagues, and communities thrive in an ever-changing world.

ANZ

ANZ is one of Australia’s leading financial institutions, providing banking and financial products and services to more than 8.5 million retail and business customers across close to 30 markets. With a history in Australia dating back to 1835, ANZ supports individuals, businesses and institutions through a broad range of banking, financial and advisory services. Guided by its purpose to shape a world where people and communities thrive, ANZ is focused on helping customers achieve their goals while contributing to sustainable economic and community outcomes.

Tech Mahindra

Tech Mahindra is a global consulting and systems integration firm operating in over 90 countries. The company delivers transformative solutions through a distinctive combination of digital innovation and established, industry-resilient processes. Committed to helping clients Scale at Speed™, Tech Mahindra designs future-ready solutions for industry leaders and delivers innovative digital experiences that support rapid transformation and growth. Their mission is to empower enterprises, individuals, and communities to Rise—advancing a more equitable world, fostering future preparedness, and driving sustainable value creation.

Salesforce

Salesforce Australia is the regional arm of the world’s leading customer relationship management (CRM) platform, dedicated to helping businesses of all sizes connect with their customers in entirely new ways. By unifying data, AI, and automation on a single platform, Salesforce empowers teams across sales, service, marketing, commerce, and IT to deliver personalised, efficient, and scalable customer experiences. Trusted by organisations throughout Australia and New Zealand, Salesforce continues to drive innovation and digital transformation across the region.