This session introduces Q‑FINEX (Quantum Finance Industry Experimentation), a dedicated testbed for exploring quantum computing algorithms and optimisation in real financial use‑cases.

Project authors from GFTN and UWA, including key research lead, Prof Jingbo Wang (UWA), will outline how quantum and quantum‑inspired methods can support portfolio optimisation, risk simulation and other complex finance problems, before moving into a live demonstration of the Q‑FINEX environment.

Participants will see how a use‑case moves from idea to experiment, and how Q‑FINEX enables financial institutions and researchers to collaborate on evidence‑based evaluation, not hype.

AI is already improving productivity, safety and customer outcomes — but results vary widely. Some deployments deliver measurable gains; others stall because the basics aren’t in place: weak data foundations, no clear owner, gaps in governance, security exposure, missing talent, hidden costs — and a failure to treat AI as operational infrastructure, not a plug-in tool.

This roundtable moves beyond “what is AI?” and focuses on what works—and what doesn’t—when organisations deploy AI responsibly at scale. Leaders from banking, mining, healthcare, government and startups will share real examples: what they shipped, what got stuck, what made it succeed, and the lessons learned the hard way.

This fireside chat explores Bankwest’s pivot from a traditional bank into a digital banking innovator, how business processes and customer experiences were transformed, and challenges with digital initiatives were met to deliver tangible outcomes.  The discussion will also highlight how their shift toward customer-centric delivery translated tech investments into capabilities that will shape Bankwest’s readiness for further insight-led innovation.