ARCIA Professional Development Conference & NSW State Networking Dinner 2026

Lineup

• More details about Alvin Singh – Senior Solutions Architect, Motorola Solutions

  Alvin Singh – Senior Solutions Architect, Motorola Solutions

  Alvin Singh has over 20 years experience working in Land Mobile Radio (LMR), IP networking, and IT security. He has been involved with the design and implementation of large scale P25 networks and implementing security solutions. Alvin has been involved in supporting mission critical systems and leading a dedicated team to ensure networks reliability and continuity. He is also an Australian Government IRAP Assessor and holds industry recognised security certifications including CISSP and CISM.

• More details about Ashwin Dinkar – VP - Defense & International Business, Eventide Communications LLC

  Ashwin Dinkar – VP - Defense & International Business, Eventide Communications LLC

  Ashwin Dinkar is currently serving as Vice President of Defense & International Business at Eventide Communications, a leading US manufacturer of Mission-critical Voice, Data and AI recording solutions for Public Safety, Defense, Air Traffic Control and Oil & Gas sectors. An Australian Radio (Communication Systems) Engineer by trade, Ashwin has over 16 years experience in running businesses connecting complex dots in International and DoD markets and delivering high-end technology solutions around the world.

• More details about Chris Stevens – Director, Cart GIS

  Chris Stevens – Director, Cart GIS

  Chris Stevens is Managing Director of CartGIS Pty Ltd, an emergency management, GIS and mapping and communications consultancy company based in Melbourne. Chris has extensive experience in LMR network design, planning and implementation as well as GIS and mapping application design and commissioning. CartGIS Pty Ltd also specialises in bespoke training and education for the critical communication community. Chris has extensive qualifications and experience in secondary, tertiary and workplace training and education, which, coupled with his communication experience, delivers industry and client focused outcomes. Chris is also Co-Vice President of ARCIA and Sub-committee convenor of training and education for ARCIA.

• More details about Craig Parnham – Executive Director - Digital, Technology and Innovation, NSW Telco Authority

  Craig Parnham – Executive Director - Digital, Technology and Innovation, NSW Telco Authority

  Craig Parnham is the Executive Director of Digital, Technology and Innovation at NSW Telco Authority, renowned for pushing boundaries, exceeding targets and identifying new opportunities. He leads technology strategy, network operations, end-to-end engineering and delivery of capabilities in enterprise architecture, AI/automation, product development and digital innovation. He has amassed over 30 years of telecommunications and 14 years of digital transformation experience, many of which were with leading telecommunications brands including BT, Telstra and Spark NZ. More recently, Craig was posted to Saudi Arabia to lead delivery of the Port of NEOM IT, Automation and Telecommunications business unit. He has a commanding track record in helping dozens of companies scale through customer-centric business transformation programs.   Craig holds a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours and Post-Graduate Diploma in Marketing Futures and has also completed executive education programs at Harvard Business School with a focus on digital platforms and product innovation. Described by colleagues as an innovator at heart, Craig is widely recognised for his inspiring, transformative and driven leadership style. In his spare time, he enjoys restoring a 1957 Audi coupe and is also a part-owner of a vineyard in New Zealand.

• More details about Dale Stacey – Managing Director, SAT Pty Ltd

  Dale Stacey – Managing Director, SAT Pty Ltd

  Dale Stacey has spent more than 25 years in the telecommunications industry. He is a Chartered Engineer (IET,UK and IEAust, Australia and a member of IEEE,USA) and has an extensive range of knowledge and experience in the worldwide radio communications sector. Dale has managed and delivered many major projects through all phases of their life cycle, from concept and strategy, through development of the business case, design, optimisation, installation, integration, test and commission, acceptance and maintenance. Dale has gained experience of such projects from a number of perspectives, including that of the supplier, vendor, buyer, user, integrator and consultant. Dale’s previous experience includes numerous design and implementation assignments for major public utilities both worldwide and within Australia (electricity, gas, oil and water), and telecommunications carrier projects (GSM, 3G and microwave projects for Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, BT). More recently, he has been involved in extensive coverage analysis, optimisation and drive testing of private networks, and 3G and 4G networks. He is currently working on the 5G revolution and other private network innovations in emergency services, smart city and IoT.

• More details about Dr Paul Elmes – Managing Director (Asia-Pacific), Tait Communications

  Dr Paul Elmes – Managing Director (Asia-Pacific), Tait Communications

  An engineer by training, Paul began his career as a research scientist at the UK’s Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. During this time, Paul completed a doctorate on the development of novel sonar transducers for the Royal Navy. Paul has a broad background of experience across both the public and private sectors, holding senior positions in government departments, educational establishments and commercial enterprises. Paul returned to Tait Communications in 2016 as the Product Line Manager for the P25 portfolio. Most recently, he was the VP of Product Management, responsible for Tait’s global product portfolio.

• More details about Hamish Duff – Managing Director, Mastercom

  Hamish Duff – Managing Director, Mastercom

  Hamish is the Managing Director of Mastercom and a founding Director of the Orion Network. A specialist in wide–area radio networks, Hamish has a genuine understanding of the pressures faced in the field and the role that efficient communications plays to help people every day. With a career in communications spanning more than 40 years, Hamish is skilled in making complex, simple engineering communication solutions to support the needs of all users, from the control room to the field. Hamish is the honorary president of the Australian Radio Communications Industry Association and an honorary director of the Digital Mobile Radio Association.

• More details about James Bassam – Australia UAV Service Manager, Surf Life Saving

  James Bassam – Australia UAV Service Manager, Surf Life Saving

  James Bassam is an established leader and strategic advocate in the uncrewed industry, currently managing one of the largest drone operations as the Australian UAV Service Manager within Surf Life Saving NSW. He directs the delivery of over 70,000 annual flights for public safety and emergency services, effectively integrating UAVs into critical operations such as bushfire overwatch, flood response operations and marine search and rescue. With a background as a commercial pilot and former Head Teacher of Aviation, James has a keen interest in air law and regulatory compliance and has pioneered key long-range BVLOS trials and drone technology partnerships that are expanding Australia's operational capabilities. His work bridges operational excellence, technology innovation, and workforce development, actively shaping the future of the nation's uncrewed systems sector.

• More details about Rhys Clare – National Sales Manager ANZ Airbus and Director, Australasian Critical Communications Forum (ACCF), Regional Chapter of TCCA

  Rhys Clare – National Sales Manager ANZ Airbus and Director, Australasian Critical Communications Forum (ACCF), Regional Chapter of TCCA

  Rhys Clare is a director of the Australasian Critical Communications Forum (Chapter of TCCA) and National Sales Manager ANZ of Airbus. He has spent the last 20 years working with vendors in the Critical Communications space in Unified Communications, Contact Centre, Narrowband and Broadband solutions with NEC, LG Ericsson and Motorola Solutions. He’s launched SaaS based Broadband Push to Talk Services through reseller channels and telcos in Japan, India, Indonesia & Singapore and recently joined Airbus as the National Sales Manager.

• More details about Riley Porteous – Communications Systems Team Leader, Surf Life Saving

  Riley Porteous – Communications Systems Team Leader, Surf Life Saving

  Riley Porteous is the Communications Systems Team Leader with Surf Life Saving NSW, specialising in operational communications, network resilience, and emerging technologies for emergency services. Riley leads initiatives focused on integrating advanced connectivity solutions, including satellite backhaul and deployable communications platforms, into frontline operations. He is currently driving the development of innovative capabilities such as Drone-in-a-Box deployments and AI-enabled coastal surveillance systems, as well as aiding manage the Surf Life Saving NSW Coastal Radio Network (CRN), supporting improved situational awareness and response outcomes across the NSW emergency services ecosystem.

• More details about Vishal Kohli – LTE/5G Specialist, Commtel Network Solutions

  Vishal Kohli – LTE/5G Specialist, Commtel Network Solutions

  Vishal Kohli is LTE/5G Specialist at CommTel Network Solutions, a company that specialises in providing solutions, products and professional services for mission and business critical networks. Vishal has extensive experience in designing, engineering and commissioning business critical and mission critical systems as well as carrier markets across APAC. He has experience in planning, designing, deploying, and operating networks with a wide range of technologies over time from GSM to 5G.