ARCIA Professional Development Conference & SA State Networking Dinner 2026

Lineup

• More details about Ashwin Dinkar | VP – Defence & International Business, Eventide Communications LLC

  Ashwin Dinkar | VP – Defence & 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 Brad Flew | Emergency Management Leader, Volunteer, and Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) specialist with the South Australian State Emergency Service (SA SES)

  Brad Flew | Emergency Management Leader, Volunteer, and Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) specialist with the South Australian State Emergency Service (SA SES)

  Brad Flew ESM is an emergency management leader, volunteer, and remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) specialist with the South Australian State Emergency Service (SA SES). Since joining SA SES as a volunteer in 2010, Brad has served in a range of operational and leadership roles including Incident Controller, Task Force Commander, SES Commander, District Officer, and senior state operational leadership positions. With more than a decade of frontline emergency management experience, Brad has contributed to major disaster responses across Australia, including the 2019-20 Kangaroo Island bushfires, Tropical Cyclone Seroja in Western Australia, New South Wales storm and flood emergencies, and the River Murray Flood operation in South Australia, where he served as an Incident Controller. He spent over ten years living and working in South Australia's Limestone Coast, developing extensive experience supporting regional communities and volunteer emergency service capability. As Chief Remote Pilot for SA SES, Brad leads one of Australia's largest volunteer emergency service drone programs, supporting search and rescue, disaster assessment, flood intelligence, and emergency response operations. He is passionate about integrating emerging technology into emergency management to improve responder safety, enhance situational awareness, and deliver better outcomes for communities. A dedicated educator and mentor, Brad also trains and assesses volunteers and agency personnel across a wide range of operational disciplines.

• 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 David Deacon | CEO and Founder, Etherstack

  David Deacon | CEO and Founder, Etherstack

  David Deacon founded Etherstack in Sydney in 1995 and oversaw the company’s expansion around the world including the establishment of R&D offices in New York, Yokohama and Reading (UK). David’s original vision for Etherstack was as a specialist wireless technology licensing company providing underlying technologies for the land mobile radio and defence communications industries. As the company grew, Etherstack branched out into transceiver design, manufacturing and deployment of complete turnkey digital radio networks. In recent years, Etherstack has developed underlying network components for 3GPP MCX networks and is currently the lead supplier of the LMR InterWorking function for the AT&T FirstNet project in the United States. The company has also been at the forefront of PTT over Satellite solutions and has deployed a P25 over Satellite solution for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police inside the Arctic Circle.

• More details about Eddie Stephanou | Regional Technical Manager AU/NZ & Pacific, Cambium Networks

  Eddie Stephanou | Regional Technical Manager AU/NZ & Pacific, Cambium Networks

  Eddie Stephanou has 20 years of Australian industry experience in fixed digital microwave systems. Eddie has worked with and alongside leaders in the microwave space both locally and abroad. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master of Engineering Degree in Telecommunications.

• More details about Grant Rieger | Manager Communication Systems, SA Ambulance Service

  Grant Rieger | Manager Communication Systems, SA Ambulance Service

  Grant has more than 35 years’ experience in the communications industry, beginning his career in the rail sector, held a number of roles focused on two-way radio and related communications systems. He joined the South Australian Ambulance Service in 2015, where he has been responsible for supporting and developing critical communications that underpin emergency service operations. His current responsibilities include the South Australian Government Radio Network, Triple Zero telephony systems, dispatch communications and associated technologies that enable reliable emergency response across South Australia.

• More details about Kestrel Blackmore | General Manager, Critical Systems, SA Ambulance Service

  Kestrel Blackmore | General Manager, Critical Systems, SA Ambulance Service

  Kestrel has extensive business analysis, software development and project delivery experience in the education, retail, finance and public sector industries over a 25+ year career. He has been involved in the design, development and implementation of enterprise grade solutions across Australia, China, Hong Kong, New Zealand and South Africa. Most recently Kestrel heads up the technical teams responsible for critical Triple Zero ICT systems and infrastructure at SA Ambulance ensuring the delivery of emergency and non-emergency ambulance services to the community of South Australia.

• More details about Malcolm Jones | Principal Consultant - Wireless Business, Vocus

  Malcolm Jones | Principal Consultant - Wireless Business, Vocus

  Malcolm Jones, is one of Australia's most experienced private wireless specialists and Principal Consultant for Private 4G and 5G Networks at Vocus. With more than 40 years of experience delivering telecommunications and industrial technology solutions in mining, Oil & Gas, critical infrastructure, Malcolm has built a reputation for translating complex operational challenges into practical technology solutions.

• More details about Matthew Wormald | Chief Superintendent, Operational Communications, Fire and Rescue NSW

  Matthew Wormald | Chief Superintendent, Operational Communications, Fire and Rescue NSW

  Matthew Wormald is the Chief Superintendent, Operational Communications at Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW), leading the delivery of the agency's Triple Zero (000) communications capability and Strategic Operations Centre. With more than 21 years of emergency service experience, Matthew has held leadership roles across frontline operations, specialised operations, training and emergency communications. He is responsible for the systems, people and processes that support critical incident response across New South Wales and is a strong advocate for the use of technology to improve situational awareness, decision-making and firefighter safety. Matthew holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical Engineering with Honours) from the University of Sydney and has served as a volunteer with the NSW Rural Fire Service for more than two decades.

• More details about Ronald Martinez | Business Development Manager for Western and South Australia, Tait Communications

  Ronald Martinez | Business Development Manager for Western and South Australia, Tait Communications

  Ronald is based in Perth and is Tait's Business Development Manager for Western and South Australia. Ronald is a result-oriented professional manager with experience within the Telco, IT and RF sectors for the past 34 years. Most recently, Ronald was the Regional Sales Manager with Ubiik-Mimomax covering Australia and New Zealand, and with Vital NZ as Channel Manager.