6 October 2026
As the world's largest data centre conference series made its Australian debut in Melbourne earlier this month, Data Centre World Australia brought together industry leaders, government representatives, technology companies and investors to discuss the future of Australia's digital infrastructure sector.
The inaugural event arrived at a pivotal moment for the industry. As demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure accelerates and governments consider new expectations around energy, water, planning and community engagement, many of the conference's defining discussions focused on how Australia can support continued growth while maintaining public trust.
Across the two-day program, CDC contributed to these conversations through keynote presentations, panel discussions, government-led masterclasses and a facility tour for selected conference participants.
Building trust as Australia invests in digital infrastructure
A highlight of the conference was Chief Executive Officer Greg Boorer's keynote address, which explored the growing public conversation around data centres and what it will take for the industry to maintain its social licence as it expands.
Rather than viewing increased scrutiny as a challenge to overcome, Greg spoke about the importance of engaging openly with communities and ensuring digital infrastructure is developed responsibly and sustainably.
His address reflected several themes that emerged throughout the conference, including the need for long-term planning, responsible resource management and greater collaboration between industry, governments and communities.
Greg also highlighted CDC's long-standing approach to responsible infrastructure development, including the use of closed-loop cooling systems across all CDC facilities, and the importance of ensuring infrastructure growth delivers benefits for the communities that host it.
CDC participation across the program
CDC perspectives featured across several conference sessions and discussions. Chief Strategy Officer Jack Dan joined a panel examining the opportunities and challenges facing the sector as demand for digital infrastructure continues to grow.
Head of Strategic Impact Kane Thornton participated in a Victorian Government masterclass focused on how governments, industry and communities can work together to support sustainable data centre investment.
The session explored how Australia can provide the speed, scale and certainty required for investment while ensuring growth is supported by clear planning frameworks, community engagement and responsible resource management.
Conference participants also had the opportunity to visit CDC's Brooklyn campus as part of an industry tour hosted by Greg Boorer. The visit provided attendees with a closer look at the infrastructure supporting critical services and offered an opportunity to continue discussions around operational excellence, sustainability and the delivery of digital infrastructure at scale.
Together, these conversations reinforced a key theme of the conference: meeting future demand will require more than investment alone. It will depend on thoughtful planning, strong partnerships and continued public confidence in the infrastructure that supports Australia's digital future.
Looking ahead
A recurring message across Data Centre World Australia was the increasingly important role digital infrastructure plays in economic productivity, government services, national resilience and the development of artificial intelligence capability.
As the sector continues to grow, so too do expectations around sustainability, transparency and community partnership. These issues are likely to remain central to industry discussions in the years ahead.
Those conversations will continue beyond Australia, with CDC represented at Data Centre World Asia in Singapore as part of Tech Week Singapore. The regional event brings together data centre, technology, energy and infrastructure organisations from across Asia-Pacific to discuss the next phase of digital infrastructure growth.
Together, these events reflect the growing importance of digital infrastructure and the ongoing conversations shaping how the industry develops to meet future demand.