ICPS 2026 Industry Forum
The Industry Forum (IF) has been organized for several years as part of major IEEE IES events. It features industry speakers delivering talks on topics closely aligned with the conference themes.
The Industry Forum at the 9th IEEE International Conference on Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems (ICPS 2026) serves as a bridge between academia and industry, fostering discussion on practical challenges, emerging technologies, and real-world deployment experiences in industrial cyber-physical systems.
The ICPS 2026 Industry Forum will feature sessions on industrial digitalisation, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, network stability, AI, and IT/OT integration. These sessions bring together industry experts, researchers, and practitioners to share insights, discuss current challenges, and explore opportunities for future collaboration.
The Industry Forum includes the following sessions:
- Industry Forum 1: Industrial Digitalisation and Cybersecurity
- Industry Forum 2: Advanced Manufacturing Facility
- Industry Forum 3: Network Stability, AI, and Cybersecurity
Industry Forum 1: Industrial Digitalisation and Cybersecurity
Tuesday, 12 May 2026, 13:30–15:00
Room 360.3.011
Talk 1: Industrial automation technologies, digitalisation and cybersecurity in Western Australia
Benjamin Dias
Solutions Consultant, Honeywell
Abstract:
Industrial automation, digitalisation, and cybersecurity are rapidly transforming key industries across Western Australia, enabling greater efficiency, resilience, and data-driven decision-making. This talk will highlight recent developments and practical applications in integrating advanced automation systems with digital platforms, while addressing emerging cybersecurity challenges in connected industrial environments. Insights into current trends, challenges, and opportunities for industry–research collaboration will also be discussed.
Speaker Bio:
As a Solutions Consultant at Honeywell with over 10 years in the role, and 25 years experience in operations and maintenance of instrumentation and control systems, Ben brings expertise in process safety systems, cybersecurity, and industrial automation.
His focus is on delivering tailored solutions that address critical operational and business challenges for industrial clients, leveraging Honeywell’s advanced automation portfolio. His motivation is to empower organizations to adopt innovative technologies, such as industrial wireless networks and real-time analytics, and achieve sustainable growth while prioritizing safety and security.
Talk 2: Digital Transformation and Industrial Innovation in Energy Systems: Insights from Western Australia
Natalie Pollard
Head of Digital Enterprise Platforms, Woodside Energy
Abstract:
The energy sector is undergoing rapid transformation driven by digitalisation, automation, and data-driven decision-making. This talk will share insights from industry practice at Woodside on how advanced technologies are being deployed to enhance operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability in complex energy systems. It will also highlight emerging challenges and opportunities at the intersection of digital innovation and industrial operations.
Speaker Bio:
Natalie Pollard is Head of Digital Enterprise Platforms, Woodside Energy, with extensive experience in industrial operations, digital transformation, and technology integration within the energy sector. Her work focuses on leveraging automation, data analytics, and digital systems to improve operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability in complex industrial environments. She has a strong interest in bridging industry practice with emerging technologies and fostering collaboration between industry and research.
Industry Forum 2: Advanced Manufacturing Facility
Wednesday, 13 May 2026, 13:30–15:00
Room 360.3.011
Talk 1: Industry Perspectives on the WA Advanced Manufacturing Facility
Joshua Fearnley
Project Implementation Manager, Atlas Precast
Abstract:
Western Australia’s Advanced Manufacturing Facility (AMF) program represents one of Australia’s most ambitious applications of Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) principles to housing delivery. This talk provides an industry perspective on the AMF—its scope, objectives, and the role of automated precast circulation plant technology in transforming how structural building components are designed and manufactured. Joshua draws on his experience leading the AMF program to explore the intersection of industrial automation and modern construction methods.
Speaker Bio:
Joshua is a Chartered Professional Engineer (MIEAust CPEng) leading delivery of Atlas Precast’s Factory Expansion Project inline with the Western Australian Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Facility (AMF) Program—a major precast concrete manufacturing initiative designed to accelerate housing supply through industrialised construction. He brings 19 years of naval engineering and systems leadership to the challenge of implementing large-scale manufacturing automation in a construction industry context.
Industry Forum 3: Network Stability, AI, and Cybersecurity
Thursday, 14 May 2026, 10:30–12:00
Room 360.3.011
Talk 1: Analysis of Network Stability and the Internet Avalanche Threat
Dr Walter Green
PhD, MScEng, ChCSP, CEng, CPEng, CITP, SMIEEE, FIET, FIEAust, FBCS, FAIM, FZweIE
Abstract:
The Internet Avalanche Threat occurs frequently in all networks.
Recently the Internet Network has been proven to be unstable, however there are conditions where the internet will operate in a stable manner. Malicious actors can modify the network stability to block all traffic either locally or remotely. When stable conditions are restored, the network will recover without human intervention and there is little or no trace of the actions that caused the network instability.
This presentation will describe the internet network stability criteria created by Prof Erol Gelenbe and how the internet stability can be degraded to block all traffic. The description of the Internet Avalanche Threat will describe how network failures can be created remotely and by poor network design.
Methods for identifying Internet Avalanche activity and guidelines of changes to network designs to mitigate Internet Avalanche events will be discussed.
Additional Talk:
How AI Makes Decisions and How This Information Applies to the Anthropic Mythos Threat
Speaker Bio:
Dr Green graduated with degrees in Electronics and Computer Science and his PhD was in Computer Engineering. He has been involved with several cyber events and AI projects where ordinary control systems had failed.
He has more than 40 years’ experience in computer and telecom projects and his company has been providing leading edge computer and telecom solutions for more than 25 years. He has more than 35 years’ experience in creating and identifying cyber threats. His PhD research and patents are used in industrial control systems and energy saving devices throughout the world.
His telecom experience and his PhD research provided the mathematical competencies to identify and analyse the Internet Avalanche.
Walter has been a member of the IEEE for more than 50 years.
Talk 2: Bridging the Gap: The Management of IT/OT Cybersecurity and Regulatory Hurdles in Industrial Tech Integration
Michael Meehan
General Manager (Australia), Monitra
Abstract:
The successful adoption of advanced diagnostics and Machine Learning (ML) in industrial environments is rarely limited by the technology itself, but by the complexity of the integration process. This presentation provides a pragmatic, on-the-ground perspective on delivering technology solutions within the rigorous IT/OT frameworks of Tier-1 Australian operators such as Woodside, Fortescue, and Alinta.
Focusing on the role of the solution manager, we will examine the interpretation of cybersecurity mandates and the abuse cases of regulatory processes that can delay or derail deployment. The discussion will cover the critical path from initial client requirements to full system integration, highlighting how to navigate data governance, security audits, and the legal nuances of technology adoption. Attendees will gain a management-level understanding of how to lead teams through these friction points, ensuring that high-value digital transformations are not just designed, but successfully adopted and operationalized.
Speaker Bio:
Michael is a qualified Electrical Engineer (BEng Hons) and the General Manager for Monitra’s Australian operations. He specializes in the practical delivery and management of High Voltage (HV) asset health and monitoring solutions. With a career spanning over 20 years, Michael has built a reputation for successfully navigating the complex intersection of industrial engineering and corporate IT infrastructure.
He has led large-scale technology deployments for major entities, including Woodside, Fortescue, and Alinta, focusing on the hands-on integration of diagnostic tools and ML-driven systems. Michael’s expertise lies in bridging the gap between technical engineering teams and client-side IT/Cybersecurity stakeholders to ensure that advanced solutions are adopted efficiently and provide immediate long-term value.
All times shown on this page are listed in Perth local time, Australian Western Standard Time (AWST, UTC+8). Western Australia does not observe daylight saving time.