Matthew joined Autodesk more than eight years ago helping support Manufacturers transition their businesses through adoption of technologies that transform the way they Design and Make things.

With more than twenty years’ experience in the Manufacturing, Computer Aided Design and related industries, he’s gained a wealth of practical experience supporting the Design and Manufacturing community across Australia, New Zealand and APAC.

Prior to joining Autodesk Matthew spent time working for Australian manufacturers across a range of industries including automotive, industrial machinery and consumer products.

With a focus on Digital Transformation, he’s passionate on empowering innovators with design and make technology so they can achieve the new possible.

Dennis is a senior executive with over 30 years’ experience in medium to large multinational businesses including Geofabrics, Futuris (part of Elders Ltd), Ticketmaster and Rio Tinto. He has an extensive background in strategic and commercial areas including M&A, company restructuring, change management and refinancing, holding functional responsibility for manufacturing, supply chain, IT, procurement and innovation. 

Dennis is currently the CEO & Managing Director for Geofabrics. Under his management, he has grown the Geofabrics business through company acquisitions, product innovation and connecting the company’s strategy to the utilisation of Australian sourced recycled materials in building key civil infrastructure for Australasia’s road, rail, mining and landfill sectors. He has led the development of a range of strategic capital initiatives to reduce carbon emissions in the two manufacturing facilities, Ormeau and in Albury, with the goal of reaching carbon neutral by 2050.

David was appointed in October 2023 as Executive Director, Industry Growth, within the AusIndustry Division at the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR). David has come into the Australian Government with more than thirty years of international design, engineering, and manufacturing experience. With an extensive career developed in the global automotive industry, he has more recently worked across multiple sectors including transport, MedTech and health, renewables and low emission technologies, mining and resources, defence, and across a wide range of enabling technologies and ecosystems. David has also worked across both the private and public sectors. David’s primary focus is the successful launch and operation of the new $392.4 million Industry Growth Program to help innovative SMEs commercialise and significantly grow their businesses.

David is a passionate champion for industry, innovation, business growth and transformation. He is an experienced senior executive with a strong industry record in leading strategic business growth, innovation, investment, operational management, and change. He is a well-respected advocate for local industry, for small and medium businesses, and for creating a stronger platform for Australian design, engineering, and manufacturing. He has successfully catalysed transformation and investment in technology, innovation, research and development, talent, collaboration, and competitiveness.

From 2016 to 2023, David was the CEO and Managing Director for the Innovative Manufacturing CRC (IMCRC) based in Melbourne, one of the most impactful CRCs in the Program’s 30-year history. Prior to leading the IMCRC, David was CEO of MHG Asia Pacific from 2014, and a member of the Futuris Automotive executive leadership team from 2001. Prior to joining DISR, David was interim Managing Director of Textor Technologies, a successful family-owned manufacturing and export business in Melbourne.

David is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and a delegate for the Australian American Leadership Dialogue (AALD). He is a former member of Australia’s Industry 4.0 Advanced Manufacturing Forum, responsible for the technology applications and digital business models workstreams. He is also a former Director of the Australian Industry Group Centre for Education and Training and a former Director of Cooperative Research Australia. 

David holds a first-class Honours Degree in Manufacturing Engineering and Management from the University of Bath (UK), is a Chartered Engineer with the Institution of Engineering and Technology, and an alumnus of Harvard Business School’s ‘Leading in the Digital Era’ and ‘Getting Global Strategy Right’ programs.

David was born and educated in England, and moved to Australia in 1999, where he is a citizen. He has lived and worked in Australia, the UK, China, Thailand, New Zealand, and the Philippines.