Beyond the Buzzwords: Pathing a Way for Digital Twins and AI Innovation
Tracks
Mokopuna: Neura Smart Communities
| Wednesday, November 26, 2025 |
| 1:15 PM - 2:45 PM |
| Neura Breakout Room Mokopuna |
Overview
Kerri Gray CreateBig
Details
Reimagining Data and Geospatial Services
Speaker
Kerri Gray
Client Innovation & Delivery Manager
CreateBig
Beyond the Buzzwords: Pathing a Way for Digital Twins and AI Innovation
Abstract
Digital Twins and AI are headline features in many strategic plans—but how do we move from concept to capability?
Digital Twins and AI are no longer just strategic buzzwords—they’re emerging capabilities with real potential to transform operations, insights and decision-making. But moving from concept to build requires more than vision—it demands readiness, clarity, and support.
In this facilitated session, Kerri Gray will guide participants through a practical exploration of how to identify high-value opportunities for Digital Twin and AI application, assess technical readiness, and navigate the transition from idea to implementation. Drawing on case studies from New Zealand and Australia, the workshop will surface lessons learned, common pitfalls, and scalable strategies for success.
Participants will leave with:
* A clear framework for evaluating Digital Twin and AI opportunities in their own context
* Advice on support structures, partnerships, and governance models to enable delivery
* Real-world insights from Digital Twin and AI projects
This session is designed for digital leaders, technical teams, and change agents ready to move beyond the buzzwords and turn ambition into action.
Digital Twins and AI are no longer just strategic buzzwords—they’re emerging capabilities with real potential to transform operations, insights and decision-making. But moving from concept to build requires more than vision—it demands readiness, clarity, and support.
In this facilitated session, Kerri Gray will guide participants through a practical exploration of how to identify high-value opportunities for Digital Twin and AI application, assess technical readiness, and navigate the transition from idea to implementation. Drawing on case studies from New Zealand and Australia, the workshop will surface lessons learned, common pitfalls, and scalable strategies for success.
Participants will leave with:
* A clear framework for evaluating Digital Twin and AI opportunities in their own context
* Advice on support structures, partnerships, and governance models to enable delivery
* Real-world insights from Digital Twin and AI projects
This session is designed for digital leaders, technical teams, and change agents ready to move beyond the buzzwords and turn ambition into action.
Biography
Kerri Gray is a digital strategist and delivery pioneer based in Christchurch, with over 17 years of experience steering high-impact transformation projects across Australasia. From AI enablement to Digital Twin deployment, she’s worked at the frontier of innovation - driven by a core belief that analytics isn’t just a component of change, it’s the catalyst: the engine that turns data into insight, and insight into impact.
Kerri’s expertise spans digital twin and AI innovation, data and geoanalytics evolution, and enterprise-scale software implementation. Her portfolio includes landmark initiatives such as Digital Twin Victoria, Victoria’s Smart Planning Program, and the Ōtākaro Digital Twin in New Zealand—each reflecting her ability to translate complexity into clarity and strategy into delivery.
Known for her sharp systems thinking and energizing facilitation style, Kerri is passionate about making analytics and digital systems not only accessible, but genuinely transformative—for teams, for communities, and for the future.
