Send Link mailing list submissions to
[email protected]
To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
https://mailman.anu.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/link
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
[email protected]
You can reach the person managing the list at
[email protected]
When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of Link digest..."
Today's Topics:
1. 'Data Centres Australia' Australia?s data centre giants form
new industry body (Stephen Loosley)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2025 13:05:05 +1030
From: Stephen Loosley <[email protected]>
To: "link" <[email protected]>
Subject: [LINK] 'Data Centres Australia' Australia?s data centre
giants form new industry body
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Australia?s data centre giants form new industry body
By Justin Hendry 28 November 2025
https://www.innovationaus.com/australias-data-centre-giants-form-new-industry-body/
A new peak body representing Australia?s leading data centre providers has
launched to advocate for an industry expecting at least $26 billion in local
infrastructure investment by 2030.
AirTrunk, Amazon Web Services, CDC Data Centres, Microsoft and NextDC are among
the founding members of Data Centres Australia, which will push for favourable
policy settings for the sector.
Belinda Dennett, who left her role as AirTrunk head of government relations
this month to become the inaugural chief executive, told InnovationAus.com the
rate of change over the past six months made now the right time to launch the
not-for-profit. (Snip)
--
Data Centres Australia to lead engagement, advocacy and collaboration for
national AI opportunity
Dedicated peak body to secure Australian national benefit in global race for AI
infrastructure
November 28, 2025 Media Releases
https://datacentres.org.au/data-centres-australia-to-lead-engagement/
Major data centre companies including AirTrunk, Amazon Web Services, CDC Data
Centres, Microsoft and NEXTDC were today unveiled as the first members of a new
peak body aimed to secure Australia?s place as a major hub for AI
infrastructure investment and sustainable development.
Data Centres Australia was launched today by The Hon. Dr Andrew Charlton,
Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy, in
recognition of the dynamic growth and strategic value of the Australian data
centre sector. With $26 billion of local data centre investment forecast by
2030 and flourishing international momentum, there is significant opportunity
to position Australia as a regional leader.
The new peak body has launched following a two-year informal pilot between
AirTrunk, Amazon Web Services, CDC Data Centres, Microsoft and NEXTDC. Other
new members of Data Centres Australia include Equinix, Goodman Group, Schneider
Electric, STACK Infrastructure and TikTok.
Belinda Dennett, Chief Executive Officer of the new not-for-profit member group
said: ?This is an extraordinary time with the world racing for strategic
advantage in AI infrastructure. Australia has already produced several
world-class data centre companies and captured the attention of the global AI
ecosystem. By working together to establish the best possible policy settings
and supporting infrastructure like energy and water, we have a generational
chance to capture substantial additional value for the nation.?
?The complexity and scale of AI infrastructure expansion is challenging the
conventional ways that we facilitate development. This means that countries
that bring government, industry and stakeholders into genuine alignment, and
move together at speed, will lead this industrial transformation. This is a
historical shift that will establish our capability and future prosperity for
decades to come. Progress now depends on urgency, coordination and shared
execution.?
Data Centres Australia will work with government and stakeholders to address
key challenges in areas such as planning and development, energy, water and
workforce. It will provide dedicated engagement, collaboration, education and
advocacy for the data centre sector in Australia.
Ms. Dennett said: ?Our members are at the forefront of AI infrastructure
development and key to Australia realising the significant opportunities on
offer. As the dedicated sector-level representative, Data Centres Australia
will focus directly on the specific issues of data centre development and
operations, collaborating to identify practical policy solutions that help
establish Australia as a major hub for AI infrastructure investment and
sustainable development.?
Data Centres Australia today published new Mandala Partners research that
explains the key role of sustainable data centres in the modern digital economy
and recognises their important role in the renewable energy transition. It
highlights the significant opportunity for collaboration and coordinated policy
action to harness data centre growth for national benefit.
Ms. Dennett said: ?This research provides an important benchmark to show how
data centres contribute to the economy, producing the highest economic output
per unit of energy of any industrial sector. It finds that data centres have
invested in $3.1 billion in grid infrastructure since 2020 and will invest a
further $7.2 billion by 2030, and provides new insight on data centre water
demand.?
?We?re hopeful that this research and ongoing work by Data Centres Australia
can contribute to informed, evidence-based policy discussion and collaboration
between all interested stakeholders.?
Welcoming Data Centres Australia, Assistant Minister Charlton said: ?Data
centres are a great opportunity for Australia. They are the engines of the
modern economy and can contribute to Australia?s productivity and
sustainability agendas. The establishment of Data Centres Australia is an
important step forward in ensuring the sector can fulfil its potential and make
a positive impact in Australia.?
NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully, said: ?The
establishment of Data Centres Australia will help NSW and Australia to continue
attracting major digital innovation investments. This group will help build on
the work the Minns Labor Government has been doing to attract more job creating
innovative investments in digital infrastructure that supports productivity
growth in NSW.?
Victorian Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs, Danny Pearson, said: ?Victoria
is proud to be a leader in smart, sustainable data centre investment that will
create jobs and grow our economy. Data Centres Australia will help governments
and industry move together to make the most of this opportunity.?
Paul Slaven, Chief Development Officer, AirTrunk, said: ?Data centres are
central to Australia?s digital economy ambitions. We need to build greater
understanding ? across society, government and industry ? of how data centres
can be delivered at the scale and speed required, and responsibly. Data Centres
Australia has been established to unite our industry so that together we can
enable Australia to seize this opportunity. AirTrunk is proud to be a principal
member of Data Centres Australia to support this important work.?
Greg Boorer, CDC Data Centres Founder and CEO, said: ?Since I founded the
business in 2007, CDC has contributed to Australia becoming a leading market
for secure and resilient data centres driving economic progress. CDC, as the
largest data centre provider in Australia, has been leading the charge for our
nation to become a digital infrastructure hub in the region, to showcase the
capabilities we have as a nation, the investments we can make as an industry
and the jobs and economic benefits we can generate as a sector for the broader
society. We are excited about the opportunity to build on the work done to date
? including across the sector and with our customers ? and present a united and
clear voice on this front. The opportunity for Australia is immense ? we now
need to make sure we?re effective in realising it. Data Centres Australia has
an important role to play in helping achieve that.?
Karie Bradfield, Senior Director, Cloud Operations & Innovation, Microsoft,
said: ?Countries that align policy, industry and communities will lead the AI
era. Microsoft is proud to be a founding member of Data Centres Australia,
which aims to advance the country?s leadership in critical infrastructure that
powers the global AI economy. We look forward to working alongside industry and
government toward a more prosperous digital future for Australia, driven by
access to the most innovative, sustainable and inclusive technology.?
Craig Scroggie, CEO & Managing Director, NEXTDC, said: ?In the AI era, digital
infrastructure has become one of Australia?s most important economic enablers.
AI and cloud are reshaping every sector, and the data centres behind them are
critical national infrastructure underpinning security, productivity and future
industry growth. Over the past two years, the G5 (AirTrunk, AWS, CDC, Microsoft
and NEXTDC) have worked together in an alliance capacity to educate
policymakers and stakeholders, building a clear understanding of the unique
requirements Australia must meet to remain globally competitive. NEXTDC
supports the establishment of Data Centres Australia as the logical next step,
a unified expert peak body that can deliver clarity, consistency and
coordinated action across energy, planning, land, water, skills and
sustainability, the essential components for AI-ready and globally competitive
digital infrastructure at scale.?
Guy Danskine, Managing Director, Australia, Equinix, said: ?Data Centres
Australia is a timely and important initiative that gives our sector a unified
voice at a critical moment for the nation?s digital future. As demand for
high-performance digital infrastructure accelerates with AI, coordinated
industry leadership is essential. Equinix has joined because we see a major
national opportunity: to strengthen Australia?s position as a regional hub for
AI infrastructure, build skills and workforce capability, and drive innovation
that benefits every state and territory. We can achieve far more together than
any one organisation alone, and Equinix encourages the data centre sector to
help shape a strong, resilient and future-ready economy.?
Jason Little, CEO Australia, Goodman Group, said: ?Australia stands at the
forefront of a digital transformation that is reshaping our economy and
society. Data centres are the backbone of this digital future?enabling
innovation, productivity, and growth. At Goodman, we are committed to building
the essential infrastructure that empowers businesses, communities, and the
nation to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Joining Data Centres
Australia is an important step in fostering collaboration and shaping the
sector?s potential for generations to come.?
Joe Craparotta, Vice President, Cloud and Service Provider Segment, Schneider
Electric, said: ?Schneider Electric has prioritised the data centre segment for
over 30 years, driving innovation in sustainable power, cooling, and software
systems. Joining DCA strengthens our collaboration with Australia?s ecosystem
to advance research and policy for its role as a leading AI hub.?
Joel O?Halloran, Managing Director, STACK Infrastructure Australia, said:
?STACK Infrastructure is proud to join Data Centres Australia as a Principal
Member. We look forward to working closely with the Data Centres Australia
team, industry partners, and regulatory bodies to help realise Australia?s
significant opportunity to emerge as a global leader in Digital and AI
Infrastructure. As governments and enterprises worldwide accelerate investment
in AI, Australia is competing in a rapidly expanding global Digital and AI
Infrastructure market and Australia has all the essential ingredients for
success. Our nation benefits from a highly skilled workforce, a stable policy
and contractual environment, access to affordable renewable energy, world-class
safety standards, and the deep capital required to scale. The economic and
competitive upside for Australia is substantial. We believe Data Centres
Australia, as the industry?s dedicated representative voice can drive
collaboration!
needed across the sector to unlock this opportunity.?
Bran Black, Chief Executive, Business Council of Australia, said: ?We welcome
the launch of Data Centres Australia, because these assets will be critical to
Australia?s future economic success and the ability to remain globally
competitive. Data centres represent a major opportunity for Australia, and to
attract the investment we need for this critical infrastructure, we must ensure
that policymakers create the best possible regulatory framework.?
Damian Kassabgi, CEO, Tech Council of Australia, said: ?The TCA welcomes the
establishment of Data Centres Australia at what is such a pivotal time for
Australia and its AI journey, as well as for the digital infrastructure needed
to underpin our potential global role within it. The TCA and our members look
forward to working with Data Centres Australia in a complementary and
collaborative way to truly seize the opportunity presented for Australia by AI.?
Media Contact
Tim Marshall
[email protected]
Resources
Data Centres as Enabling Infrastructure:
https://datacentres.org.au/data-centres-as-enabling-infrastructure/
About Data Centres Australia
Data Centres Australia is the peak representative body dedicated to data
centres in Australia. Our vision is for Australia to be a regional hub for AI
infrastructure investment and sustainable data centre development, growing
capacity to support national advantage.
Together with our members ? data centre developers and operators, and the
expanding data centre ecosystem ? we work collaboratively with government and
stakeholders to raise awareness and advance coordinated policy action.
--
------------------------------
Subject: Digest Footer
_______________________________________________
Link mailing list
[email protected]
https://mailman.anu.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/link
------------------------------
End of Link Digest, Vol 397, Issue 1
************************************
