Melbourne stories

Cost-of-living pressures are pushing Australians to swap traditional red envelopes for digital gift cards this Lunar New Year.

DoubleVerify hires former Starcom executive Robert Millett to lead its first Melbourne office as it accelerates growth across Australia and APAC.

Australian mortgage law firm Purcell Partners has rebranded as Lextech, signalling a sharper focus on technology alongside its legal services for lenders.

Lander & Rogers opens applications for its 2026 LawTech Hub, a six‑month, equity‑free accelerator for AI and legal tech startups worldwide.

AI express lanes at the Australian Open went largely unused, leaving fans queuing for hours in near 40C heat despite record attendance.

Australian firms are turning observability from backroom monitor into strategic engine, fusing AI and data to drive growth and resilience.

Okta warns APAC firms that rapid AI adoption is outpacing governance and identity controls, leaving “shadow AI” and non-human access unchecked.

Australian Institute of Business has overhauled its MBA to embed AI literacy, ethics and governance as central skills for future managers.

Melbourne will host Data Centre World in 2026, signalling Australia’s rising status as a global AI and data centre investment hub.

AutoGrab secures AUD $80m Series B at AUD $230m valuation to fuel AI-powered automotive data expansion across the UK and Europe.

Sydney-based Openmarkets to go public on Nasdaq via USD $300m SPAC merger with Lake Superior, targeting completion in 2026.

Australian firms race ahead with AI, yet weak governance and identity controls leave ‘shadow AI’ as a growing security blind spot.

Australian Spatial Analytics has created over 230 data careers for young neurodivergent adults while delivering AUD $18 million in projects.

Australian SMEs risk a hidden productivity tax as fragmented IT oversight and tool sprawl quietly erode day-to-day business performance.

Amperity launches Audience Monetization, an AI-powered tool to package and sell permissioned first-party audiences to advertisers.

Australia’s Propel-AIR 2.0 robotics sprint launches in Brisbane, uniting ARM Hub, MassRobotics and innovators for a week of AI showcases.

Vorwerk will shift its Australian Thermomix head office from Perth to Melbourne as eastern and southern states drive 85% of its revenue.

Kearney refreshes Asia Pacific leadership in ANZ, Japan, Malaysia and CMT as it prepares to enter its centenary year in 2026.

Outdoor Outlook launches in New Zealand, giving trampers and other outdoor lovers personalised, colour-coded weather-based activity tips.

Australian online florist LVLY is shortlisted in three customer service and online retail categories at the 2026 Inside Retail awards.