Ben Svalbe, Principal Consultant, Macquarie Cloud Services
Biography:
Ben is a trusted expert in colocation, hybrid cloud, and secure infrastructure design. With over 25 years in technical, pre-sales, and consulting roles, he has partnered with universities and research organisations to deliver scalable, fit-for-purpose solutions. Known for unifying diverse technical and business requirements, Ben helps organisations navigate complexity while achieving security and performance.
Abstract:
As data volumes explode and AI and HPC reshape discovery, universities need environments built to match its pace. This session will explore the critical factors that shape research outcomes including enabling collaboration across institutions, securing sensitive projects, giving researchers access to power when they need it, and ensuring infrastructure scales.
Drawing on 25 years of experience, we’ll share insights into the evolving role of infrastructure in research, highlight examples of how the right foundation accelerates outcomes, and provide strategies to guide future technology decisions. Participants will leave with a clear understanding of why infrastructure – not ideas – define the limits of research, and how universities can position themselves to succeed in this new era of accelerated discovery.