Facilitators and Speakers: 2026 Advanced Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Masterclass
Devender Kumar , Data Scientist, CAPU – Data Analytics
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Keith Govias, Workplace Safety & Risk Principal, Client Solutions, EML Group
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Nicole Shambrook, Origin Energy
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Nyssa Nair, Minerals Industry Safety and Health Centre, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland.
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Adjunct Professor Mathew Hancock, Chief Risk Modeller, Sirius-Alpha, and Adjunct Professor, SMI, UQ
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Dr Nikodem Rybak MISHC, Sustainable Minerals Institute, UQ
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Andres Ortega: PhD Candidate, SMI, UQ |
Devender Kumar has been working as a Data Scientist at RSHQ for the past two years. Prior to joining RSHQ, he worked as a Data Scientist at the Queensland Department of Resources. He holds a Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence and has hands-on expertise in Generative AI, natural language processing (NLP), deep learning, and advanced machine learning. His experience includes building risk rating systems for mining operations, designing retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) chatbots, and improving weather forecasting models. 
Keith Govias is a Workplace Safety & Risk Principal at EML Group and is a leading advisor in workplace risk, mental health, injury prevention, and system reform. With more than 25 years of experience across major Australian organisations, broking and insurance, Keith specialises in translating complex data, research, and emerging trends into opportunities for risk identification and practical business insights. His work with Executives, Regulators and industries explore the opportunities and risks associated with data analytics and artificial intelligence, including governance, ethics, and decision-making under uncertainty.
Nicole Shambrook is the Process Safety Assurance Manager for the Power Generation assets at Origin Energy. As a Process Safety leader, she drives the Leadership habits for safe operations in Australia today, and the future. A UQ Alumni, with Bachelor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Nicole's career started as a Process Engineer at BP Bulwer Island Refinery in Brisbane. 20 years on, Nicole has held senior roles at Ampol Lytton Refinery, Incitec Pivot Ammonia Manufacturing and Origin Energy Integrated Gas and Power Generation businesses. 
Nyssa Nair is an expert in risk management and hazard identification for industrial processes, with a strong focus on advancing process safety education. Over the past 15 years, she has worked in academia and industry, specialising in risk management, process optimisation, process control and data-driven decision-making. Nyssa has hands-on industry experience in a Major Hazard Facility processing hydrocarbons for polypropylene production, providing her with a practical foundation for her teaching and research. She currently lectures at The University of Queensland (UQ), with the Minerals Industry Safety and Health Centre (MISHC), delivering postgraduate coursework and industry short courses in process safety and system safety. 
Dr Mathew Hancock completed his PhD with MISHC on the development of risk management maturity models for the management of communicable diseases in the Papua New Guinean mining industry — a topic reflecting his enduring interest in the building capability to optimise management of complex safety and health challenges. Mathew contributes to postgraduate teaching and mentoring and participates in collaborative research efforts to advance the science and application of risk management in the resources sector.
Dr Nikodem Rybak is a researcher specialising in advanced machine learning techniques that drive data-informed decision-making in complex and dynamic systems. His work spans multiple domains, including sustainable resource management, critical infrastructure resilience, and health, safety, and environmental risk assessment.
Andres Ortega Lucero is a joint-PhD researcher under the QUEX partnership working at the WH Bryan Mining Geology Research Centre (BRC) of the Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, Australia, and The Camborne School of Mines at The University of Exeter, UK. Andres is involved in the “Drones 4 Waste: Beyond-Visible Insight for Decision Making” research project, which is part of the Multi-scale, Multisensor Mapping and dynamic Monitoring for sustainable extraction and safe closure in Mining environments (m4mining) Program.