Reg Johnson, Director of Education and Strategic Industries at CISCO.

Background

Reg Johnson, Director of Education and Strategic Industries at CISCO.

– 20 years senior-level experience focused on application of technology in education
– Leads Australia and New Zealand education practice for Cisco
– Responsible for Cisco strategy in higher education, VET and K-12
– Leadership of major strategic education initiatives including sales enablement
– Member of Cisco’s global and Asia Pacific education leadership teams
– Creator/collaborator on thought leadership publications and presentations
– Specialist in impact of digital on education and the economy broadly
– Directs Cisco involvement in the Business/Higher Education Roundtable (B/HERT)
– Drives Cisco’s partnership program for universities
– Identifies and supports ecosystem partners aligned to Cisco’s education strategy
– Sales account management

Source: https://au.linkedin.com/in/regjohnson

To provide insights into the role of industries coming together to create the sustainable retail store of the future, Tim Langdon, publisher of Eco Voice, had the pleasure of facilitating a Q & A with Reg Johnson, Director of Education and Strategic Industries at CISCO.

Students design a sustainable store of the future at Cisco Live Hackathon

Q1. What is the MasterTech program partnership between Coles and Cisco?

• Cisco has strategic partnerships with Universities across Australia. These partnerships are deep, broad and longstanding, and include initiatives across key areas such as teaching and learning, research, industry engagement and global positioning. 
• These partnerships have evolved into the National Industry Innovation Network (NIIN), the largest research and innovation network in the country, encompassing six innovation centres (Innovation Central), seven Research Chairs, five specialised centres, two Alliances, and employs hundreds of people. 
• MasterTech is a five-day hackathon style event facilitated by Innovation Central and led by Innovation Central Melbourne at La Trobe University. University students from Innovation Central hubs across Australia, Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, and Perth participated in the program.
• Coles sponsored the inaugural MasterTech program, challenging student teams from Innovation Central hubs to envision the “sustainable store of the future” to promote healthier, happier living for Australians. Coles’ involvement was pivotal to making this event a strong industry-university collaboration. 
• Before the competition, participants completed Cisco Networking Academy courses on Sustainability focused Frameworks in IT, and AI with Intel. Teams presented innovative solutions, with Coles retaining the option to implement any of the ideas developed.

Q2. How does the MasterTech program bridges the gap between industry and academia?

• MasterTech is the perfect example of the type of program that the NIIN executes across Australia, serving as a conduit for transferring knowledge and innovation from academia to industry.
• These programs facilitate seamless collaboration between industry and universities to tackle real-world challenges efficiently. It provides students with a platform to apply technical skills, supported by industry experts and mentors from Coles, Cisco, and Cisco Research Chairs (e.g., AI and IoT, Trusted Retail). This allows students to gain insights into the complexities of the retail industry and understand the practical considerations involved in implementing their solutions. 
• Students accessed advanced education and research through Cisco’s Networking Academy content on AI and sustainability, insights on retail trends from Cisco Research Chair of Trusted Retail Dr Nadine Ostern, and direct engagement with Coles as the industry partner. Senior Coles employees were impressed by the students’ understanding of the challenge and their ability to develop feasible solutions in a short period of time.

Q3. What are the highlights and outcomes from a student perspective of the MasterTech program?

• The program provided a platform for students to showcase their talents and creativity on one of the largest technical stages in Australia – Cisco Live Melbourne. Attended by over 6000 people, with 25 million viewing the online broadcast. 
• Hackathons are nothing new, but very few programs can boast a five-day itinerary spanning the country, performing and pitching at Cisco Live, access to Cisco subject matter experts and Research Chairs, cutting-edge technology, brilliant minds, and close collaboration with Coles as the industry sponsor.
• The teams developed a diverse range of solutions, showcasing their skills and innovative thinking. From AI-driven inventory management systems to smart shopping carts, computer vision applications, and data analytics platforms, the students presented concepts that impressed Coles executives.
• Students gained valuable experience applying their technical skills to a real-world industry challenge, networking with industry professionals, gaining insights into the retail sector, interacting with Coles executives, and receiving direct feedback on their work.
• The program encouraged collaboration among students from diverse universities, enabling them to work across disciplines and backgrounds to develop well-rounded solutions.
• Students expressed a sense of accomplishment, and personal growth, and were proud of their work within a short timeframe. The program offered a challenging yet rewarding experience, boosting their confidence and providing valuable insights into sustainable innovation.

Q4. How important is collaboration in creating sustainable outcomes in the retail industry?

• Cisco recognised the critical importance of collaboration in creating sustainable outcomes for any industry, which led to the creation of the co-innovation centres, Innovation Central, and the catalyst for the NIIN. 
• These collaborations accelerate sustainable solutions by bringing fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and diverse skills to address specific challenges.
• Coles clearly articulated the need for participants to approach the problem as consumers and suppliers, which is crucial for understanding both sides of the problem. Initiatives like the proposed “EcoSwap” (ICC) system, which rewards customers for making eco-friendly choices through data transparency, highlight the importance of engaging consumers and incentivising them to adopt sustainable practices. Giving consumers control over their data can also build trust and encourage participation in sustainability initiatives.
• Cross-functional collaboration at Coles is necessary to integrate sustainability across the business. A proposed three-phase approach (ICB) emphasises collaboration between departments such as operations, technology, and marketing, ensuring sustainability is embedded in all decisions.
• Open innovation and knowledge sharing can accelerate progress toward sustainable outcomes.

Q5. What role does academia play?

• The NIIN connects industry with Australia’s talented higher education sector, including world-leading researchers and the next generation of undergraduates and postgraduates. Academia plays four key roles: research (both blue-sky and industry-driven), talent and skills development, informing policy and regulations, and industry engagement.
• The MasterTech program exemplifies all four roles by showcasing tech-driven solutions to sustainability challenges, such as AI inventory management, smart carts, and data analytics platforms. Programs like MasterTech enable universities to develop innovative solutions, train skilled professionals, and form valuable industry partnerships, driving a more sustainable future.
• Coles executives recognised the value of academic contributions and viewed the universities as key partners in driving sustainable innovation. They were impressed by the student teams’ ability to understand complex problems and develop feasible solutions within a short timeframe. Coles acknowledged that the ideas were readily implementable, emphasising the potential for academia to contribute directly to industry advancements.
• Academia plays a key role in educating future professionals to tackle sustainability challenges. The MasterTech program gave students practical experience with the latest technologies and trends in sustainable retail. By equipping students with essential skills, academia helps build a workforce that can drive sustainable practices across industries, including retail.

Q6. What governments can do to encourage tech-driven sustainable solutions in retail?

• Each tier of government has a role to play in encouraging tech-driven sustainable solutions in retail, and this is where a collective like the NIIN plays a key role in facilitating.  
• The NIIN brings together locally connected Innovation Centrals, with broader focused Cisco Research Chairs with an industry and technology specialty with national Alliances and an operating model that includes Leaders in industry and academia. 
• This allows for region-specific solutions to be developed and implemented while contributing to a national strategy that encourages tech-driven sustainable solutions.
• Governments can – 
  • Offer financial incentives to offset the costs of implementing new technologies and encourage wider adoption of sustainable solutions. 
  • Set regulations and standards that promote sustainability in the retail industry,
  • Invest in short, medium and long-term research and development to foster innovation in sustainable retail technologies
  • Raise consumer awareness about the importance of sustainable shopping practices through NGO and Government co-led marketing campaigns.
  • Facilitate partnerships between industry, academia, and technology providers to accelerate the development and implementation of sustainable solutions. 
  • Invest in research and development to foster innovation in sustainable retail technologies. 

ABOUT ECO VOICE

First published in 2003, Eco Voice is your go-to publication for sustainability news in Australia. Eco Voice prides itself as an independent news platform with a clear focus on sustainability, with articles coming from a diverse range of contributors – all levels of government, corporations, not-for-profits, community groups, small to medium sized businesses, universities, research organisations, together with input from international sources. Eco Voice values community, conservation and commerce. Eco Voice is a media partner of the prestigious Australian Banksia Sustainability Awards – The Peak Sustainability Awards.

ABOUT CISCO

Cisco is the worldwide technology leader that securely connects everything to make anything possible. Our purpose is to power an inclusive future for all by helping our customers reimagine their applications, power hybrid work, secure their enterprise, transform their infrastructure, and meet their sustainability goals. 

ABOUT COLES

Coles is one of Australia’s leading retailers, with an extensive footprint of over 1,800 retail outlets nationally. We employ more than 120,000 team members, engage with more than 8,000 suppliers, and we welcome millions of customers through our store network and digital platforms every week.

Our vision is to become the most trusted retailer in Australia and grow long-term shareholder value.

Our purpose is to help Australians eat and live better every day.

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