Symphony3’s AI Innovation Day at the AWS Builder Lab empowered local government leaders to explore emerging technologies and unlock the potential of data-driven, AI-enabled service delivery.
On Friday, June 6th, 2025, twenty digital leaders from fifteen local councils gathered at the AWS Melbourne Headquarters for Symphony3’s and AWS' AI and Future Technology Innovation Day—a collaborative exploration of how councils can embrace emerging technologies to enhance service delivery and community outcomes.
Hosted at the dynamic AWS Builder Studio at 555 Collins Street, the day offered a hands-on experience designed to spark fresh thinking, promote experimentation, and build capacity for AI-driven transformation in local government.
The AWS Builder Lab, led by Jon and his team, provided an inspiring environment to interact with a wide array of emerging technologies. Attendees got to play and learn, engaging with IoT devices designed for monitoring aged care, to experimenting with holographic displays and even racing a virtual Formula One car. But it wasn’t all just fun and games; the tour reinforced a deeper message about innovation. Jon posed a critical question to the group: “Is there enough failure built into your organisation?”—challenging councils to embrace experimentation as a pathway to continuous improvement.
“Is there enough failure built into your organisation?”
Following the immersive lab experience, attendees participated in an insightful presentation by AWS Data and AI expert Sean Mathieson. Drawing from AWS’s global experience across industries, Sean shared the essential elements of a Modern Data Strategy, explaining that successful AI initiatives are built on strong data foundations—aligned mindset, skilled people, streamlined processes, and the right technologies.
Sean’s presentation highlighted several key points:
- Data is the differentiator in making AI truly effective in a local government context.
- A modern data strategy enables councils to unlock value by improving customer experience, optimising operations, and enabling evidence-based decision-making.
- Generative AI use cases relevant to councils include document summarisation, intelligent service delivery, citizen engagement via chatbots and avatars, and enhanced internal productivity tools.
The message was clear: AI is here now
The message from the speakers was clear: AI is here now, and councils that invest in their data and digital capability can begin applying it meaningfully to local challenges.
Throughout the day, it was evident that bringing together practitioners, experts, and new technologies in an experiential setting fosters momentum. The event not only inspired new ideas but also created connections between councils and AWS that will support future initiatives.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Jon at the Builder Lab for the tour and insights, Sean Mathieson for the engaging presentation, and Anthony Dow, Velry D’Costa, and the broader AWS team for hosting and facilitating the day. We also thank the local government professionals who took the time to attend and share in the journey.
Finally, stay tuned—Chris Eddy will be talking about the tour on an upcoming episode of the Local Government News Roundup podcast.
At Symphony3, we’re proud to support councils in harnessing the power of data, AI, and innovation.
If you're ready to accelerate your digital transformation, let’s talk.