The House is Digital

In this episode, Amy-Rose is joined by Dr Rhys Bollen to explore the role of regulation in building trusted, resilient and future-ready digital financial markets. The conversation examines how supervision evolves when finance becomes software, markets operate around the clock, and digital assets move from the edge of the system toward the centre.Dr Rhys Bollen is Senior Executive Leader, Digital Assets at Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), where he leads the team overseeing crypto and digital asset firms and preparing for the Government’s proposed law reforms in this area. He is also responsible for ASIC’s broader work across digital finance, innovation and tokenisation, including ASIC’s regulatory sandbox.With more than 25 years of experience across regulation, policy and financial services, Rhys has held senior leadership roles spanning market supervision, banking, insurance, investment management and strategic policy. His work focuses on balancing innovation with market integrity, consumer protection and confidence in Australia’s evolving financial system.The discussion unpacks why markets require clear rules and active oversight, particularly as new technologies increase speed and complexity. It explores how digital assets and tokenisation are reshaping financial infrastructure, where innovation is delivering real value across payments, investment and capital markets, and where risks continue to emerge through poor governance, disclosure and market behaviour.The episode also examines ASIC’s approach to supporting innovation through tools such as the regulatory sandbox, the growing role of AI across financial services, and how regulators are adapting their own capabilities to keep pace with technological change.Looking ahead, the conversation focuses on Australia’s opportunity to lead in digital finance, and the importance of moving beyond the technology itself to delivering better products, services and outcomes for end users across the economy.A special thank you to Independent Reserve for hosting this episode in their studio. Their support in providing this space makes conversations like this possible, and reflects their ongoing contribution to the growth and maturity of Australia’s digital economy.

In this episode, Amy-Rose is joined by Paul Derham to unpack the legal and regulatory realities shaping Australia’s digital asset industry. The discussion explores how businesses navigate an increasingly complex legal framework, the role of regulation in enabling growth, and the practical decisions required to operate in uncertain environments.Paul Derham is a leading Australian financial services lawyer and Managing Partner at Holley Nethercote and Chair at DECA. With over 25 years’ experience, he has worked alongside businesses, regulators and policymakers to interpret and apply financial services law across evolving technologies, including digital assets, payments and emerging financial models.The conversation examines the expansion of the Corporations Act, the shift toward greater accountability through design and distribution obligations, and the growing importance of non-financial risk management as a foundation for long-term success. It also explores how regulation shapes market participation, the impact of licensing on investment and banking access, and why some businesses succeed despite ambiguity while others fail under the same conditions.Looking ahead, the episode addresses the convergence of AI, digital assets and financial services, the rise of agentic systems within professional services, and the structural changes underway in the legal profession. It closes with a forward view on Australia’s regulatory trajectory, highlighting the role of upcoming reforms in driving legitimacy, investment and broader participation across the digital economy.

In this episode, Amy-Rose Goodey is joined by Aaron Violi to explore how technology is reshaping Australia’s economic landscape. The discussion examines the role of investment, regulation and capability in building a productive, secure and globally competitive digital economy.Aaron Violi MP was recently appointed Shadow Minister for the Digital Economy, Shadow Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, and Shadow Minister for Cyber Security. He entered the Australian Parliament at the 2022 Federal Election, representing the seat of Casey, where he is a proud third-generation local. Prior to politics, Mr Violi worked as Head of Partnerships for a tech-start up company, where he carved a niche in the realm of technology and a passion for the digital economy.While in Parliament, Aaron has championed the digital economy, including through establishing the Parliamentary Friends of Tech and Innovation to bridge the gap between industry and policymakers. He has been a strong advocate for a clear roadmap on our nation’s AI future and has long advocated for technological uptake, including Fintech, MedTech, AI and Quantum, to solve the productivity challenges our nation faces.

The House Is Digital is a podcast featuring real conversations with Australia's political leaders about the technologies, policies and infrastructure transforming the nation. From AI and cybersecurity to digital finance and national systems, it explores how government is shaping the next chapter of Australia's economy.Launching Q1 2026