Douglas Bester
Founder, Sentient Computing
Doug Bester is the founder of Perth‑based Sentient Computing, a specialist software company delivering immersive interactive environments, VR training and 3D visualisation solutions to the industrial sector. With more than 35 years’ experience in technical operations, project delivery and leadership, he has guided Sentient through multiple technology cycles while staying focused on practical value for operators, maintainers and decision‑makers on site.
Since founding Sentient in 2007, Doug has grown the business from a small startup into a diverse team of engineers, developers and artists delivering solutions for major iron ore, energy and industrial clients in Australia and overseas. Under his leadership, Sentient has become recognised as an Australian pioneer in training, gaming‑inspired simulations and industrial digital twins that improve productivity by enhanced training and better understanding of complex operations. This work has been acknowledged through accolades such as being awarded the Rio Tinto Suppliers Innovation Award in 2023.
Doug’s leadership philosophy is centred on a values‑driven, distributed model that emphasises responsibility, psychological safety and genuine care for people, enabling technical teams to innovate while staying closely aligned to customer needs and operational realities. He has consistently prioritised win‑win solutions that deliver measurable value for clients while helping to create and grow high‑skill jobs in Western Australia ensuring innovation directly benefits WA’s long‑term prosperity.
Keynote presentation and synopsis:
Building Digital Resiliency: How Mining Companies Can Adapt and Thrive in this Age of Disruptive Technologies
Synopsis:
A few years ago, after months of design and integration work, our digital solution met every technical requirement, yet it stumbled once it hit procurement, cyber and organisational complexity. That experience reshaped how we think about digital transformation in mining.
Resilience, we realised, isn’t the result of technology; it is the result of structure. With over 15 years of experience working at the interface between miners and local digital innovators, we have seen that the most adaptable companies are those that build for agility rather than scale. This keynote explores practical ways mining companies can strengthen their digital resilience: designing efficient structures and partnering effectively with local providers and creating commercial frameworks that encourage rapid iteration rather than rigid delivery.
It’s a candid look at the uncomfortable trade‑offs, the scars earned along the way, and the structural strategies that will help miners adapt and thrive through this era of relentless technological disruption.