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15 ERP and Emerging Technology Experts to Follow in 2026

These ERP and emerging technology experts are highly useful voices to help you cut through the noise. Each offers practical, grounded guidance for mid-sized businesses in Australia and New Zealand.

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Choosing a new ERP is a decision with the potential to pay off for years, giving your business one source of truth, streamlined processes and the confidence to scale. The challenge is knowing where to focus in a market full of new tech, shifting cloud models and rapid AI innovation.

We’ve found these highly useful voices to help you cut through the noise. Each offers practical, grounded guidance for mid-sized businesses in Australia, New Zealand and beyond — insights shaped by real projects, real teams and real growth pressures. By following these ERP and emerging technology experts, you’ll get straightforward advice on implementation timelines, change management, cloud strategy, digital transformation, automation, data quality, AI adoption and long-term planning.

Together, these perspectives give you a sharp, confidence-building view of the ERP landscape heading into 2026: the early wins to expect, the watchouts to prepare for, and the trends that genuinely matter for growing companies.

1. Michelle Harvey

Michelle Harvey brings more than 40 years of hands-on experience advising Australian organisations on ERP and business systems. She’s known for clear, vendor-neutral guidance across software evaluation, IT strategy, project governance, quality assurance and change management. Her work is grounded in what actually drives successful delivery and long term business value. Michelle stays close to emerging trends in digital transformation and is widely respected for her practical, level-headed perspective on how organisations can choose and implement systems with confidence.

Explore Michelle's LinkedIn

2. Eric Kimberling

Eric Kimberling brings long experience in independent ERP advisory work. His videos and analysis cut through vendor noise and show what actually happens in a rollout. He talks openly about budget blowouts, poor change management and how scope shifts derail projects. Even though many of his examples come from large organisations, the lessons translate well for mid-market teams that want to reduce risk and set realistic timelines. 

Explore Eric's LinkedIn

3. Valantis Vais

With a background that spans start-up founding, management consulting and more, Valantis Vais brings a rare, multi-lens perspective to ERP and mid-size business transformation. Val is passionate about helping mid-sized organisations unlock real value from their technology investments, and works closely with business leaders across Australia and New Zealand – giving him direct, on-the-ground insight into the pressures and priorities shaping technology decisions today. Follow him for forward-thinking analysis on the rise of autonomous businesses, the future of ERP, and how leaders can create resilient, insight-driven operations without adding complexity. His experience gives him a uniquely grounded view of the challenges growth-focused ANZ businesses face, and how the right systems can support them through every stage.

Explore Valantis' LinkedIn

4. Simon Chan

Simon Chan works across business analysis, project delivery and systems architecture. His content focuses on the real work of turning strategy into day-to-day execution. He often breaks down how to balance innovation with operational stability, which is a common challenge during ERP change. Leaders who want steady progress and strong collaboration will find his insights useful. 

Explore Simon's LinkedIn

5. Judith O’Callaghan

Judith O’Callaghan helps mid-sized businesses make sense of early ERP planning. She keeps the process simple and shows leaders how to spot when their current systems have hit their limit. Her focus is on practical ROI benchmarks and clear decision making. If you are shaping a business case or trying to align internal stakeholders, her work helps you stay focused on what creates real value. 

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6. Joel Ramirez

Joel Ramirez brings nearly two decades of experience in cloud ERP and business transformation. He co-founded and scaled an ERP implementation services firm that became publicly listed, and later launched an ERP SaaS company acquired by KPMG, in partnership with Microsoft (and Commonwealth Bank). Combined with leadership roles in global multinationals and management consulting, Joel offers a rare perspective spanning mid-market and enterprise needs. His expertise goes beyond ERP helping organisations drive growth, navigate complex change, and unlock long-term value through technology and transformation.

Explore Joel's LinkedIn

7. Louis Columbus

Louis Columbus shares clear, research driven views on ERP, manufacturing systems and cloud trends. He explains technical topics in a practical way that business leaders can act on. His experience in strategic planning means his commentary often brings a helpful mix of commercial and technical context. 

Explore Louis' LinkedIn

8. Gordon Davey

Gordon Davey brings deep technical and architectural experience across cloud programs. He explains cloud choices in a way that connects directly to business outcomes and long-term transformation goals. His content helps leaders understand how cloud decisions shape agility, cost and capability over time. 

Explore Gordon's LinkedIn

9. Elias Khnaser

Elias Khnaser is known for making complex cloud strategy easier to follow. He helps organisations understand the long-term impact of infrastructure decisions and how cloud fits into wider transformation goals. His work is clear and practical, which is valuable for teams weighing different hosting or scaling paths. 

Explore Elias' LinkedIn

10. Shelly Kramer

Shelly Kramer focuses on the link between technology, customer experience and broader business change. She follows cloud, AI, security and enterprise applications closely and explains how these shifts play out inside real organisations. Leaders planning an ERP project within a wider transformation effort will find her perspective helpful. 

Explore Shelly's LinkedIn

11. David Linthicum

David Linthicum has decades of experience in cloud, AI and enterprise technology. His work shows how emerging tech ties back to business resilience and efficiency. He brings long form analysis, hands on guidance and a steady view of where cloud and AI are heading, which helps leaders make informed choices about their ERP ecosystem. 

Explore David's LinkedIn

12. Heather Smith

Heather Smith is a cloud-accounting expert who helps small and mid-sized businesses simplify their finances and software. She has built and run a fully cloud-based practice for many years, and she designs and implements accounting workflows, automation and bookkeeping systems that let business owners get clean data and make informed decisions. She shares her knowledge through books, a podcast, newsletters and community events — always with a practical, easy-to-follow approach.

Explore Heather's LinkedIn

13. Wayne Holtham

Wayne Holtham is an Australian ERP and digital transformation specialist. His career spans ERP, EAM and digital platform strategy across energy, mining, resources and infrastructure. Wayne is known for diagnosing when major programs are veering off course and resetting them with grounded, practical clarity. He helps organisations sharpen requirements, assess risk, select the right platform and maintain independent oversight throughout delivery.

His perspective is shaped by decades of hands-on experience in large Australian enterprises, giving his guidance a level of operational realism that executives value. 

Explore Wayne's LinkedIn

14. Jody Padar

Jody Padar has pushed the accounting profession toward cloud and automation for years. Her content is direct and practical, showing how modern finance teams can work smarter with the help of better systems. Her views are useful for CFOs and finance leaders preparing for an ERP shift. 

Explore Jody's LinkedIn

15. Shawn Windle

Shawn Windle has guided many organisations through ERP selection and implementation. His advice is grounded in real project experience and highlights what helps adoption and where teams often stumble. His perspective gives CFOs and operations leaders a clear sense of what strong ERP execution looks like. 

Explore Shawn's LinkedIn

Why Following These Experts Matters

ERP projects are significant investments, both financially and operationally, and mistakes can be costly. Learning from experienced voices in the field can help you avoid common pitfalls, uncover practical strategies, and make better-informed decisions. If you are just starting your ERP journey, begin by following one or two voices that match your most pressing challenges, whether that is financial justification, managing change, or understanding where the market is heading. Their insights won’t replace your own due diligence, but they will help you ask better questions, set realistic expectations, and make informed choices that support long term growth.

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Information provided in this article is of a general nature and does not consider your personal situation. It does not constitute legal, financial, or other professional advice and should not be relied upon as a statement of law, policy or advice. You should consider whether this information is appropriate to your needs and, if necessary, seek independent advice. This information is only accurate at the time of publication. Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of the information contained on this webpage, MYOB disclaims, to the extent permitted by law, all liability for the information contained on this webpage or any loss or damage suffered by any person directly or indirectly through relying on this information.

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