35 Best Thought Leaders on AI Ethics in ANZ

Artificial intelligence ethics and governance have become the defining leadership challenge for organisations across Australia and New Zealand. According to KPMG Australia’s 2026 Keeping Us Up at Night survey, AI related issues have emerged as the number one concern for Australian business leaders for the first time, surpassing inflation, talent shortages, and cybersecurity. Across the Tasman, New Zealand released its first national AI strategy in July 2025, positioning the country to develop expertise in AI governance, ethics, and responsible adoption.

The challenge for boards, executives, event organisers, and policymakers is knowing who to listen to. The AI ethics conversation spans researchers decoding algorithmic bias, lawyers interpreting evolving regulation, Indigenous data sovereignty advocates protecting cultural heritage, and practitioners building governance frameworks that organisations can actually use. Finding all of these voices in one place has been nearly impossible until now.

This directory profiles 35 of the most influential thought leaders shaping AI ethics and governance across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand in 2026. It covers academic researchers, policy architects, corporate governance specialists, Indigenous data sovereignty leaders, standards developers, and public advocates whose work determines how AI is built, deployed, regulated, and held accountable in our region.

Whether you are looking for a keynote speaker who can brief your board on AI risk, a researcher whose frameworks can inform your governance strategy, or a thought leader to follow on LinkedIn as the regulatory landscape evolves, this directory is your starting point.

For organisations navigating the leadership and team dynamics side of AI driven change, Jonno White, Certified Working Genius Facilitator and bestselling author of Step Up or Step Out with over 10,000 copies sold globally, delivers keynotes and workshops that help leadership teams build the cultures, communication patterns, and collaboration habits that make innovation possible. Whether virtual or face to face, email jonno@consultclarity.org to discuss how Jonno might support your next event.

Why AI Ethics and Governance Thought Leadership Matters in 2026

The regulatory landscape across Australia and New Zealand has shifted dramatically since 2024. Australia’s federal government pivoted away from mandatory guardrails for high risk AI in late 2025, instead relying on existing technology neutral laws and establishing a new AI Safety Institute. The Privacy Act amendments coming into effect in December 2026 will require organisations to explain automated decisions to affected individuals. ASIC’s REP 798 has put financial services firms on notice that AI governance arrangements must keep pace with adoption.

New Zealand released its Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in July 2025, accompanied by Responsible AI Guidance for Businesses. The country adopted the OECD AI Principles and published a Public Service AI Framework emphasising transparency, human oversight, and cultural appropriateness. The Biometric Processing Privacy Code 2025 gave New Zealand one of its clearest binding AI adjacent governance instruments.

Only about 30% of Australians believe the benefits of AI outweigh the risks, according to recent surveys, and nearly 80% are worried about negative impacts. Trust is the bottleneck. The thought leaders profiled in this directory are the people building that trust through research, regulation, standards, advocacy, and practical governance frameworks.

For a global perspective on keynote speakers in this space, check out my blog post ‘50 Best Keynote Speakers Globally on AI Ethics and Governance (2026)’ at https://www.consultclarity.org/post/keynote-speakers-ai-ethics-governance.

Academic Researchers and Public Intellectuals

These thought leaders combine deep technical or philosophical expertise with public engagement that shapes how Australians and New Zealanders think about AI. Their research informs government policy, industry practice, and public debate.

1. Professor Toby Walsh

Chief Scientist, UNSW AI Institute, Sydney, Australia

Toby Walsh is arguably Australia’s most prominent voice on AI ethics and governance. A Laureate Fellow and Scientia Professor of Artificial Intelligence at UNSW, he has been elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, the Association for Computing Machinery, and the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence. His advocacy for limits on AI has taken him to the United Nations, where he has been a leading voice calling for a ban on lethal autonomous weapons.

Walsh is the author of four books for general audiences, including Machines Behaving Badly and Faking It: Artificial Intelligence in a Human World. He won the 2023 Celestino Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science. In February 2026, he warned that Australia is "dangerously unprepared" for AI and called for robust regulation, criticising the federal government for chronically low AI investment compared with Canada and Singapore.

2. Distinguished Professor Genevieve Bell AO

Founder, ANU School of Cybernetics, Canberra, Australia

Genevieve Bell is a cultural anthropologist and technologist who founded the ANU School of Cybernetics and the 3A Institute in collaboration with CSIRO’s Data61. Her mission has been to build a new branch of engineering to take AI enabled systems safely, sustainably, and responsibly to scale. After 18 years at Intel in Silicon Valley, she returned to Australia and became one of the country’s most visible public intellectuals on human centred technology.

Bell is an Officer of the Order of Australia, a Fellow of three Australian learned academies, and a member of the Prime Minister’s National Science and Technology Council. She presented the ABC’s Boyer Lectures in 2017, exploring what it means to be human and Australian in a digital world. She briefly served as ANU Vice Chancellor in 2024 before stepping down in September 2025.

3. Edward Santow

Industry Professor, Responsible Technology, UTS Human Technology Institute, Sydney, Australia

Ed Santow is one of Australia’s most important voices on responsible AI governance. As Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner from 2016 to 2021, he led the most influential project worldwide on the human rights and social implications of AI, culminating in the Human Rights and Technology Final Report with 38 recommendations to government. He now co directs the Human Technology Institute at UTS, which has become arguably the strongest Australian centre for practical AI governance and assurance.

Santow serves on the NSW Government AI Review Committee, the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Human Rights, and the government’s AI Expert Group. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law and was recognised as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2017. His focus areas include digital government, facial recognition, AI regulation, and digital identity.

4. Dr Catriona Wallace

Founder, Responsible Metaverse Alliance and Ethical AI Advisory, Sydney, Australia

Dr Catriona Wallace is one of Australia’s highest profile AI ethics practitioners. She founded one of the first AI companies to list on the Australian Securities Exchange, co authored Checkmate Humanity: The How and Why of Responsible AI, and co chairs Sir Richard Branson’s B Team AI Coalition. The Australian Financial Review named her the Most Influential Woman in Business and Entrepreneurship, and the Royal Institution of Australia inducted her as one of Australia’s most pre eminent scientists.

Wallace is an Adjunct Professor at AGSM, UNSW, and a LinkedIn Top Voice in Technology. She advises boards and governments globally on responsible technology, with a particular focus on board level AI accountability. She appeared as a Shark on Shark Tank Australia in 2023 and is widely booked as a keynote speaker through Celebrity Speakers and Keynote Entertainment.

5. Professor Jeannie Paterson

Director, Centre for AI and Digital Ethics, University of Melbourne, Australia

Jeannie Paterson leads one of Australia’s most important academic centres for AI policy. The Centre for AI and Digital Ethics at the University of Melbourne focuses on AI safety, liability, consumer protection, and regulatory design. Her legal scholarship directly informs how Australia approaches the complex question of who is responsible when AI systems cause harm.

Paterson’s work is particularly relevant as Australia navigates its technology neutral approach to AI regulation, where existing consumer protection and anti discrimination laws are being stretched to cover AI use cases they were never designed for. Her research helps policymakers and practitioners understand where existing law is sufficient and where new frameworks are needed.

6. Professor Lyria Bennett Moses

Director, UNSW Allens Hub for Technology, Law and Innovation, Sydney, Australia

Lyria Bennett Moses is a leading academic working at the intersection of technological innovation, law, and regulatory frameworks. She directs the UNSW Allens Hub, which produces research that directly shapes how regulators, lawyers, and technologists think about governing new technologies. Her work bridges the gap between what technologists build and what the legal system can manage.

7. Dr Olívia J. Erdélyi

University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

Olívia Erdélyi is among the clearest academic voices on New Zealand’s AI regulatory landscape. Her 2024 paper "AI regulation: still a to do item on New Zealand’s political agenda" provided an important map of the country’s position before the national strategy was released. Her research helps policymakers understand where New Zealand sits relative to global approaches.

8. Professor Michael Witbrock

University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

Michael Witbrock is a professor at the University of Auckland, lead of the NAOInstitute, an AI Forum NZ executive council member, and chair of a government expert panel on responsible public service AI. He occupies a rare position where deep technical AI expertise meets governance influence, making him one of New Zealand’s most credible voices on how AI should be governed at the intersection of research and public policy.

Policy Architects and Governance Leaders

These individuals are directly shaping AI policy, regulation, and institutional governance across the region. Their influence extends from government advisory roles to corporate boardrooms and international standards bodies.

9. Johanna Weaver

Executive Director, Tech Policy Design Institute (TPDi), Canberra, Australia

Johanna Weaver leads one of Australia’s most influential independent think tanks on technology policy. TPDi’s November 2025 paper "From AI Sovereignty to AI Agency" reframed the national conversation, shifting the focus from national AI control to empowering citizen and state agency. Her commentary on regulatory shifts is sharp and widely followed on LinkedIn by policymakers and industry leaders alike.

10. Stela Solar

Director, National AI Centre (CSIRO), Australia

Stela Solar leads the federal government’s primary hub for AI coordination, including the Responsible AI Network (RAIN). The National AI Centre is the operational engine behind much of Australia’s practical responsible AI adoption, translating high level principles into tools, workshops, and guidance that businesses can implement. Solar is a regular LinkedIn presence sharing updates on practical AI adoption and governance.

11. Aurélie Jacquet

CEO, Ethical AI Consulting; Principal Research Consultant, CSIRO Data61, Sydney, Australia

Aurélie Jacquet is one of the clearest bridge figures between international AI standards, certification, and Australian practice. She chairs the Standards Australia committee representing Australia at ISO/IEC on AI, co chairs the ACS AI Ethics Committee, serves on the NSW Government AI Review Committee, and advises ASX 20 companies on responsible AI implementation. She co chaired the first accredited global AI certification programme under the World Economic Forum.

In 2021, she won the Australia New Zealand Women in AI and the Law Award and was recognised as one of the 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics globally. She also received the Responsible AI Institute Leadership Award. Jacquet was appointed by the European Commission as an expert on their international outreach initiative for sustainable and trustworthy AI.

12. Madeline Newman

Executive Director, AI Forum New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand

Madeline Newman is the central convening figure for AI governance discussions in New Zealand. Under her leadership, the AI Forum launched the aigovernance.nz website, established the AI Governance Working Group, and advocated for years to bring about New Zealand’s first national AI strategy. She brings 20 years of experience working with AI and technology in the UK’s financial services and regulatory sectors before returning to New Zealand.

13. Megan Motto

CEO, Governance Institute of Australia

Megan Motto champions the integration of AI risk management into corporate governance and board level strategy. The Governance Institute partnered with the National AI Centre to launch the AI Ethics and Governance white paper, providing directors and company secretaries with a practical framework for overseeing AI within existing governance structures.

14. Dr Ian Oppermann

Industry Professor, UTS; Former NSW Chief Data Scientist, Sydney, Australia

Ian Oppermann was the architect of the NSW AI Assurance Framework and one of Australia’s foremost experts in translating high level ethics principles into practical government policy. His experience as NSW Chief Data Scientist gave him direct insight into what happens when AI is deployed at scale in public services, and he continues to shape the national conversation on algorithmic accountability.

15. Nicholas Davis

Co-Director, Human Technology Institute, UTS, Sydney, Australia

Nicholas Davis co directs the Human Technology Institute alongside Ed Santow. Before joining UTS, he served as Head of Society and Innovation on the Executive Committee at the World Economic Forum in Geneva, where he was responsible for developing the theme of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He brings deep international experience on AI corporate governance and emerging technology governance to the Australian context.

16. Dr Mahsa McCauley

Chair, AI Forum NZ; Associate Professor, AUT, Auckland, New Zealand

Mahsa McCauley is one of New Zealand’s most visible system level AI leaders, spanning research, policy, and industry. As Chair of the AI Forum NZ, she sets strategic direction for the country’s primary multi stakeholder AI body. Her advocacy for diversity in AI development is a direct response to the evidence that homogeneous teams produce biased systems.

Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Cultural AI Ethics Leaders

One of the most distinctive features of the AI ethics conversation in Australia and New Zealand is the centrality of Indigenous perspectives. In Aotearoa, Te Ao Māori views data not as a commodity but as a taonga (treasure) containing whakapapa (genealogy). In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders are challenging "cognitive imperialism" where AI systems trained exclusively on Western frameworks fail to account for community wellbeing, relationality to Country, and Indigenous Data Governance.

17. Dr Karaitiana Taiuru

Director, Taiuru & Associates, Aotearoa New Zealand

Dr Karaitiana Taiuru is the foremost expert on Māori Data Sovereignty, AI ethics, and the protection of cultural intellectual property from algorithmic extraction. He is highly active on LinkedIn and consistently pushes the conversation on how AI governance must account for Indigenous rights. His 2025 report on the state of Māori Data Sovereignty and Governance highlighted the significant gap between policy frameworks and actual implementation.

18. Kirikowhai Mikaere

Lead Technician, Te Kāhui Raraunga, Aotearoa New Zealand

Kirikowhai Mikaere is the architect of AI safeguards for Māori data within Te Kāhui Raraunga, the working arm of the Data Iwi Leaders Group. Her work ensures that AI systems built on or using Māori data are audited for algorithmic stereotyping and cultural bias. Te Kāhui Raraunga’s frameworks have become foundational to New Zealand’s broader AI governance approach.

19. Associate Professor Maui Hudson

University of Waikato, Aotearoa New Zealand

Maui Hudson is the co founder of the Global Indigenous Data Alliance and a critical voice in establishing global Indigenous data rights. His work at the University of Waikato connects Māori data governance with international movements for Indigenous data sovereignty. He is a bridge between the New Zealand AI governance conversation and the global standards being developed at the OECD and UNESCO.

20. Rāhui Papa

Chairperson, Te Kāhui Raraunga, Aotearoa New Zealand

Rāhui Papa advocates for ethical AI that upholds te Tiriti o Waitangi, embedding Māori leadership in governance decisions about how data and AI are used. Under his leadership, Te Kāhui Raraunga has developed guidance that operationalises Te Ao Māori principles directly into corporate AI governance, including Whakapapa, Mana Whakahaere, Manaakitanga, and Kaitiakitanga.

21. Dr Hēmi Whaanga

University of Waikato, Aotearoa New Zealand

Hēmi Whaanga works at the intersection of mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge systems), ethics, and digital and AI contexts. His research places AI within Indigenous knowledge frameworks, ensuring that the development of AI systems in Aotearoa does not proceed as though Western epistemology is the only valid foundation for automated decision making.

22. Terri Janke

Founder, Terri Janke and Company, Australia

Terri Janke is Australia’s leading authority on Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) and its intersection with AI. As generative AI systems increasingly train on cultural material without consent, Janke’s work on ICIP protocols and the True Tracks framework has become essential reading for any organisation deploying AI that may affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and cultural heritage.

Standards Developers, Technical Leaders, and Practitioners

These thought leaders are building the technical infrastructure of responsible AI. They develop the standards, certification frameworks, engineering practices, and technical tools that translate ethical principles into systems that organisations can implement.

23. Dr Qinghua Lu

Responsible AI Science Team Lead, CSIRO Data61, Australia

Qinghua Lu leads the technical research on software engineering for responsible AI at CSIRO’s Data61. Her team produces the tools and methodologies that enable organisations to build responsible AI into their development pipelines rather than bolting it on as an afterthought. She won the Women in AI Awards in 2023 and is a significant technical contributor to Australia’s responsible AI ecosystem.

24. Dr Mark Pedersen

CTO, KJR; Vice Chair, ACS AI & Ethics Committee, Australia

Mark Pedersen brings a practitioner’s lens to responsible AI implementation. With a PhD in AI focusing on natural language processing and a background in safety critical systems, he works at the confluence of AI and software quality, reliability, and safety. As Vice Chair of the ACS AI Ethics Committee, he helps shape the professional standards that Australian AI practitioners operate within.

25. Dr Kobi Leins

AI and Data Governance Expert; Honorary Senior Fellow, King’s College London, Australia

Kobi Leins is active in AI standards work, Carnegie’s AI and Equality Initiative, and is frequently booked as a keynote speaker on AI ethics and governance through Saxton Speakers. She was listed in the 2024 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics and is an expert member of Australia’s AI standards committee. Her work spans the technical, legal, and ethical dimensions of AI governance.

26. Dr Fang Chen

Executive Director, Data Science Institute, UTS, Sydney, Australia

Fang Chen is a global leader in AI and data science, known for driving ethical, human centred innovation across sectors including health, energy, and transport. She has held senior roles at Intel, Motorola, and CSIRO. Her position at the UTS Data Science Institute allows her to influence how the next generation of data scientists are trained to consider ethics from the design stage.

27. Professor Albert Bifet

Director, AI Institute, University of Waikato, Aotearoa New Zealand

Albert Bifet is a major technical AI leader who also advises on responsible AI and governance as an AI Forum NZ executive council member. The University of Waikato’s AI Institute has a significant role in shaping New Zealand’s technical AI capabilities. Bifet ensures that governance and responsibility are embedded into the technical research agenda, not treated as a separate workstream.

28. Gabriela Mazorra de Cos

Chair, AI Governance Working Group, AI Forum NZ; Data Use Specialist, Xero, New Zealand

Gabriela Mazorra de Cos chairs the AI Forum NZ’s AI Governance Working Group, which developed the aigovernance.nz website and its curated toolkits for New Zealand organisations at different stages of AI maturity. Her day role as a Data Use Specialist in governance and ethics at Xero means she brings real world corporate experience to the standards and frameworks she helps develop.

Public Advocates and Communicators

These thought leaders translate the complexities of AI ethics into language that the public, media, and non technical leaders can understand and act on. Their influence is measured not only in policy submissions but in cultural awareness and public trust.

29. Tracey Spicer AM

Author, Man Made; Walkley Award Winning Journalist, Sydney, Australia

Tracey Spicer is one of Australia’s best known journalists, and her book Man Made: How the Bias of the Past is Being Built Into the Future brought AI ethics to mainstream audiences through a feminist lens. She investigates how gender and racial biases are embedded into the technologies shaping our lives. Her keynotes on "mindful AI" provide practical frameworks for ethical AI adoption.

Spicer is an Officer of the Order of Australia, was named NSW Premier’s Woman of the Year in 2019, and accepted the Sydney Peace Prize for the MeToo movement. She is represented by ODE Management and is one of the most sought after AI ethics keynote speakers in the region.

30. Dr Tim Dean

Senior Philosopher, The Ethics Centre, Sydney, Australia

Tim Dean explores the societal impacts of AI through The Ethics Centre, one of Australia’s most trusted independent organisations for ethical guidance. His work advocates for AI systems that free human potential rather than displacing it. He brings philosophical rigour to corporate and public conversations that often lack depth beyond the surface level discussion of risks and opportunities.

31. Justin Flitter

Founder, NewZealand.AI, Auckland, New Zealand

Justin Flitter focuses on the practical, ethical adoption of AI for New Zealand businesses. As founder of NewZealand.AI and host of the AI New Zealand Podcast, he translates complex governance discussions into actionable insights for small and medium businesses that make up the backbone of the New Zealand economy. He is active on LinkedIn sharing practical use cases alongside ethical considerations.

32. Beth Worrall

Responsible AI Network Manager, National AI Centre, CSIRO, Australia

Beth Worrall operationalises AI ethics for businesses through the Responsible AI Network (RAIN). Her work turns principles into practices, running workshops, developing toolkits, and connecting practitioners across industries to share what works and what does not. The Women in AI Awards have recognised her contribution to responsible AI in Australia.

33. Professor Marek Kowalkiewicz

Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia

Marek Kowalkiewicz is recognised as a Top 100 AI thought leader globally and is the bestselling author of The Economy of Algorithms. Based at QUT in Brisbane, he brings a career spanning leadership and research roles at SAP, Microsoft Research Asia, and Citibank. His keynotes help business leaders understand the strategic and ethical implications of AI and algorithms for their organisations.

34. Melissa Clark-Reynolds ONZM

Futurist and Director, Aotearoa New Zealand

Melissa Clark Reynolds is an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to technology. She advises boards on the intersection of deepfakes, AI governance, and strategic foresight. Her work helps New Zealand organisations understand the longer term implications of AI deployment, with a particular focus on synthetic media, digital ownership, and maintaining trust in the information environment.

35. Dr Alex Antic

AI Leader, Advisor, and Author, Australia

Alex Antic is an award winning AI leader recognised as a top 5 Data Science leader in Australia by IAPA in 2021. He is the author of Creators of Intelligence and has held senior academic roles at ANU, UTS, UNSW Canberra, RMIT, and the University of Wollongong. He serves on the NSW Government AI Review Committee and contributes widely to the responsible advancement of AI through leadership, training, and public speaking.

Key Organisations Shaping AI Ethics in Australia and New Zealand

Beyond individual thought leaders, several organisations are central to how AI ethics and governance are developed and implemented across the region.

In Australia, the National AI Centre (CSIRO) serves as the federal hub for responsible AI adoption, driven by Stela Solar and Beth Worrall. The Human Technology Institute at UTS is arguably the strongest centre for practical AI governance and assurance, led by Edward Santow and Nicholas Davis. The Centre for AI and Digital Ethics at the University of Melbourne is led by Jeannie Paterson. Standards Australia adopted AS ISO/IEC 42001 in 2024, the first AI management system standard, with Aurélie Jacquet chairing the national AI standards committee. The ACS AI Ethics Committee provides professional standards and practitioner discourse. The ANU School of Cybernetics, founded by Genevieve Bell, continues to shape thinking on safe, sustainable, and responsible technology.

In New Zealand, the AI Forum of New Zealand led by Madeline Newman and Mahsa McCauley is the central multi stakeholder convener. Te Kāhui Raraunga and the Data Iwi Leaders Group set the standard for Indigenous data sovereignty, driven by Kirikowhai Mikaere and Rāhui Papa. MBIE released the national AI strategy and Responsible AI Guidance for Businesses. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner is increasingly important following the Biometric Processing Privacy Code 2025.

Common Mistakes When Engaging AI Ethics Thought Leaders

The first common mistake is assuming all AI ethics voices are interchangeable. A researcher who studies algorithmic bias in healthcare datasets has very different expertise from a governance consultant who helps boards develop AI risk frameworks. Match the thought leader to your specific need, whether that is keynote speaking, policy advice, technical assurance, or cultural guidance.

The second mistake is ignoring Indigenous data sovereignty perspectives. In both Australia and New Zealand, AI governance is incomplete without engaging with the rights and interests of First Nations and Māori communities. This is not optional. New Zealand’s official AI guidance explicitly directs organisations to consider Māori data sovereignty, and Australia’s public sector AI assurance guidance requires agencies to consider Indigenous data.

The third mistake is treating AI ethics as a one time compliance exercise rather than an ongoing leadership capability. The regulatory landscape is shifting constantly. Organisations that build relationships with thought leaders in this space, follow their work on LinkedIn, and invite them to brief their boards regularly will navigate the next five years far more effectively than those who engage once and move on.

The fourth mistake is confusing commentary with influence. Not everyone who posts about AI ethics on social media is shaping policy. This directory prioritises people whose work is directly referenced in government frameworks, cited in industry standards, or used by organisations to make real governance decisions.

The fifth mistake is underestimating the importance of cross Tasman collaboration. Australia and New Zealand share regulatory influences, corporate footprints, and cultural values. The thought leaders in this directory who work across both countries, including those in standards bodies and the Women in AI network, provide the most complete regional perspective.

How to Use This Directory: A Practical Guide

Start by identifying your specific need. If you are an event organiser looking for a keynote speaker on AI ethics, focus on the public advocates and communicators like Toby Walsh, Catriona Wallace, Tracey Spicer, and Kobi Leins. If you need someone to brief your board on AI governance risk, look at Aurélie Jacquet, Ed Santow, Nicholas Davis, or Megan Motto.

If you are developing an AI governance framework for your organisation, the practitioners and standards developers in this directory are your starting point. The National AI Centre’s Responsible AI Network, the UTS Human Technology Institute, and the AI Forum NZ’s governance toolkits offer practical frameworks that have been tested by real organisations.

Follow the LinkedIn active voices in this directory to stay current. The regulatory landscape is moving fast, and the people profiled here are the ones breaking down each development in real time. Toby Walsh, Catriona Wallace, Karaitiana Taiuru, Aurélie Jacquet, Ed Santow, and Madeline Newman are among the most consistently active.

For organisations that want to pair AI ethics and governance expertise with leadership development, team building, or cultural transformation, consider complementary sessions. The technology conversation is important, but so is the human side, building the cultures, communication patterns, and decision making habits that allow organisations to navigate AI driven change effectively.

Jonno White, bestselling author of Step Up or Step Out and trusted facilitator across Australia, the UK, USA, Singapore, Canada, and beyond, delivers keynotes and workshops on leading through change, building high performing teams, and navigating difficult conversations. International travel is often far more affordable than clients expect. Email jonno@consultclarity.org to discuss how Jonno might complement your AI ethics event with a leadership session.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the most credible AI ethics thought leaders in Australia?

The most credible voices include Professor Toby Walsh at UNSW, Edward Santow at UTS, Dr Catriona Wallace, Aurélie Jacquet at Ethical AI Consulting and CSIRO Data61, Professor Genevieve Bell, and Professor Jeannie Paterson at the University of Melbourne. Each brings different expertise, from technical research to human rights law to corporate governance.

Who leads the AI ethics conversation in New Zealand?

In New Zealand, the AI Forum NZ led by Madeline Newman and Mahsa McCauley is the central convening body. Dr Karaitiana Taiuru is the foremost voice on Māori Data Sovereignty and AI ethics. Professor Michael Witbrock chairs a government expert panel on responsible public service AI. The AI Governance Working Group chaired by Gabriela Mazorra de Cos produces practical governance toolkits.

How does Māori data sovereignty affect AI governance in New Zealand?

Māori data sovereignty is a core lens in New Zealand AI governance, not a side issue. Official guidance directs organisations to involve Māori early in decision making, set clear boundaries on Māori data use, and ensure cultural appropriateness. Te Kāhui Raraunga has developed world first frameworks that operationalise Te Ao Māori principles directly into corporate AI governance.

What are the most important AI governance policy changes in Australia since 2024?

Key developments include Standards Australia’s adoption of AS ISO/IEC 42001 in February 2024, the National Framework for AI Assurance in Government in June 2024, the Voluntary AI Safety Standard and mandatory guardrails proposals in September 2024, and the strengthened APS Policy for responsible use of AI in late 2025. Privacy Act amendments requiring transparency in automated decisions take effect in December 2026.

Can I hire someone to facilitate a leadership session alongside an AI ethics keynote?

Yes. Many organisations pair an AI ethics keynote with a leadership development session that addresses the human side of technology driven change. Jonno White, Certified Working Genius Facilitator and host of The Leadership Conversations Podcast with 230+ episodes reaching listeners in 150+ countries, delivers interactive sessions on leading through change, team dynamics, and building cultures that embrace innovation. Email jonno@consultclarity.org to discuss options.

Which thought leaders are good keynote speakers for conferences and corporate events?

For academic credibility, Toby Walsh through Claxton Speakers is the most obvious choice. For corporate governance, Catriona Wallace through Celebrity Speakers and Kobi Leins through Saxton are widely booked. For a New Zealand audience, Justin Flitter and Melissa Clark Reynolds are strong options. For investigative journalism credibility on AI bias, Tracey Spicer through ODE Management is highly sought after.

Which reports and frameworks should I read first?

Start with HTI’s Awareness to Action: Advancing AI Corporate Governance (2025) for board level guidance. For New Zealand, the AI Forum’s aigovernance.nz toolkits are practical and accessible. The CSIRO Responsible AI Network workshops, available as recordings, are excellent for implementation. For Indigenous perspectives, the Māori Data Governance Model and Terri Janke’s ICIP frameworks are essential reading.

Final Thoughts

The 35 thought leaders profiled in this directory represent the best of what Australia and New Zealand have to offer in AI ethics and governance. They span researchers who decode algorithmic bias, former commissioners who now build practical governance frameworks, Indigenous leaders protecting cultural heritage from digital extraction, standards developers creating the technical infrastructure of responsible AI, and public communicators who ensure the broader population understands what is at stake.

What makes the ANZ region distinctive is the centrality of Indigenous perspectives. In New Zealand, Māori data sovereignty is not an addendum to AI governance. It is woven into the fabric of national strategy. In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices are moving from the periphery to the centre of the conversation. This is a contribution the ANZ region is making to the global AI ethics discourse that no other part of the world can replicate.

The regulatory landscape will continue to shift. Australia’s Privacy Act amendments in December 2026 will create new obligations for automated decision making. New Zealand’s light touch approach will be tested as AI adoption accelerates. The thought leaders in this directory are the people who will shape what comes next. Following their work, engaging with their research, and inviting them to brief your board is one of the highest return investments an organisation can make in 2026.

For more on how AI is transforming the events and conference space, check out my blog post ‘25 Best Keynote Speakers on AI in Australia and New Zealand (2026)’ at https://www.consultclarity.org/post/keynote-speakers-ai-australia-nz.

To book Jonno White, founder of The 7 Questions Movement with 6,000+ participating leaders, for your next keynote, workshop, or facilitation session, email jonno@consultclarity.org. Whether virtual or face to face, organisations consistently find that international travel is far more affordable than expected.

About the Author

Jonno White is a Certified Working Genius Facilitator, bestselling author, and leadership consultant who has worked with schools, corporates, and nonprofits across the UK, India, Australia, Canada, Mongolia, New Zealand, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, USA, Finland, Namibia, and more. His book Step Up or Step Out has sold over 10,000 copies globally, and his podcast The Leadership Conversations has featured 230+ episodes reaching listeners in 150+ countries. Jonno founded The 7 Questions Movement with 6,000+ participating leaders and achieved a 93.75% satisfaction rating for his Working Genius masterclass at the ASBA 2025 National Conference. Based in Brisbane, Australia, Jonno works globally and regularly travels for speaking and facilitation engagements. Organisations consistently find that international travel is far more affordable than expected.

To book Jonno for your next keynote, workshop, or facilitation session, email jonno@consultclarity.org.

Next Read: 50 Best Keynote Speakers Globally on AI Ethics and Governance (2026)

Finding the right keynote speaker on AI ethics and governance for your next conference, leadership summit, or corporate event is one of the most consequential decisions you will make as an event organiser in 2026. The regulatory landscape has fractured dramatically over the past eighteen months. The EU AI Act is now in phased enforcement, with high risk system obligations fully applicable by August 2026. The United States has pivoted toward a pro innovation federal posture while individual states push aggressive transparency and anti discrimination mandates.

This directory brings together 50 of the most credible, experienced, and sought after keynote speakers on AI ethics, responsible AI, algorithmic bias, AI governance, and AI policy from every continent.

Keep reading: https://www.consultclarity.org/post/keynote-speakers-ai-ethics-governance