Thursday 31 October - Day Two

08:00
Registration and welcome coffee
08:50
Opening remarks from the Chair

Susan Gibson
Head of Data Analytics and AI
University of Technology Sydney

Using AI to benefit society
09:00
Leveraging AI for societal benefit: strategies for wellbeing and community sustainability
  • Strategically deploying generative AI to solve critical social and community issues
  • Developing the skills needed for ethical AI applications to effectively balance technological benefits with potential social impacts
  • Creating robust frameworks to guide the ethical implementation of AI that fosters sustainable development and inclusivity

Simon Kriss
Chief AI Officer
simonkriss.ai

Human-centred design principles
09:30
PANEL DISCUSSION: How can government embed human-centered values in AI development?
  • How can the public sector prioritise human and community needs and values when developing AI tools?
  • How can government utilise AI tools to serve a broad spectrum of the population, including individuals with disabilities and those from diverse socio-economic backgrounds?
  • How can human-centred design principles be implemented in AI tools to improve their effectiveness in public services?
  • What challenges and opportunities arise in aligning AI development with the diverse needs and values of different communities?

Moderator:

Lucy Poole
General Manager – Digital Strategy, Architecture and Discovery
Digital Transformation Agency

Panellists:

Dr Kameron Christopher
Director - Data Science and Research Service
Australian Institute of Marine Science

Suneetha Bodduluri PSM
Director - Information Technology
Service NSW

Dr Tom Gao
Chief Technology and Digital Services Officer
City of Sydney

Rob Sewell
Chief Information Officer
nbn Australia

10:20
Morning Tea and Networking
Embracing the future public sector workplace
11:00
Adapting to a generative AI-powered public sector workplace
  • Evaluating how generative AI is reshaping job roles and tasks within the public sector
  • Highlighting the demand shift from routine tasks to more strategic, analytical responsibilities
  • Examining the development of new roles and collaborations between AI systems and public service workers to enhance job satisfaction and service delivery

Sharon Bowman
Manager – Technology and Transformation
Hornsby Shire Council

Creating a fair and effective public service through AI
11:30
Harnessing responsible AI for a fair and effective public service
  • Implementing inclusive, stakeholder-decided multi-dimensional trade-offs between fairness, privacy, accuracy, and other factors
  • Establishing clear oversight mechanisms and audit trails to enhance trust and reliability in public sector AI systems
  • Providing explainable AI and decision-making criteria to increase public understanding and acceptance of AI-driven services

Dr Liming Zhu
Research Director – Software and Computational Systems
CSIRO

12:10
Lunch and Networking
Findings from the NSW Ombudsman Report
13:10
Insights from the NSW Ombudsman’s report into generative AI and the public service

Join Professor Kimberlee Weatherall, Professor of Law, University of Sydney, ADM+S Chief Investigator, for an insightful session examining the NSW Ombudsman’s latest report on the use of Generative AI within the public service. This discussion examines key findings, ethical considerations, and practical recommendations to ensure transparency, accountability, and the responsible deployment of AI technologies in the public sector.

Professor Kimberlee Weatherall
Professor of Law
University of Sydney

13:50
Partner Session
What can government learn from the private sector?
14:10
LIVE FIRESIDE CHAT: Lessons from the private sector with special guest Ben Burge, Department of Unresolved and Meaningful Problems, Telstra

Join us for an exclusive live 1-on-1 session spotlighting what the public sector can learn from the private sector about doing business in the age of generative AI. You’ll gain invaluable knowledge on the role generative AI can play in fostering a culture of innovation and transformation in the Australian public sector.

Facilitator:

Susan Gibson
Head of Data Analytics and AI
University of Technology Sydney

Special Guest:

Ben Burge
Department of Unresolved and Meaningful Problems
Telstra

15:00
Afternoon Tea and Networking
Achieving regulatory compliance and reliability
15:30
Ensuring legal and regulatory compliance in public sector data management
  • Maintaining a deep understanding of the relevant laws and regulations governing the use of sensitive, personal, and classified information
  • Ensuring ongoing training programs are structured to keep APS employees abreast of the latest legal changes and policy updates to foster a culture of compliance and responsibility
  • Utilising effective strategies to ensure adherence to privacy and security policies to maintain the highest data protection standards

Christina Graves
Special Counsel
MinterEllison

16:00
PANEL DISCUSSION: How can the public service ensure reliability and safety in AI systems?
  • What essential principles should be considered when designing AI systems to ensure their reliability to perform their intended tasks?
  • What sort of testing and validation processes should be integrated into developing AI systems to prevent unforeseen risk exposure?
  • What strategies can be employed for the ongoing monitoring and maintenance of AI systems to sustain their reliability and safety?
  • How can agencies and departments balance the need for innovation in AI system design with ensuring user safety and community trust?

Moderator:

Susan Gibson
Head of Data Analytics and AI
University of Technology Sydney

Panellists:

Andrew Closey
Executive Director - Strategic Corporate Services and Chief Operations Officer
Cenitex

Katherine Boiciuc
Board Member
Bureau of Health Information

Lieutenant Colonel Adam J. Hepworth, PhD
Technical Director – Artificial Intelligence
Australian Army

16:20
Closing remarks from the Chair
16:30
Conference adjourns