Public Engagement and Advocacy
Taking the AI debate to Parliament, the newsroom, and the organisations adopting AI
New Zealand is lagging behind on adopting AI responsibly. I try to improve that through science communication, explaining what the technology can and cannot do in plain language, saying publicly when policy falls short, and helping the organisations adopting AI to do it responsibly. Over the past three years that has added up to more than 150 media engagements, a dozen long-form articles, an open letter to Parliament, and starting a consultancy.
The open letter to Parliament
In September 2025, with Chris McGavin (LensenMcGavin AI) and Dr Cassandra Mudgway (Faculty of Law, University of Canterbury), I launched an open letter calling on Parliament to regulate AI using a risk-based approach: oversight that scales with the potential for harm, in place of the light-touch stance of the national AI strategy. The launch was covered by TVNZ Breakfast, RNZ, The Press, BusinessDesk, and The Spinoff. Read it, and consider adding your signature!
Writing
I write op-eds for venues such as The Conversation, RNZ, the NZ Herald, and The Post. These have covered a range of topics: whether AI could play a role in sentencing (2022), political leaders ignoring the threats of AI (2023), AI and jobs and the Government all but ruling out regulation (2024), a national AI strategy long on economic opportunity and short on managing risk (2025), and in 2026 sexualised deepfakes, AI in election campaigns, and a Christchurch Call for AI. The full list is at the top of the media page. Several are republished here without a paywall: AI: For Who?, The Great AI Slop, Judith Collins has all but ruled out AI regulation, and AI is already taking NZ jobs.
Expert commentary
I am a regular source for journalists covering AI in Aotearoa. I appear on RNZ regularly, across Morning Report, Checkpoint, Nine to Noon, and The Panel, as well as in the NZ Herald, The Post, Stuff, Newsroom, BusinessDesk, and TVNZ's 1News, Q+A, and Breakfast. I also provide expert reactions through the Science Media Centre. Subjects range from AI job losses and the Government's AI strategy to AI hallucinations/bullshitting, fake AI news pages on Facebook, and what students fear about their futures. The media page lists all these engagements.
Consultancy: LensenMcGavin AI
Advocacy is one half of the picture; the other is helping organisations do this well. With Chris McGavin I co-direct LensenMcGavin AI, a consultancy that helps New Zealand organisations, particularly in the public sector, adopt AI responsibly: understanding what a system can and cannot do, where the risks sit, and what good governance looks like in practice. If your organisation needs independent, plain-spoken advice on AI, get in touch through lm-ai.nz.
Speaking engagements
I have some availability for keynotes, panel discussions, workshops, and guest lectures for conferences, industry and government audiences, and community groups. Topics I speak on regularly:
- What AI actually is, and what it is not, for non-technical audiences
- AI regulation and policy in Aotearoa, and how we compare with the rest of the world
- Deepfakes, misinformation, and AI in elections
- AI, jobs, and the future of work
- Explainable and trustworthy AI, and why it matters for public decision-making
- AI in conservation and interdisciplinary research
To enquire, email me with the event, audience, date, and format. I do charge a speaking fee for corporate clients, but can usually speak for free for not-for-profits or community organisations.
Recognition
- 2026 Critic and Conscience of Society Award, Universities New Zealand — Te Pōkai Tara, sponsored by the Gama Foundation. The award recognises academics who act as the critic and conscience of society.
- 2026 Ki te Pae Connection, Collaboration and Community Excellence Award, Victoria University of Wellington
- 2025 Rising AI Star, Aotearoa AI Awards, AI Forum New Zealand