We are hosting a panel discussion on the Ethics of Data and AI for the April meeting of the WA Branch of the Statistical Society of Australia.

The three panellists are Dr Julia Powles, Dr Michael Rubin, and Natalia Kacperek. Dr Fiona Scarff will facilitate the discussion, and questions will be asked from the floor.

Date: Tuesday, 15 April 2025
Time: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Location: Great Southern Room, Level 4, State Library of Western Australia, Perth Cultural Centre, 25 Francis Street, Perth.

Please note that this event will not be recorded or streamed online.

Panel Discussion

The Ethics of Data and AI

We hope this event will stimulate those who spend much time analysing data to think deeply and constructively about navigating ethical conflicts, especially in this age of big data and powerful machine-learning models. The focus will be mostly on 'weak AI', i.e., the kinds of models that already exist, rather than future superhuman intelligence.

Topics put to the panelists will include:

• Bias, fairness, and transparency in models and decision making.
• Privacy, ownership, and permission to use data.
• Diversity and inclusion in training models.
• Moral responsibility for AI failures.
• How do we decide upon what is ethically right?
• Role of legislation and regulation.

About the Panelists

• Dr Julia Powles (UWA Tech and Policy Lab)

Julia Powles is a law professor known for her work on privacy, intellectual property, and the law and politics of data, automation, and artificial intelligence. In 2019 she co-founded the Tech Impact Network and UWA Tech & Policy Lab, bringing together researchers at the edge of both tech development and tech regulation. 

• Dr Michael Rubin (UWA Discipline of Philosophy)

Michael Rubin is a lecturer at UWA. His area of research specialisation is metaethics, which concerns questions about the objectivity of morality. His contact with the issues related to artificial intelligence is mostly through teaching: his introduction to ethics unit includes four weeks that cover ethical issues related to digital technology.

• Natalia Kacperek (Department of Premier and Cabinet).

Natalia is the Chief Data Officer of Department of Premier and Cabinet’s Data Unit, which works collaboratively across the Western Australian public sector to use data to tackle the most complex social, health, environmental and economic issues. Prior to this, Natalia drove the strategic use of information throughout a number of roles in policy, strategy, and analytics. She is passionate about the potential data has to unlock insights that lead to better decisions. 

Meeting directions

This meeting is in the Great Southern Room on Level 4 of the State Library of Western Australia. The library is in the Perth Cultural Centre just north of Perth Train Station.

The Great Southern Room is accessed via a lift to the third floor, followed by two flights of stairs. The use of the staff lift is available by arrangement for those with mobility restrictions.

The State Library is a strictly no-smoking venue.

The area has numerous parking options, including on-street parking and underneath the library in the CPP State Library accessed from 15 Francis Street, Northbridge. An alternative car park is the CPP Cultural Centre, whose entrance is at 2 Roe Street, Northbridge.

Refreshments

Members, visitors, and guests are invited to mingle over light refreshments from 5:45 PM.

Dinner

Following the meeting, everyone is invited to dine with the panellists and fellow attendees at a nearby restaurant.

Registration

Please register your interest to attend to help with logistics and catering.

For further information, please contact the WA Branch Secretary (ssa.wa.secretary@gmail.com).