AI Governance, Privacy and Public Trust: Getting the Foundations Right

AI and data are opening new possibilities for faster, smarter and more responsive government services.

But as adoption grows, so does the responsibility to be clear about how information is collected, used and protected. For agencies exploring AI-enabled services and more data-driven decision-making, privacy, fairness and explainability cannot be added at the end. They need to be built into the work from the beginning.

That challenge will be front and centre at Government Innovation Showcase Western Australia 2026 in the panel discussion “Privacy, Data and AI Governance, Transparency and Trust.”

Overview page | Agenda page | Registration page

The session will bring together leaders working across records, data and information governance to examine how WA agencies can pursue innovation while maintaining the confidence of the people they serve.

Featured speakers include:

• Damian Shepherd, State Archivist and Executive Director, State Records Office
• Sonya Sherman, Director Data Governance, Office of Digital Government, Department of the Premier and Cabinet
• Anu Sutharshan, A/Director Information Governance | Business Information Systems, Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA

The panel will explore some of the most important questions facing agencies as AI use expands:

• How can government make AI use more transparent and accountable?
• What does responsible governance look like inside everyday public sector workflows?
• How can agencies protect privacy while still making better use of data?
• Which guardrails and frameworks are needed to support confident adoption?
• How do culture and leadership shape ethical AI use?
• How can automated decisions deliver efficiency without losing fairness or explainability?

These are practical questions, not distant policy issues. They affect how systems are designed, how decisions are made and how confidently agencies can move from small-scale experimentation to wider adoption.

Good data governance sits at the centre of that work. AI is only as useful as the information behind it, and agencies need a clear understanding of what data they hold, how reliable it is, who can access it and how it can be used appropriately.

Trust also depends on more than technical controls. People need to understand when AI is being used, what role it plays in a decision and where responsibility ultimately sits. Clear governance helps agencies create that visibility while giving teams the confidence to innovate within sensible boundaries.

Across the Showcase

This panel forms part of a full day focused on the next phase of public sector innovation across Western Australia.

Across keynotes, panel discussions, fireside chats and interactive roundtables, attendees will explore:

• WA’s Digital Strategy 2026–2030
• practical AI use cases across government
• data sharing, governance and responsible adoption
• digital service experience and public confidence
• shared State Digital Assets
• digital health and connected systems
• regional connectivity and inclusion
• workforce capability for the AI era
• modern technology and data foundations

For professionals working across data, AI, privacy, records, digital services, ICT, policy, governance and transformation, the Showcase offers a valuable opportunity to hear what other agencies are doing, compare approaches and take practical ideas back to their teams.

Government Innovation Showcase Western Australia 2026 takes place on Tuesday, 25 August 2026. Registration is free for government attendees.

Overview page | Agenda page | Registration page