AI in the Victorian public purpose sector

IPAA Victoria’s hub for insightful AI knowledge in the sector. Explore vodcasts, podcasts, articles, and resources that unpack what AI adoption really means for the Victorian public purpose sector.

Behind the glossy reports and vendor pitches, what does real AI implementation look like in government? 

Professor Eduard Hovy: AI, trust and human‑centred government

In this episode of Real Talk: AI in the VPS, Kate Fraser sits down with Professor Eduard Hovy, Executive Director of Melbourne Connect and Professor at the University of Melbourne to explore how generative AI is reshaping the Victorian public purpose sector.

Professor Hovy shares insights from his collaboration with the Victorian Coroner’s Court, demonstrating how AI can process complex, sensitive material at scale while keeping human judgement at the centre. The conversation also dives into emerging VPS applications, from multilingual government avatars to productivity tools and cross‑agency innovations, and unpacks new research into steering vectors, a technique designed to reduce bias and hallucinations in large language models.

He also reflects on the sector’s cultural shift from “fear to fluency,” emphasising that AI is augmenting, not replacing, public sector expertise, and that careful, incremental adoption is essential to maintaining public trust.

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Flipping the script: how reverse mentoring is driving tech adoption

IPAA Victoria’s Executive Director, Program Delivery, Kate Fraser, sits down with engineering and technology leader Dr Bronwyn Evans AM to explore how reverse mentoring is helping organisations navigate rapid technological change. Drawing on decades of experience across engineering, standards, advanced manufacturing and AI, Bronwyn shares her insights into how younger, digitally fluent professionals can challenge assumptions, strengthen leadership capability and accelerate responsible tech adoption.

Through real examples spanning governance, innovation, intergenerational collaboration and culture change, this conversation offers a grounded, human perspective on why reverse mentoring is becoming a strategic tool for the public purpose sector.

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YIPAA (Young IPAA): AI in the hands of young professionals - practical ways to embed AI for daily efficiency

This episode of Real Talk: AI in the VPS brings together three young public purpose professionals from our Young Professional network (YIPAA), Nikolai Sas, Lucy Kelly and Mia Sieber, for an open chat about how AI is showing up in their day‑to‑day work.

Interviewed by Kate Fraser, they share real examples of where AI is already helping with things like accessibility, analysis and quicker decision‑making, and they’re honest about the cultural and ethical questions teams are still working through. It’s a grounded perspective at what’s possible right now, without the hype. What really stands out is how early‑career professionals are leading the way, sharing use cases, building confidence across their teams and helping shape what responsible adoption looks like in the VPS.

If you’re curious about how AI is actually being used on the ground, this conversation is a refreshing, real‑world view of the opportunities and the work still ahead.

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John Batho: AI, customer‑centric design and the future of government services

In this episode of Real Talk: AI in the VPS we explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way government works. Host Kate Fraser sits down with John Batho, Deputy Secretary of Digital and Government Services, for a frank discussion on the opportunities and challenges of AI in the Victorian Public Service (VPS).

The conversation goes beyond technology to focus on people, governance and trust. John shares examples of AI already delivering value, including secure tools designed for public servants, and highlights why a human-centred approach is critical. They unpack what responsible AI looks like, the skills needed in an AI-enabled workplace, and the role of collaboration across jurisdictions. If you’re interested in how AI can improve services while maintaining integrity and social licence, this episode offers insights, real-world examples and a clear vision for the future.

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Máiréad Doyle: AI, elections and disinformation

In the first episode of Real Talk: AI in the VPS we speak to Máiréad Doyle. In 2024, Máiréad received a Churchill Fellowship to investigate how AI technology influences the spread of misinformation and disinformation during elections. Her report, published in September 2025, examined global use of AI in election disinformation and offered recommendations for Australian government bodies. These insights are the focus of today’s episode.

Máiréad recently retired as Executive Director, Governance & Enabling Services at the Victorian Electoral Commission, where she led corporate strategy, planning and governance. A chartered mechanical engineer, she built a 30-year career in executive leadership across private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

 

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Public Sector Perspectives: AI, policy and practice with Dr Steve Hodgkinson

In this episode Public Sector Perspectives, Dr Steve Hodgkinson talks about the potential impacts of AI on the way the public sector works.

Drawing on his long experience in the sector, including his current position as Chief Digital Officer for Victoria Police, Steve offers some very practical advice on how public servants can safely use the new tools that AI creates and the sort of the traps that you need to avoid. Whilst it’s tempting to see AI is being totally new and different, Steve argues that AI is still just IT and that many of the IT policies and procedures that we have built in the past are still relevant in the AI-enabled workplace.

 

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