Built on Independence. Driven by Professionals. Accountable to the Nation.
AIAA is Australia's independent professional body for artificial intelligence — built by practitioners, governed by Australia's most respected leaders, and accountable to the nation it serves. This is who we are, why we exist, and who leads us.
Incorporated in Australia. Led by distinguished practitioners. Built for every professional who uses, leads or answers for AI.
Why we exist.
Artificial Intelligence is now one of the most important drivers of future productivity, competitiveness and institutional capability. It is reshaping how organisations operate, how professionals work, how services are delivered and how value is created.
The Artificial Intelligence Australasian Association (AIAA) has been established as an independent, not-for-profit professional association to help Australia and the broader Asian region adopt AI with confidence, discipline and purpose.
Through education, accreditation, AI Standards of Practice, member guidance, thought leadership and cross-sector collaboration, AIAA supports the practical, ethical and high-value use of AI across business, government, the professions, SMEs, education and the broader workforce.
Distinguished Leaders Shaping Australia's AI Future
AIAA's Governing Council brings together some of Australia's most respected leaders from business, government, academia and public policy — providing strategic guidance, credibility and accountability to the institution.
Hon. Arthur Sinodinos AO
CHAIR · GOVERNING COUNCIL
Managing Partner, Asia Group and Chair, Hypersonic. Former Ambassador of Australia to the United States and Cabinet Secretary. Nine years as Chief of Staff to Prime Minister John Howard. Senior roles at Goldman Sachs JBWere and National Australia Bank.
"The scarce asset is not access to tools — it is the institutional capability to use them safely, productively and at scale."
Tony Shepherd AO
GOVERNING COUNCIL
Chairman of Infrastructure SA. Director Virgin Airlines Australia, Chair and Entertainment Quarter pioneer of major private infrastructure including the Sydney Harbour Tunnel, EastLink and WestConnex. Former President of the Business Council of Australia.
"Having contributed to Australia's critical infrastructures for decades, now is the time to focus on AI Human Capital Infrastructure as a critical success factor for our nation."
Hon. Warwick Smith AO
GOVERNING COUNCIL
Chairman, Ord Minnett; Chairman and Advisory Board Member, Australian Capital Equity; Chair, Business Council's Global Engagement Committee. Former Federal Minister and one of Australia's most respected business leaders. Former Executive Director of Macquarie Bank, Managing Director of ANZ and Chairman of ANZ China.
"AI is a central driver of economic competitiveness and national resilience."
Prof. Dacheng Tao
GOVERNING COUNCIL
World-leading AI researcher and Distinguished University Professor at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Internationally recognised in machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Paul Nicolaou
GOVERNING COUNCIL
Executive Director, Business Sydney. Twenty-five years in senior management and stakeholder engagement. Named in The Power 100 list of Australia's most influential business figures.
George Venardos
GOVERNING COUNCIL
Former Chairman of IOOF and former Chief Financial Officer of Insurance Australia Group. Deep governance and financial leadership experience across major Australian institutions.
Kathleen Warden
GOVERNING COUNCIL
CEO AIG, Director AIGAL and AIG NZ, former roles include senior executive roles at Berklshire Hathaway Insurance & Berkley Australia Insurance. Known for her collaborative, people-centred leadership, Kathleen has joined AIAA's Governing Council to help accelerate practical, responsible AI adoption and ensure Australia is not left behind.
"Responsible AI adoption is essential to ensuring Australia is not left behind."
$75 hold · Refundable if not accepted · Deducted from first year
Co-Founders and Executive Leadership
AIAA's executive team combines deep AI, governance, finance, strategy and industry expertise — driving program oversight, partnerships and national initiatives.
Zia Qureshi
PRINCIPAL CO-FOUNDER · EXECUTIVE CHAIR
Three decades contributing to business transformation and AI implementation, including work with PwC World Firm (USA), IBM, NASA, Microsoft and PwC. A key founder of AIAA and one of Australia's most experienced business-transformation leaders.
David Waterhouse
CO-FOUNDER · AI STRATEGY & THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
30+ years in space and technology sectors. Co-Founder and Deputy Chairman of Hypersonix Launch Systems. Former C-suite roles at PCCW, Cable & Wireless, Telkom and Telstra. Fellow of Engineers Australia.
Jasmine Antonious
CO-FOUNDER · STRATEGIC PLANNING & EXECUTION
A trusted adviser to senior leaders across financial services including ANZ, Macquarie Bank and KPMG. Recognised for building influential relationships, navigating complexity and turning strategy into action.
Dr Christy Jie Liang
CO-FOUNDER · TECHNICAL AGENDA & STANDARDS
Associate Professor at UTS, leading the Data Visualisation Research Lab. Leads AIAA's accreditation criteria, AI standards of practice and assurance frameworks. Doctorate in Data Visual Analytics.
Patrick Hanna
MEMBER SERVICES & INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT
Advisory consultant to mining companies worldwide with 50+ years assessing 150+ mining projects. Fellow of AusIMM. Former Executive Director of an ASX-listed company. Leading AIAA's industry pilot programme.
Max Lloyd Jones
GOVERNANCE & ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Decades of strategic and operational experience across Australia and internationally. Senior executive career at DuPont; clients include BHP, Rio Tinto, BP Australia, Chevron and FMG.
Mark Guest
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Chartered Accountant and finance executive with expertise in governance, financial management, risk oversight and organisational development. Key role in AIAA's governance and constitutional framework.
Professional and national.
AIAA's mission is both professional and national — to deliver real value to members while helping build a stronger platform for Australia's productivity, competitiveness and long-term economic resilience.
At its core, AIAA is about preparing people and organisations for the AI era — ensuring AI is adopted not only quickly but also wisely, responsibly, and in ways that strengthen Australia's future success.
Six pillars. One national capability.
AIAA delivers its mission through six integrated pillars — combining workforce capability, accreditation, standards, collaboration and measurable outcomes into a single trusted platform.
AI fundamentals, executive & board education, professional development and CPD.
A dedicated AI accreditation framework supporting trusted career pathways.
Responsible AI frameworks, governance models and ethical implementation guidelines.
Specialist centres across healthcare, finance, mining, government, education, agriculture, legal and cyber.
Government, industry, academia, technology providers and professional bodies — as one platform.
Workforce capability, productivity, governance, SME participation and competitiveness.
$75 hold · Refundable if not accepted · Deducted from first year
A defining moment.
Artificial intelligence is no longer a technology question. It is a capability question.
Australia has access to AI tools. What it lacks — and what AIAA is here to build — is the institutional infrastructure to use those tools safely, confidently and at scale. The professional standards. The trusted credentials. The governance frameworks. The peer community.
AIAA is the missing capability layer. Independent, member-driven, and built for the long term — because Australia's AI future cannot be left to vendors, one-off programs or fragmented initiatives.
The challenge is not access to AI. The challenge is adoption. And AIAA exists to solve it.
AI as a tool for inclusion.
AIAA has been established as a national public benefit institution. We treat Corporate Social Responsibility as a core component of our operating model — ensuring AI becomes a tool for inclusion rather than exclusion.
A scalable national delivery framework.
AIAA combines digital delivery, professional education, accreditation, industry collaboration, research and standards development — balanced for speed, governance and quality.
Establishment
- Digital member platform
- Knowledge repository
- Accreditation frameworks
- Governance structures
- Early Centres of Excellence
Expansion
- National rollout of accreditation
- Corporate membership expansion
- Strategic partnerships
- Research initiatives
- Government engagement
National Capability Platform
- Broad workforce capability
- Industry-wide standards adoption
- National benchmarking
- Regional & community access
- International engagement
"A defining national capability."
Artificial Intelligence is not simply a technology shift; it is a defining national capability that will shape Australia's productivity, competitiveness and future prosperity.
AIAA has been established as a strategic initiative to help Australia and the broader Asian region respond to this opportunity with confidence, discipline and purpose. Its role is to support practical AI adoption across professions, business and government through education, accreditation, standards of practice and trusted cross-sector collaboration.
For more than three decades, I have been privileged to contribute to major business, technology and nation-building initiatives, including work with leading Australian and international institutions, cross-sector industry collaboration, and pioneering international work in professional standards and capability development. AIAA builds on that same commitment: helping strengthen Australia's institutional capability for the future.
Our vision is to create a trusted professional body for the AI era — one that equips members, organisations and leaders to use AI responsibly, productively and in ways that advance Australia's long-term success.
Be Part of the Institution Setting Australia's AI Standard
Founding Member positions are now open. Shape the standards, councils and accreditation criteria before the market is set. Founding pricing — $499/yr for fully certified members, is available only during the pre-launch, early bird cohort. Similar savings for all levels of founding members.
$75 hold fee · Refundable if not accepted · Deducted from first year