GRADIENT INSTITUTE - Key Persons
Alberto Chierici is an accomplished entrepreneur, scientist, and investor with over a decade of expertise in data science, natural language processing, conversational AI, and product management. Holding a Ph.D. in Computer Science from NYU, his research focused on dialogue systems and human-computer interaction. As a seasoned professional, he supports and empowers founders, helping to shape the vision and trajectory of tech-driven products.
Alberto is the author of The Ethics of AI: Facts, Fictions, and Forecasts, a thought-provoking exploration of the ethical implications of artificial intelligence. His career includes founding and co-founding companies in the InsurTech and AI sectors, earning multiple industry accolades for delivering innovative customer experiences. Passionate about mentoring, advising, and consulting, Alberto is an advocate for ethical AI and strives to advance the field with integrity and insight.
Job Titles:
- Head of Research Engineering
Alistair's path into AI began with an undergraduate thesis on flight control using neural networks, and he went on to complete a PhD with the Australian Centre for Field Robotics using machine learning algorithms to enhance imagery from unmanned aircraft (2011). He holds a BE/BSc from the University of Sydney (2007) with the university medal in aeronautical engineering, and majors in physics and computer science.
Alistair has diverse experience developing AI solutions for application domains such as geophysics, demographic forecasting and education. As AI systems are increasingly used to make consequential decisions that impact people, he wants to ensure that they are used responsibly.
At Gradient Institute, Alistair has contributed to influential publications such as the Australian Human Rights commission report on algorithmic bias, and engaged with government and internationally with organisations in the banking, sales and recruitment sectors to train key staff, audit high risk AI systems and to develop AI governance frameworks and policy.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive
- Member of the Executive Board
Bill is co-founder and Chief Executive of Gradient Institute.
He has spent more than 25 years building teams of researchers, software engineers and product designers to develop novel techniques, technologies and products and get these into widespread use. He started as a software engineer and research assistant in machine learning (ML), working on the c4.5 software, one of the world's first ML technologies used commercially.
He has led R&D for global technology companies (Canon and Unisys) and government-funded research institutions (CSIRO and NICTA) and been on the executive teams of three leading Australian science and technology organisations (Canon Information Systems Research Australia - CiSRA, NICTA and CSIRO's Data61).
Before co-founding Gradient Institute, he was Director of Engineering and Design at Data61 where he led a team of 100 data scientists, engineers, user experience designers and product managers, developing new techniques, technologies and products. This included work in areas incuding ML (including ethically-aware ML), data privacy, computational law, geospatial systems and more.
He designed and taught a Masters course in IT Innovation at University of Sydney for seven years to 2016 covering topics such as technology life cycles, disruptive innovation, open innovation, open source strategies, organisational culture for innovation and innovation ecosystems.
Bill is on the Australian Government's interim AI expert group, the NSW Government's AI Review Committee and the Australian National University's Computing Advisory Board. He has also sat on several government data-related committees influencing approaches to data sharing, data privacy, data analytics and open data. He has degrees in computer science, history of art and cognitive science.
Job Titles:
- Data and AI Risk and Ethics Principal
Senior Lecturer | School of Economics, Finance and Marketing | RMIT University
Dr. Ali Akbari, a seasoned professional in artificial intelligence and robotics, brings a background in software engineering. With an MSc in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics and a Ph.D. in Computer Vision from the Tokyo Institute of Technology, his engineering perspective ensures practical implementation and benefits realisation for AI systems.
With over two decades of commercial experience at organisations like Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Unisys, and KPMG, Ali has been instrumental in conceptualising, building, and operationalising AI systems across various industries. Having lived and worked in Japan and Australia, he offers a unique global perspective.
His expertise extends to project delivery in diverse international settings, including Australia, New Zealand, East-Asian countries, and collaborative work in Europe and the US. Throughout his career, Ali has left a mark in industries spanning manufacturing, banking, audit, public sector, border protection, and biometrics management.
Notably, Ali led the development of KPMG's Trustworthy AI Model in collaborative research with the University of Queensland and most recently the implementation of the NSW AI Assurance Framework at Transport for NSW. Currently serving as an AI Committee member for Standards Australia, he showcases dedication to advancing the field while ensuring ethical and standardised practices.
Elija is a research fellow working with Gradient Institute, the ANU, the University of Sydney and IAG on the ARC-funded Linkage project "Socially responsible insurance in the age of artificial intelligence".
Elija is a doctoral candidate at the Centre for Quantum Software and Information at the University of Technology Sydney. Elija's doctoral research focuses on the field of quantum machine learning, including quantum algorithm design, geometric and statistical learning theory and quantum control. He has a multi-disciplinary background, holding an LLB / BA (Hons) (English/Cultural & Communication Studies) from Murdoch University along with a BSc (Physics/Mathematics) (Hons) & BA (Economics/Philosophy) from the University of Sydney. He is a practising lawyer, and has worked as a research assistant in the School of Economics at the University of Sydney, a tutor in constitutional law and jurisprudence at Macquarie University and as a data scientist focusing on political science. Elija has published research on computer science, public policy and a range of other topics and has presented research at a number of conferences nationally and internationally.
Job Titles:
- Australian Information Commissioner and Head of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner ( OAIC )
Job Titles:
- Non - Executive Board Member
Job Titles:
- Researcher
- Researcher in AI Safety
Liam Carroll is a Researcher in AI Safety at the Gradient Institute, jointly funded by Timaeus. His work focuses on building tools for AI safety assurance using Singular Learning Theory (SLT). Liam completed a Master's in Mathematics at the University of Melbourne in 2021, where he produced a thesis under Dr. Daniel Murfet on Phase Transitions in Neural Networks, exploring how SLT can explain the generalisation capabilities of neural networks.
Prior to joining Gradient, Liam was an independent researcher funded by Lightspeed Grants, focusing on Developmental Interpretability (DevInterp). In this time he co-authored papers studying the stagewise development and essential dynamics of linear regression and language transformer models, and wrote numerous blog posts distilling SLT and DevInterp for the AI safety community. He has also been a Research Assistant with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADMS), where he developed a music recommender simulation using ChatGPT.
At Gradient Institute, Liam is dedicated to translating ethical AI principles into practical applications, contributing to the responsible development and deployment of AI systems through his research and facilitation of courses. He wants to ensure that increasingly powerful AI systems are both beneficial and safe for society. His perspective is informed by his somewhat unique and diverse background as a hiking guide in Tasmania's wilderness, and as a teacher in music and mathematics. This combination of technical expertise and real-world experience shapes his approach to AI safety and ethics, as he works to bridge the gap between theoretical understanding and practical implementation of AI safety measures.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor, Human Technology Institute, UTS
Job Titles:
- Head of School, Law, Society and Criminology, Faculty of Law & Justice, UNSW Sydney
Job Titles:
- Chief Scientist, UNSW AI Institute, Scientia Professor of Artificial Intelligence - School of Computer Science & Engineering, UNSW Sydney
Job Titles:
- Business Operations Manager
Sarah is a highly skilled and analytical professional with extensive experience in management, operations, consultancy, and advisory roles. She is committed to promoting ethics, diversity, fairness, and responsible technology. Throughout her career, Sarah has worked and led teams in major cities such as Sydney, New York City, and London, gaining invaluable knowledge and expertise.
Sarah holds a post-graduate degree with distinction in Business Management and Marketing from Deakin University in Australia, as well as a diploma from the United Nations (UNAA NSW Dip.).
Her interests include responsible artificial intelligence, sustainability & humanitarian causes. Sarah firmly believes that by promoting safe and ethical practices in AI, we can develop strong leadership teams, build sustainable and responsible AI operations, and mitigate the risks posed by this rapidly evolving technology. Her ultimate goal is to contribute to a world where responsible AI is at the forefront of technological advancement.
Job Titles:
- Head of Technical AI Governance
Simon has 15 years of experience in developing and applying machine learning techniques to help solve challenging problems across a diverse set of domains including robotics, urban planning and geophysics. He has a degree in electrical engineering and a PhD in computer science.
At Gradient, Simon now focuses on turning ethical AI principles into realisable practices that help align the behaviour of an organisation's system with their intended purpose. He has overseen the assessment and optimisation of AI systems that impact the lives of millions of individuals.
Simon has co-authored reports with the Australian Human Rights Commission on addressing algorithmic bias, the Minderoo foundation on governance advice for de-risking automated decisions, and CSIRO on implementing responsible AI in business.
Tiberio has spent over 20 years working on machine learning in numerous roles as a student, researcher, academic, entrepreneur and practitioner. He started his research career in theoretical physics as an undergraduate, following with a degree in electrical engineering and a PhD in computer science.
He has published extensively in top-tier academic journals and conferences in machine learning, graduated numerous PhD students, and collaborated widely with researchers from across the world. He held research positions in Brazil, Canada, France, and Australia, including adjunct academic appointments at the ANU, UNSW, and University of Sydney. He spent 10 years at NICTA (now Data61), where he worked as a researcher, research leader, and research group manager in the machine learning group.
In 2013 he co-founded Ambiata, a machine learning company focusing on applying rigorous scientific methodologies for personalised decision-making using machine learning, causal inference and randomised controlled trials. As Ambiata's Chief Scientist, he led the design of decision-making algorithms that have touched millions of consumers across several industries, including banking, telecommunications, media, insurance, and retail, spanning personalised decisions from pricing and credit scoring to advertisement and product configuration. Ambiata was later acquired by Insurance Australia Group.
Tiberio is the Chief Scientist of Gradient Institute, an Honorary Professor at the ANU, and an advisor for the OECD on AI.
Job Titles:
- Non - Executive Board Member
Job Titles:
- Senior Specialist Role at Gradient
Yaya has a degree in Software Engineering (Honours) from The Australian National University, with a focus on Human-Centric Computing.
During her university, she undertook several college leadership roles, was an academic tutor for five subjects in computer science, and was employed as an intern at Google Australia. She then took on the role of user researcher and then business analyst in the Australian Public Service, focusing on generating user-centric outputs to address Whole-of-Government and agency needs.
In her Senior Specialist role at Gradient, Yaya uses her skills to engage with and run training for clients, raising awareness about ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence. Yaya has always been driven to help people through technology. During early high school, she developed a prototype wheelchair control system using LEGO robotics to assist a man with complete quadriplegia from rural Tasmania. While in Grade 9 she wrote a paper on the project and it was accepted for the 4th Biomedical Engineering Conference (BMEiCON) in Thailand in 2012.
She was sponsored to present her work to schools and audiences across the country, was featured on the ABC 7:30 Report, and was a speaker for Parliament during their Science Meets Parliament campaign. She was also the recipient of the Pride of Australia Award for Young Leader (Tasmania) and was a finalist for the Young Australian of the Year Award in 2013, amongst other accomplishments.
Since then she has been a passionate advocate for bridging the gap between understanding technology and the people who use it, as well as the inherent ethical issues posed by either side. Outside of work, Yaya likes to think of herself as an all-rounder hobbyist and dancer. She leads an adult street dance crew and teaches the dance style "Waacking" (a disco style from the 1970s with a strong LGBT history) in Canberra, Australia.