The third session in the Thought Leadership Series, hosted by the Trans–Tasman Business Circle in partnership with Adobe, brought together senior leaders for a focused discussion on data sovereignty and governance in the public sector. The roundtable explored the complexities of data ownership, ethical data use and the governance frameworks required to support responsible AI and digital transformation.

The conversation examined AI and the human-in-the-loop, drawing on a Payments NZ perspective on moving from identification to integrity. Leaders also discussed the importance of treating data as relational rather than transactional, particularly in relation to Indigenous data, and embedding cultural safety and ethical considerations into systems from the outset.

The session highlighted the need for human-led AI, consent-led data ecosystems and stronger cross-sector collaboration, providing practical perspectives on building trusted, responsible and culturally informed approaches to data governance.