News

July 2025

ACE Aotearoa Conference 2025

Wed, 2025-07-02 10:06

This year, ACE Aotearoa took a new approach to our annual ACE Conference and Hui Fono, hosting the events back-to-back from June 10–12 in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Our guiding whakataukī — he waka eke noa (we are all in this together) — perfectly captured the spirit of this decision. The shared theme, AI | AI – Bridging Artificial Intelligence and Ancestral Intelligence, wove both events together in a powerful and thoughtprovoking way.

AI, Ethics, and Indigenous Data Sovereignty

Wed, 2025-07-09 10:13

Dr Karaitiana Taiuru
Dr Karaitiana Taiuru, a respected researcher, advocate, and thought leader in technology and Indigenous rights, delivered a powerful keynote address. With over 30 years of experience in the IT sector, Dr Taiuru brings a wealth of knowledge to the complex intersections of artificial intelligence (AI), ethics, and Māori data sovereignty.

The Five AIs

Wed, 2025-07-16 10:19

Jose Roberto ‘Robbie’ Guevara
Robbie Guevara is well known to ACE Aotearoa. He is an educator with extensive experience in adult, community and popular education with a focus on education for sustainable development and global citizenship education. Robbie is an Associate Professor at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia and he is the President of the International Council for Adult Education (ICAE). Robbie was inducted into the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame in October 2012 for his contribution to adult learning in the Asia-Pacific region.

Connection, Footprints, and Love Letters: Shaping Humanity in an AI World

Wed, 2025-07-23 10:26

Lara Draper (General Manager – Adults and Seniors, Deaf Aotearoa) and Peter-Clinton Isaac Foaese (President, Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education)

As the session moved into the panel kōrero, Robbie invited panellists to offer three words each that captured their experience of the conference. These would later be fed back into AI to generate a new visual aimed at demonstrating the bias but also the potential.

AI, Ancestral Intelligence, and the Future of Leadership

Wed, 2025-07-30 10:39

Opening day of the conference featured an experienced line up of panellists to lead the discussion around AI. We were fortunate to have Heidi Renata, Emily Broadmore, Ta’i Richards and Fesaitu Solomone. Each panellist brought a unique perspective to the discussion.