Don't panic. Michelle Barry, a mediation expert and engagement specialist, shares her insights on early employee engagement and navigating workplace conflict that comes with AI driven change.

Key topics

• The role of mediation in organizational conflict
• How AI impacts workplace relationships and conflict
• Strategies for early intervention and conflict prevention
• The importance of trust and communication in change management
• The evolving role of middle managers in AI-driven workplaces
• Ethical considerations and governance in AI deployment
• Practical tips for leaders to support their teams during change
• The potential and limitations of AI in mediation processes

Episode Navigation

03:10 Michele's journey to Mediation expert

07:09 What is Workplace Mediation?

10:51 How does AI contribute to effective Mediation?

13:19 A case study in AI generated workplace conflict

19:51 Michele's advice to successfully navigate potential conflicts

21:55 What can be done to prevent things getting nasty?

24:15 Isolation and changing role of middle managers

29:34 How do you keep up with AI inundation?

32:31 So what are the steps towards a successful mediation?

35:58 Could AI play a role in mediation?

38:19 Not every problem needs an AI solution

42:10 Where is AI being used in the Boardroom?

43:30 What advice would you give to your younger self?

45:42 Michele's Famous Quote

How to find Michele Barry

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-barry/

Website: https://frontis.com.au/

HITCHHIKERS GUIDE TO AI GOVERNANCE

Your trusty companion to navigating AI Governance in Australia and across the galaxy.

Hosted by AI Governance specialist, Bruce Mullan.

Contact us: info@aigovernancepartners.com.au

Visit our website: www.aigovernancepartners.com.au

Join us. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news, articles, events and podcasts about all things AI: https://hhgtaig.substack.com/

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So long and thanks for all the listening.

AI governance, mediation, conflict resolution, organizational change, leadership, workplace culture, AI in HR, AI ethics, stakeholder engagement, change management

Don't panic. In our next episode, Michelle Barry, a mediation expert and engagement specialist, shares her insights on early employee engagement and navigating workplace conflict that comes with AI driven change.

In this preview, Michele reflects on how people can respond when they fear AI or organisational change might threaten their jobs. When fear sets in, leaders need to offer more than reassurance. They need to create the trust and space for honest conversations about what comes next.

To get notified when our latest episode drops, make sure you follow the show!

AI governance, mediation, conflict resolution, organizational change, leadership, workplace culture, AI in HR, AI ethics, stakeholder engagement, change management

Don't panic. Sarah Barnbrook, a socio technologist and CEO of Xallarap, discusses the critical issues surrounding AI ethics, and safety. She shares insights on AI risks, discusses tragic cases in unsafe technology use, the importance of proactive regulation, and her innovative assessment tool, ALT-TAB, to help organizations navigate AI deployment responsibly.

Sarah is CEO and Founder of Xallarap - an AI implementation and ethics consultancy helping organisations understand what they actually need from technology, what solutions already exist, and how to implement it safely and effectively.

Sarah also created Alt-TAB a free-to-use pre-deployment AI ethics assessment tool used by organisations globally.

EPISODE NAVIGATION

04:56 Reflections on September 11

07:56 When things are never the same again

12:18 Big Tech's Accountability in Social Media

15:34 The Chemisphere and Human Connection

20:58 Darker Aspects of Technology (Content Warning)

21:58 The Dangers of Emotional Manipulation in Technology

25:52 The Influence of Algorithms on Social Behavior

30:54 Government Control and Technology's Ethical Use

35:04 Guidance for Parents on AI and Technology

36:29 Guidance for Adults using AI

37:36 Advice for Governments Regulating AI

38:56 ALT-TAB Ethical Assessment Tool for Tech Development

50:46 A Quote on Perseverance

KEY TOPICS

The importance of safety assessments in AI deployment

Risks of AI in society including harm, bias, and misuse

The need for global cooperation and local regulation in AI governance

The impact of AI on vulnerable populations and digital safety

The concept of the chemisphere and face-to-face human connection

The potential for AI to incite violence and societal harm

The importance of ethical design and responsible innovation

Strategies for parents, adults, organizations, and governments to manage AI risks

CONNECTING WITH SARAH BARNBROOK

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarah-barnbrook-263323151

Website: https://xallarap.ai/

Email: sarah@xallarap.ai

See Sarah at Cybercon (14-16 October 2026)

https://melbourne2026.cyberconference.com.au/speakers/sarah-barnbrook-r4am8

Keywords: AI ethics, AI governance, safety assessment, socio technologist, AltTab, AI risks, digital safety, AI regulation, responsible AI, AI tools

HITCHHIKERS GUIDE TO AI GOVERNANCE

Hosted by AI Governance specialist, Bruce Mullan.

Contact us: info@aigovernancepartners.com.au

Visit our website: www.aigovernancepartners.com.au

Join us. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news, articles, events and podcasts about all things AI: https://hhgtaig.substack.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to give us a rating, leave a comment and follow us for more episodes.

So long and thanks for all the listening.

Don't panic. What happens when an organisation spends millions switching on Microsoft Copilot for 9,000 employees without first asking what problem it is solving, what data Copilot can access, how people will use it, or what success looks like?

This episode explores a real-world Copilot deployment that demonstrates how quickly an AI initiative can turn from a productivity opportunity into a privacy, cultural and governance problem. Bruce uses the case study to unpack the three levels of AI use: administration, business-process automation and decision-making, and explains why the risks increase as organisations move from supporting humans to allowing AI to influence or make decisions.

More importantly, this episode challenges the traditional idea of governance as the Department of “no”. Bruce explains how the Australian AI Governance Standard can instead be used as a practical system for deploying AI safely, confidently and at scale. From validating data and testing for unintended consequences to building workforce capability, monitoring outcomes and establishing feedback loops, the message is simple: governance should be a service, not a blocker. If organisations can trust their own guardrails, they can move faster, capture more value from AI and expand its use with greater confidence.

Episode Navigation

00:05 AI Governance Standards and Their Importance

01:53 Case Study: Failed Microsoft Copilot Deployment

07:33 A simple framework for how AI is being used right now

15:06 Australia's AI Governance Standard

18:17 Governance as a performance system, not compliance in isolation

22:32 Applying good governance to a Copilot deployment

30:56 Lessons Learned: What should have happened.

33:43 Governance is the reason to scale AI, not slow it down

Key Takeaways on AI Deployment

1. Investing Wisely: Organizations must evaluate the true cost versus benefits of AI tools, ensuring that there is a solid business case for their implementation.
2. Governance is Crucial: Governance should be integrated early in the deployment process to build trust and enable scaling of AI applications effectively.
3. Understanding AI Levels: Bruce outlined three levels of AI use in organizations: administrative tasks, process workflows, and decision-making. Each level requires different levels of scrutiny and governance to manage risks effectively.
4. Real-World Impact: Bruce shared a success story where AI automation significantly improved invoice processing times, showcasing the potential benefits when governance is properly applied.

HITCHHIKERS GUIDE TO AI GOVERNANCE

Hosted by AI Governance partner, Bruce Mullan, who helps companies confidently adopt the 42 Statements of the Australian AI governance standard.

Contact us: info@aigovernancepartners.com.au

Visit our website: www.aigovernancepartners.com.au

Join us. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news, articles, events and podcasts about all things AI: Newsletter

If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to give us a rating, leave a comment and follow us for more episodes.

So long and thanks for all the listening.

Don't panic. Next week's episode is all about ethical AI with socio-technologist Sarah Barnbrook.

In this clip, the conversation touched on the human implications of AI. In an increasingly digital world, Sarah argues that we’re losing something fundamental: the chemistry of face-to-face human connection. She describes the “chemisphere” as the human-to-human interaction and chemical response that happens when we meet, talk, laugh, share good or bad news, and experience genuine belonging. When that connection is missing, people may seek belonging online, where algorithms can shape what they see, believe and feel, sometimes feeding them increasingly extreme or misleading content. Her message is clear: digital connection can’t fully replace human connection, so we should deliberately create more opportunities to be together face-to-face.

To get the latest episodes, make sure you follow the show!

Email us at info@aigovernancepartners.com.au

AI ethics, AI governance, safety assessment, socio technologist, AltTab, AI risks, digital safety, AI regulation, responsible AI, AI tools

Don't Panic! Today's episode is all about AI and privacy with Keturah Charlesworth, Privacy expert.

AI has emerged as a modern-day enigma. As we navigate through its complexities, a striking observation was made: many people are caught between denial and action regarding their use of AI.

In this episode, Ketchura Charlesworth shares insights on AI governance, privacy laws, shadow AI, and how organisations can navigate the complex landscape of AI use in health and human services.

Topics

• Shadow AI and organizational risk
• Privacy laws and AI compliance in healthcare
• Strategies for AI governance and security
• The impact of AI on health and human services
• Admitting and managing AI-related pain and vulnerabilities

Takeaways

• Shadow AI is used without organizational awareness, posing significant risks.
• Organizations must understand and comply with Australian Privacy Principles when using AI.
• Building trust and involving stakeholders is key to effective AI governance.
• AI can fill skill gaps but also introduces privacy and security vulnerabilities.
• Proactive AI governance is essential to prevent future data breaches and legal issues.

Episode Navigation

03:14 About Keturah Charlesworth

11:09 The Challenges of Shadow AI

20:50 The Dilemma of Admitting to using Shadow AI

29:21 Privacy Concerns with AI Usage

32:19 The Coming AI Data Breach Tsunami

34:36 AI in Health and Human Services

36:30 The Need for AI Governance Right Now

42:13 Navigating Privacy Laws and AI

47:58 The Future of AI Regulation

51:04 Tailoring AI Solutions to Organisational Needs

54:50 The Importance of Human Oversight in AI

01:00:35 Quote of the Day

How to reach Keturah Charlesworth

Website: www.qualityhq.com.au

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keturah-charlesworth/

HITCHHIKERS GUIDE TO AI GOVERNANCE

Hosted by AI Governance partner, Bruce Mullan, who helps companies confidently adopt the 42 Statements of the Australian AI governance standard.

Contact us: info@aigovernancepartners.com.au

Visit our website: www.aigovernancepartners.com.au

Join us. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news, articles, events and podcasts about all things AI: Newsletter

If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to give us a rating, leave a comment and follow us for more episodes.

So long and thanks for all the listening.

Don't Panic! Next week's episode is all about AI and privacy with Keturah Charlesworth, Privacy expert.

In this clip our conversation touched on the broader implications of AI. An analogy was made to CrowdStrike, a vendor that faced a catastrophic software upgrade, bringing down 8.5 million Microsoft computers world-wide due to unforeseen vulnerabilities. Keturah likens AI to Ozempic, the miracle drug. We all excitedly got onboard, until people started to go blind.

Both incidents serve as a reminder of the hidden risks associated with AI and what we don’t know can indeed hurt us.

To get the latest episodes, make sure you follow the show!

Email us at info@aigovernancepartners.com.au

Don’t panic. In this episode, due to popular demand, Phyllis Elin returns to the pod to continue our conversation about AI and information governance.

Phyllis Elin shares her extensive expertise in information governance, the impact of AI on data management, and the importance of clean, well-structured data for effective AI deployment. She discusses her recent awards, her insights on records retention, and the challenges and opportunities AI presents in data security and management.

Key Topics:

• Phyllis Elin's awards and recognition in information governance
• The importance of records retention schedules for AI
• Challenges of unstructured data in AI applications
• Data cleaning and destruction for AI readiness
• Security and confidentiality in AI data access
• Developing effective records retention policies
• Impact of AI on traditional data management practices
• The role of microfilm and physical records in digital age
• Ethical considerations in AI and data governance
• Future trends in AI governance and regulation

Episode navigation:

06:34 Records retention schedule as the foundation of data management

09:46 Why clean data is critical for AI accuracy

12:11 Why securing sensitive data is critical for denying AI access

17:04 How messy data in Sharepoint undoes AI accuracy

18:53 Legal risks of retaining outdated or unnecessary records

25:11 Changes in how documents and records are stored

28:23 AI scanning technologies to interpret paper records

30:20 The irony of using old books to train AI models

38:18 Phyllis reflecting on tough times

Where's Phyllis? You can find her here:

Linked In: linkedin.com/in/phylliselin

Website: knowledgepreservation.com

HITCHHIKERS GUIDE TO AI GOVERNANCE

Hosted by AI Governance partner, Bruce Mullan, who helps companies confidently adopt the 42 Statements of the Australian AI governance standard.

Contact us: info@aigovernancepartners.com.au

Visit our website: www.aigovernancepartners.com.au

Join us. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news, articles, events and podcasts about all things AI: Newsletter

If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to give us a rating, leave a comment and follow us for more episodes.

So long and thanks for all the listening.