Genevieve Bell keynote speaker

Distinguished Professor Genevieve Bell AO FTSE FAHA FASSA is a cultural anthropologist, technologist and futurist whose work sits at the vital intersection of people, policy and emerging technologies. She was the 13th Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University — the University’s first female Vice-Chancellor — and the founder and steward of several major research initiatives focused on responsible AI, autonomy and human-centred tech.

Trained as a cultural anthropologist (PhD, Stanford University), Genevieve spent nearly two decades in Silicon Valley shaping how global tech firms think about people and products — notably as a senior research leader at Intel where she remains a Vice-President and Senior Fellow. Her career bridges rigorous social science with innovation practice, advising governments, industry and international organisations on the social, ethical and policy implications of AI, data and connected systems.

Genevieve founded and led the Autonomy, Agency and Assurance Institute (3Ai) and the ANU School of Cybernetics, bringing together engineers, social scientists, legal scholars and policymakers to build frameworks for trustworthy and societally beneficial technology. Her research and public leadership focus on how institutions and design practices can centre human values while scaling powerful new capabilities.

She is widely recognised for her contributions to technology and public life — an Officer of the Order of Australia and a fellow of leading academies — and is a sought-after keynote speaker who combines original insight, irreverent clarity and practical guidance for boards, ministers and C-suite leaders. Whether unpacking the cultural dynamics of AI, advising on digital government strategy, or inspiring multidisciplinary teams, Genevieve offers audiences a rare blend of scholarly depth and strategic pragmatism.

For events seeking a speaker who can translate complex technical change into human stories, policy pathways and organisational action, Genevieve Bell delivers a forward-looking, evidence-based perspective that elevates strategy and sparks responsible innovation.