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The automation disaster that shook a nation: learn how to stop it happening in your organisation

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Mākaro: Data & Insights
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
1:15 PM - 2:45 PM
Breakout Room Mākaro

Overview

Lisa Ippolito, Whitehorse City Council, Melbourne and Justine Resta, ALGIM Australia


Speaker

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Lisa Ippolito
AI Enablement Lead
Whitehorse City Council

The automation disaster that shook a nation: learn how to stop it happening in your organisation

Abstract

What happens when data systems fail the people they’re designed to serve?
This interactive workshop uses the Robodebt scandal as a powerful case study to explore how data governance, ethics, and leadership shape public trust in technology. Together, we’ll examine where governance broke down, debate who was accountable, and uncover what could have been done differently. Through guided discussion and collaborative design, you’ll identify practical safeguards your organisation can put in place to prevent similar failures, translating hard lessons from Robodebt into concrete actions.

Biography

Lisa is the AI Enablement lead at Whitehorse City Council, where she’s focused on making local government work smarter, faster, and more purposefully. With deep expertise in process improvement and digital transformation, she’s now applying that same mindset to the possibilities of AI. Lisa is driven to find practical, real-world applications that councils can trial, tailor, and embed. Her approach is grounded in hands-on experimentation, strong collaboration and a firm belief that AI must be used responsibly, ethically and safely, while also being accessible and tailored to the needs of the public sector.
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