Living Wisely with AI

Keynote II: Rochelle Stewart-Allen

Rochelle Stewart-Allen is a governance advisor, executive coach, and facilitator working across Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific. With over two decades of experience in open government, data-informed decision-making, and nonprofit leadership, Rochelle supports leaders and boards to navigate complexity with clarity, care, and courage. Her work sits at the intersection of governance, wellbeing, and ethical leadership, helping people adopt new tools — including AI — without losing sight of their purpose, values, or humanity.

Presentation

Living Wisely with AI

Drawing on experience across open government, open data, and the nonprofit sector, this presentation explores AI not as a threat or a miracle but as a powerful tool shaped by human choices and values. Rochelle Stewart-Allen looks at what it takes to engage with AI calmly and confidently, including how mindset, wellbeing, ethics, and boundaries shape our relationship with new technology. She also unpacks generational friction around AI adoption, misuse and bias, and how our everyday inputs quietly train the algorithm. Rather than getting technical, the presentation centres on agency, responsibility, and wise use, offering a grounded, human way to live alongside AI without fear, dependency, or losing confidence in our own thinking.