Gillian Dobbie

Professor

School of Computer Science, University of Auckland

Gillian Dobbie specialises in artificial intelligence and data systems. With extensive experience developing purpose-driven AI methods, she focuses on creating robust, ethical, and socially beneficial technologies. Gillian served as Science Advisor to the Precision Driven Health research partnership and collaborates widely across academia, industry, and government. Her research interests include AI robustness, fairness, and responsible innovation, with a strong commitment to ensuring AI delivers positive real-world impact.

Daniel Wilson (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Pikiao)

Lecture

School of Computer Science, University of Auckland

Daniel Wilson (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Pikiao) is a Computer Science lecturer at Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland and a coordinator of the Tuākana mentoring programme. His research focuses on AI, Māori Data and Algorithmic Sovereignty, and AI ethics, with recent work on developing AI that supports Māori ways of being. He is Pou Pae Auaha at Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, a member of Te Mana Raraunga, Co-Director of the Centre of Machine Learning for Social Good, and serves in advisory roles across national AI networks. He holds a PhD in Philosophy and a Master of Professional Studies in Data Science.

Al Glen

Senior Researcher / Associate Professor

Bioeconomy Science Institute / Joint Graduate School in Biodiversity and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences, Waipapa Taumata Rau – University of Auckland

I am a Wildlife Ecologist focused on restoring ecosystems heavily impacted by invasive species. My research spans native–invasive species interactions, multi-invader management, and monitoring cryptic wildlife using landscape and behavioural ecology approaches. I have worked across government, academia, and the private sector, advising agencies on invasive-species management. I received the Invasive Animals CRC Chairman’s Prize for Scientific Excellence (2007) and Honorary Life Membership of the Australian Wildlife Society (2013). I am a member of the Australasian Wildlife Management Society and the IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group, and an Associate Professor in the Joint Graduate School in Biodiversity and Biosecurity at the University of Auckland.

Jingfeng Zhang

Lecture

School of Computer Science, University of Auckland

Dr. Jingfeng Zhang is a tenured Lecturer and PhD supervisor in the School of Computer Science at the University of Auckland. He received his PhD from the National University of Singapore and previously worked at RIKEN AIP as a Postdoctoral Researcher and Research Scientist. His work has been supported by JST, JSPS, RIKEN, the University of Auckland and New Zealand’s MBIE. He is an Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Artificial Intelligence and Neural Networks, and serves as an Area Chair for venues including NeurIPS, ICML and ICLR. His research aims to advance safe, trustworthy and scalable machine learning.

Students

Di Zhao

PhD Candidate

School of Computer Science, University of Auckland

My research focuses on Transfer Learning and Multimodal Reasoning, with an emphasis on applying AI to real-world, interdisciplinary problems. I am particularly passionate about advancing biodiversity monitoring and healthcare applications through machine learning. I have a solid publication record in top-tier AI conferences and am deeply committed to teaching and mentorship, fostering critical thinking in students.

Yuzhuo Li

PhD Candidate

School of Computer Science, University of Auckland

Yuzhou Li is a PhD student from the school of Computer Science. His research focuses on AI for wildlife conservation, particularly developing vision-based systems for stoat re-identification to support pest management in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Fiona Marie Bautista

PhD Candidate

School of Computer Science, University of Auckland