How we break through barriers
The collaboration traps we design against, and the solution to each.
Who We Are
About the AI CoLab Alliance
We exist to drive public purpose innovation through cross-sector collaboration. Our alliance brings together diverse partners under a shared banner to create systemic change in how AI serves society.
We are governments, nonprofits, companies, universities, and individuals working together under an open Memorandum of Understanding.
What Is the AI CoLab?
An open MoU
A standing agreement that any aligned organization, team, or individual can sign.- Establishes clear expectations for good-faith collaboration
- Offers flexible, non-exclusive participation options
You sign, you're in
You don't engage the AI CoLab — you become part of it: on equal footing with every other ally, keeping your own name, mission, and independence.We combine
One shared banner, and the platform to act on it together.- Find others working on similar challenges
- Share your work and connect with collaborators
- Collaborate across organizational boundaries
A lightweight foundation stewards the charter and shared infrastructure, and a cross-sector steering committee guides the mission — but the alliance itself is simply its members, acting together.
Our Vision
For Good and For All
We envision a world where ethical technology realises its full potential to overcome disadvantage, empower communities, and improve lives. In this world, joint action across sectors and borders drives a virtuous cycle of inclusion, impact, and trust.
We advance both "Good with AI", harnessing technology to empower communities and enhance societal well being—and "Good within AI", ensuring the way we work with AI systems is ethical, fair, and inclusive.
Under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, every individual has the human right to benefit from technological progress.
Our Values
These foundational values shape our culture, guide our decisions, and define how we work together.
Public Purpose
We are driven by impact. Through close ties to benevolent institutions, we maintain a clear line of sight on community wellbeing, values and rights.
Bring People Together
We marshal diverse perspectives and resources across industry, civil society, academia, and the public sector to drive reinforcing action.
Long Term Impact
We exist to accelerate cross-sector, public purpose innovation at scale. We attract, include, and empower diverse partners by driving new ways of working, addressing systemic barriers, and ensuring marginalised voices are heard.
Stand for Change
We maintain a sense of urgency and stand together in the face of inertia and resistance. We are steadfast against attempts to dilute, delay or derail action, and drive systems that meet the needs of collaboration—not the other way around.
Empower, Don't Control
No centrally controlled plan or single idea will create sustainable, systemic change. Working together, we empower diverse groups to lead mutually reinforcing actions in different environments.
Adapt and Inspire
We stay flexible and entrepreneurial to recruit new allies, seize new opportunities, adapt to partners' strengths and resources, and discover valuable ways for our strengths to combine.
Nothing About Us Without Us
Our commitment to meaningful community involvement is embedded in how we apply design thinking across all our work. We achieve this through:
- Human-Centered Design Practices: Starting every initiative by understanding the real needs, contexts, and experiences of the communities we aim to serve.
- Iterative Co-Creation: Involving communities from the earliest stages through rapid prototyping and testing, ensuring solutions evolve based on real feedback and experiences.
- Inclusive Infrastructure: Building platforms and processes that make meaningful participation easier, focusing on understanding and designing for real user needs and contexts.
Our Governance Model
Our governance model provides a balanced structure that enables effective cross-sector collaboration while maintaining autonomy and flexibility for all partners.
Steering Committee
Provides strategic guidance and oversight to ensure the Alliance advances its mission effectively.
- Champion and Advocate: Champion and advocate for the Alliance, attracting allies and supporters to collaborate under the Alliance umbrella.
- Action Group Oversight: Oversee action groups to ensure they drive action and advance the Alliance's mission.
- Active Leadership: Participate in regular meetings, providing engaged discussion and strategic direction for the Alliance's initiatives.
Backbone Support Network
Facilitates coordination, communication and joint action across the Alliance network.
- Mobilize Support: Mobilize participants to support Alliance priorities and initiatives.
- Infrastructure Oversight: Oversee the Alliance's backbone infrastructure—foundational systems, tools, and resources needed for cross-sector collaboration.
- Enable Public Engagement: Support and facilitate public engagement through collaborative infrastructure and resources.
CoLab Foundation
Founder and steward of the AI CoLab, attracts and marshals partners and supporters to align and support Alliance activities.
- Alliance Stewardship: Stewards the AI CoLab's Charter and MoU to admit participants, recognise partners, and support allies to advance our mission and uphold ourvalues.
- Backbone Coordination: Leads the Backbone Support Network and interfaces with the Steering Committee on its behalf to ensure the backbone is inclusive and aligned.
- Clear Front Door: Entry point for new participants and supporters, including to attract and marshal financial and in-kind contributions toward the Alliance's mission.
Steering Committee
Our Steering Committee brings together leaders from different sectors who guide our strategic direction and ensure we stay true to our mission.
Manisha Amin
Inclusive Design Lead • Inclusive Design Collective
Manisha brings over 20 years' experience building partnerships between government, industry, and communities to drive inclusive innovation, including 8 years leading the Centre for Inclusive Design. Manisha now leads the Inclusive Design Collective, a cross-sector collaboration to make technology accessible to all.
Sam Bide
Founder • AI CoLab Alliance & CoLab Foundation
Sam, an ANZSOG Innovation Fellow, brings expertise in bridging policy and technical domains to build new partnerships, institutions, and AI systems. His experience includes establishing Australia's Office of Supply Chain Resilience, advising the Australian Government on AI policy and adoption, and developing AI tools for social impact.
Brenton Caffin
Innovation Systems Expert • States of Change
Brenton brings 25 years' experience building collaborative innovative systems across sectors, including as founder of States of Change and The Australian Centre for Social Innovation. He has advised governments in over 20 countries on strengthening innovation capabilities across sectors.
Frances Foster-Thorpe
Executive Director • NSW Government Cabinet Office
Frances is the Executive Director of Shaping Futures and Data Insights in the NSW Government's Cabinet Office. Frances has a government and research background and has focused on how to progress large-scale national reforms within Australia's federal system and with community partners.
Shane Johnson
First Assistant Secretary • Australian Treasury
Shane is the First Assistant Secretary of Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy Division at the Australian Treasury, and the Australian Centre for Evaluation. Shane brings over two decades of government experience and a proven commitment to improve wellbeing with new ways of working that empower communities and governments to work together.
David Spriggs
CEO • InfoXChange
David is CEO of InfoXChange, a not-for-profit social enterprise that has been delivering technology for social justice since 1989. David is passionate about a more digitally inclusive society and the role technology can play in the not-for-profit sector. He also chairs the Australian Digital Inclusion Alliance and is a Board member of Specialisterne Australia.
Martin Stewart-Weeks
Public Leadership Lead • ANZSOG
Martin leads ANZSOG's Public Leadership in the Digital Age initiative and brings over 35 years of cross-sector expertise in digital transformation and public sector reform. He has led major technology and policy initiatives in Australia and overseas, including chairing NSW's Digital Government Advisory Panel.
Alliance Participants
Over 50 individuals and organizations from governments, not-for-profits, industry, and universities are working together to drive ethical AI innovation that serves society.
...and 50+ more signatories from government agencies, not-for-profits, industry, and universities
How We Are Different
The AI CoLab brings people together in a new way. We use proven methods that help different groups work as one team. Everyone shares the same goals, measures success the same way, and stays in close contact. We build the tools and support that make it easy to work together. This helps us create real change and find better ways to solve problems together.
Working Together
We create a space where everyone can meet and work together. People from different backgrounds build trust and find common ground. Together, we tackle the challenge of making AI work for everyone.
Making Change Happen
When we join forces, we can do more. Each partner brings their strengths and together we find new ways to solve problems. We help each other try new ideas in our own organizations.
A True Staging Area
We provide a neutral, trusted space where governments, communities, and industry can explore, co-design, and test on equal footing.
Safe Experimentation
We empower agencies to experiment and prototype solutions with partners in a controlled setting—without extensive approvals.
Cross-Sector Community
We support innovators to build strong relationships and common understanding with allies across all sectors.
Built for Impact
Our structure is specifically designed to drive real change through practical frameworks and shared infrastructure.
Get Involved
Whether you're just starting to explore AI innovation or already leading initiatives, there's a way for you to contribute that matches your goals and readiness.