National AI Centre's executive director opts for retirement

Lee Hickin, the executive director of the National AI Centre since May of last year, has chosen to enter retirement at the start of next year.

He was also, for the last five years, a founding member of the task force and working committee established to develop and operate a responsible AI assurance framework for the NSW Government.

Prior to his career in government, he was at Microsoft for close to 18 years across two separate stints, holding such roles as AI technology and policy lead for Asia; national technology officer for ANZ; and Internet of Things product manager.

In between his stints at Microsoft, he was at Amazon Web Services for two years in Singapore, holding such roles as head of platform technology business development, APAC and IOT business development lead, APAC.

In a post on LinkedIn, Hickin stated that he has had the privilege of working for some of the biggest companies in the world, worked all over the world with "some amazing people" and been present for many of the most significant technology innovations of the past three decades.

"Most recently I've had the privilege to lead Australia's National AI Centre (NAIC) as the Executive Director and now, as I finish my time in January, I am excited to pass that opportunity onto someone new," he said.

"There has never been a more exciting time to get involved in Australia's AI plan and this role is about driving safe adoption, growing our domestic AI industry and working with Industry and your government peers to ensure Australia captures the opportunity of AI."