Women are increasingly taking the lead in defining how societies govern artificial intelligence, moving beyond technical development to shape the legal and ethical frameworks that will guide AI's future. Two researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia were recently honored at the 2026 Women in AI Asia-Pacific Awards for their groundbreaking contributions to AI governance and responsible innovation, underscoring a critical shift in how the technology sector approaches regulation and oversight.

What Does AI Governance Actually Mean in Practice?

AI governance refers to the systems, policies, and frameworks that guide how artificial intelligence is developed, deployed, and monitored in society. Unlike technical AI research, which focuses on building better models and algorithms, governance work addresses the harder questions: Who decides what's acceptable? How do we ensure AI systems are trustworthy? What happens when AI causes harm? These questions require expertise that extends far beyond computer science into law, ethics, policy, and public engagement.

Professor Mimi Zou from UNSW's School of Private and Commercial Law won the AI in law category for her work on AI governance, regulation, and responsible innovation. Her research spans work with governments, international organizations, and industry partners, and she is developing legal practices focused on AI-related disputes and complex matters involving automated decision-making and platform governance.

"Winning this award is particularly meaningful because it recognizes my work on AI in the legal sector as well as AI regulation and governance. These areas have been at the heart of my research, industry and public engagement at a global level for many years," said Professor Zou.

Professor Mimi Zou, School of Private and Commercial Law, UNSW Sydney

Professor Zou emphasized a critical insight about how AI governance must work: it cannot be solved by technologists, lawyers, businesses, or policymakers working in isolation. The most important questions raised by AI require genuine collaboration across disciplines and sectors. This interdisciplinary approach is increasingly recognized as essential for creating governance frameworks that are both technically sound and practically implementable.

How Are Women Reshaping AI Governance Leadership?

The recognition of women leaders in AI governance signals an important shift in how the technology sector approaches regulation and oversight. The Women in AI (WAI) Asia-Pacific Awards specifically recognize women contributing to the development, application, and governance of AI technologies that benefit society. The initiative focuses on both technical excellence and the broader social, legal, and commercial impact of AI.

• Legal and Ethical Frameworks: Women researchers are leading efforts to develop legal and ethical frameworks that can keep pace with rapidly developing AI technologies, addressing the significant gap between innovation speed and regulatory readiness.
• Responsible AI Systems: Researchers are designing AI systems that communities can trust, combining technical rigor with accountability mechanisms and transparency requirements that build public confidence.
• Cross-Sector Collaboration: Women leaders are bridging research, policy, and advocacy, creating pathways for courts, practitioners, and policymakers to confront novel questions created by AI through genuine interdisciplinary partnerships.
• Mentorship and Representation: Award-winning researchers are actively mentoring the next generation of women in AI and opening doors for greater participation in shaping AI's future, addressing the underrepresentation of women in AI leadership roles.

Dr. Sue Keay, Director of the UNSW AI Institute, noted that the recognition of these researchers helps pave the way for the next generation of women in AI. She emphasized that their work demonstrates the vital contribution women are making in developing trustworthy AI to solve complex problems for the public good.

What Real-World Problems Are Being Solved Through AI Governance?

Beyond policy frameworks, the award winners are applying AI governance principles to solve tangible, life-saving challenges. Dr. Mandana Ghanavati from UNSW's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering won the AI in climate and environment category for her work developing responsible AI systems that address climate challenges, coastal hazards, and public safety.

Dr. Ghanavati's research combines AI with climate, ocean, and geospatial data to strengthen preparedness for coastal and climate-related hazards. Her work supports earlier warnings and helps protect communities and environments. Notably, her AI research is contributing to the development of a rip-current detection tool designed to help reduce drownings and a model to forecast when bluebottles would reach coastlines, demonstrating how responsible AI governance can directly save lives.

"This recognition reinforces my commitment to developing responsible AI systems that communities can trust. Women continue to face challenges in building careers in AI, which is why the work of WAI organization to recognize and celebrate women's contributions to the field is so important," said Dr. Ghanavati.

Dr. Mandana Ghanavati, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney

Dr. Ghanavati emphasized her commitment to mentoring postgraduate students and women in the geospatial community, helping them pursue their passions in AI. She stressed that women should have equal opportunities to lead in AI and an equal voice in shaping its future, reflecting a broader recognition that diverse leadership in AI governance produces better outcomes for society.

Why Does Gender Representation in AI Governance Matter?

The emphasis on women's leadership in AI governance is not merely about representation, though that matters. When women lead governance efforts, they bring different perspectives, priorities, and approaches to how AI is regulated. Research and practice suggest that diverse teams make better decisions about complex policy questions, and governance frameworks developed with diverse input are more likely to address the needs of diverse populations.

Professor Zou highlighted this point directly, noting that she hopes the award encourages more women to see themselves not simply as participants in the AI revolution, but as leaders who can shape the rules, institutions, and values that will determine AI's future. This reframing is significant because it positions women not as implementers of governance frameworks designed by others, but as architects of the systems themselves.

The UNSW AI Institute's investment in interdisciplinary AI research and engagement reflects a broader institutional recognition that the most important questions raised by AI cannot be solved by technologists alone. By celebrating women leaders in both technical AI development and governance, the awards signal that the field is beginning to understand that trustworthy AI requires diverse expertise, perspectives, and leadership at every level.

As AI systems become increasingly integrated into critical infrastructure, healthcare, climate response, and legal systems, the governance frameworks that guide their development and deployment will shape outcomes for billions of people. The recognition of women leaders like Dr. Ghanavati and Professor Zou suggests that the technology sector is finally acknowledging that building responsible AI requires not just better algorithms, but better governance, and that women are essential to creating that governance.