• Associate Professor, Social Work and Deputy Head of School, School of Allied Health, Australian Catholic University

Associate Professor Jessica Russ-Smith (she/her) is a sovereign Wiradyuri Wambuul woman, from the matriarchal lineage of Smith and McGuiness women. Her research focuses on the embodiment of First Nations sovereignty, AI and research ethics. As Associate Professor of Social Work at Australian Catholic University (ACU) and chair of ACU's Indigenous Research Ethics Advisory Panel, she leads transformative work in disrupting colonial legacies in higher education and research practices. She is a two-time University Medallist and 2024 National was the recipient of the AAUT Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning-the Neville Bonner Award for Indigenous Education. Jess co-authored the groundbreaking 2024 book "The AI (R)evolution: Valuing Country, Culture and Community in a World of Algorithms", which challenges dominant narratives about artificial intelligence by centring First Nations perspectives and sovereignty, and builds on her research examining power, structures and First Nations knowledges. Jess is a member of the Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA) Research Advisory Committee. Throughout her career, she has been committed to creating anti-colonial, critical learning and practice spaces for students, staff and practitioners which honour and are guided by First Nations sovereign knowledges.

• –present Associate Professor, School of Allied Health, Australian Catholic University

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