Julia Powles

Julia Powles is an Associate Professor at the UWA Law School and Director of the UWA Tech & Policy Lab. Her research focuses on privacy, intellectual property, internet governance, and the legal and political dimensions of data, automation, and AI. She has led investigations into high-profile cases like the NHS/Google DeepMind data breach and Sidewalk Labs’ smart city project. Currently, she advises on national robotics strategy, responsible AI, and privacy policies in Australia. With a background spanning academia, policy, and law, she holds roles in global committees and contributes to media outlets like the New Yorker and Financial Times. Her work bridges legal frameworks and technological innovation, emphasizing ethical governance and societal impact.

Education: BSc (Hons) ANU, LLB (Hons) UWA, BCL Oxford, PhD Cantab. Expertise includes AI ethics, data privacy, and regulatory policy. Recent projects address drone delivery systems, corporate accountability of Big Tech, and governance in health monitoring. Awards include the 40 Under 40 Award for WA (2022) and Poynter Fellowship (2018). Grants include the Children’s Online Safety Program (2024–2027) and Minderoo Foundation initiatives. She chairs the PRIS Universities Network and co-chairs international tech policy summits.

• Roles: Director, UWA Tech & Policy Lab; Expert on National AI Centre, WA Privacy Committee.
• Research: Over 100 outputs, focusing on AI governance, corporate liability, and tech ethics.