Rita Arrigo is a renowned digital strategist with a reputation for leading digital transformation projects in the public and private sector. Her deep technical skills, digital insights and communication skills have made her a sought-after digital speaker, commentator, broadcaster, and mentor across the IT sector and the broader leadership community. She can communicate complex technical ideas across the “IT divide” to non- geek stakeholders, across creative, technical and business.

She is the Strategic Engagement Manager at CSIRO National AI Centre, focused on building a Responsible AI Network a world first cross-ecosystem collaboration aimed at establishing and sharing best practice of responsible AI in the commercial sector.

In her previous role as Deputy Director Centre of Industrial AI Research and Innovation (CIAIRI) she delivered CIAIRI’s Open Day, a range of other industry engagement activities. As Chief Digital Advisor at Microsoft she worked senior executives to enable new technologies including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and Mixed Reality (MR) Digital Twin to sectors including health, transport, energy, education and urban planning, customer engagement and environmental stewardship. Her work as a Design Thinker allowed her to facilitate conversations and strategic digital transformation initiatives.

A passionate believer in the ways AI and XR can reinvent our experiences, and a natural storyteller excited by the opportunities the tech world brings, she has been an enthusiastic advocate and sought-after speaker for many years on all things AI, innovation and digital. She has presents on television, radio, podcast, keynote speaking, panels and workshops. This year she is again Judging the Women in AI Awards.

She holds a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering and Computing from Monash University and qualifications in Marketing (Monash University), Artificial Intelligence (Microsoft INSEAD AI Business School), Design Thinking (Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford), and Design Thinking Essentials (Luma Institute).