South Australia Appoints Inaugural Director of the Office for AI
Peter Meere has been appointed to lead South Australia's Office for AI after a national search. His brief is clear: drive strategic and responsible adoption of AI across the public sector to improve services, support economic growth, and prepare the workforce-while keeping safety, ethics, and effectiveness front and center.
What This Means for Government Agencies
Agencies can expect clearer guidance on AI use, stronger risk and governance frameworks, and practical support to move from pilots to production. The focus will be on systems that deliver measurable public value without creating new risks or inequities.
- Whole-of-government AI governance and assurance
- Standards for privacy, security, and model transparency
- Procurement guidance and vendor due diligence
- Targeted pilots in service delivery and operations
- Workforce capability uplift and change support
- Clear performance metrics and accountability
Why Meere Is a Fit for the Role
Meere has delivered reform across complex policy settings and large programs. Most recently, he led the Department for Education's AI policy response, setting a nation-leading approach that balanced innovation with safe, responsible use-creating positive outcomes across South Australian government schools.
His career includes senior roles in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department, as well as the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, where he guided major policy and system changes. For context on these institutions, see the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Attorney-General's Department.
Michael Brown said: "Peter is an accomplished leader, and I am delighted to have his support and expertise as we continue to grow the public sector's capacity in AI. Peter's decades of experience in innovation and change within the sector, along with his deep insights into the challenges faced by both technology companies and government departments, will be invaluable as we accelerate forward."
What To Do Now
If you lead a division or program, treat this as a moment to get your house in order. Map current AI use, identify risks, and line up a set of high-impact, low-risk use cases that can move quickly under the Office's guidance.
- Nominate an AI lead and set up a cross-functional working group
- Inventory data assets, access controls, and model usage (including shadow tools)
- Adopt an AI risk assessment before any new deployment
- Define success metrics tied to service outcomes and cost-to-serve
- Prepare a training plan for frontline, policy, legal, procurement, and IT teams
- Embed vendor standards covering privacy, safety, testing, and incident response
The Office for AI will set the guardrails. Agencies that prepare now will move faster, with fewer surprises, and stronger public trust.
If your team needs structured upskilling, explore practical tracks for public sector roles here: AI courses by job.
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