The AI Permission Gap

Speakers: Nic Girvan, Joe Seddon, Lisa Pizarro and Stacy Cheal Giving everyone access to AI sounds inclusive. Yet access alone does not create belonging, confidence or opportunity. As organisations accelerate AI adoption, a critical question emerges: who is truly being given permission to learn, experiment, make mistakes and grow? While some employees are encouraged to explore and build AI fluency, others navigate unspoken barriers shaped by role expectations, manager behaviours and levels of trust. This panel discussion will explore how equitable AI readiness is fundamentally a culture issue. The panelists will examine how organisations can ensure technological transformation strengthens inclusion, connection and opportunity, rather than reinforcing existing disparities. Participants will consider how to build workplaces where people and innovation thrive together and where every employee has a fair pathway to develop future-ready capabilities.