Bridging Technology
and
Society in the Asia-Pacific

🌏 Australia just signaled a pivotal shift in how democracies should approach AI governance: regulatory restraint as strategy.

The Productivity Commission's December 2025 report delivers a clear message: resist premature AI regulation. Instead of rushing to create AI-specific laws, conduct systematic gap analyses to identify where existing frameworks fall short.

🧠 We are trying to solve 2025 problems using 1990s mental models.

My final reflection from Wellington is on Mental Models. We often fall into the trap of simply layering new AI tools on top of old, inefficient ways of working.

If you don't have a GenAI Council, you probably have a shadow IT problem.

The most tactical takeaway from the 2025 Amazon Web Services (AWS) Public Sector Day in Wellington wasn't about which AI model to use but it was about the org charts.

🇳🇿 Last week, I was in New Zealand to join the AWS team in Wellington and learn about the reality of public sector AI adoption.

The conversation here has decisively shifted from the "hype" of innovation to the sustainability of the model.

🌏 As part of the Asian Australian Voices program, last week I was in Canberra for two incredible days, seeing Australia's "policy engine" for Asia engagement up close at Parliament House and Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

It was a privilege to have a direct discussion with Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Special Envoy for Indian Ocean Affairs Tim Watts to engage with passionate, community-focused leaders like Dai Le.

🌐 The World's First Regional Digital Economy Agreement is Almost Here

Last week, ASEAN reached a "substantial conclusion" in negotiations for the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) - set to be signed by 2026 and potentially worth $2 trillion by 2030.

🏛️ Does ASEAN and South-East Asia Actually Matter?

This week had no shortage of news from the region with President Trump attending the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia to Prime Minister Albanese elevating discussions around economic growth, regional security and stability.