People & Planet: FHES Seminar Series - Kia ora AI with Matt Ensor

Join FHES Dean, Professor Brett Cowan and Matt Ensor for a fireside chat on ongoing advances in generative AI that are shaping how we think, learn, and make decisions. This session will explore how these changes are unfolding in practice, the pitfalls that emerge in everyday use, and what they might mean for how we learn, work, and connect in a rapidly changing world.

This is a free event and everyone is welcome.

About the guest speaker:

Matt Ensor leads Kia Ora AI, a consultancy helping organisations adopt generative AI responsibly and effectively. With a background in engineering, governance, and AI strategy, he works across sectors to build capability and confidence in using AI for real-world impact. He chairs the Generative AI Working Group for AI Forum NZ and regularly advises boards, universities, and professional bodies on AI governance and workforce transformation. His focus is on the practical side of AI, how people and organisations can use it safely, ethically, and creatively.

Event details

Date: 17 March 2026
Time: 1 pm- 2.30 pm  
Venue (in person): WZ100C, AUT City Campus

Also available via Vimeo (see link to join below)

About People & Planet 

People & Planet is a series of seminars organised by the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences. The seminars are designed to encourage the exchange of ideas among scholars, academics, and community members, both within and beyond the faculty. The topics selected for discussion will be engaging and relevant to a broad audience, ensuring that all staff and students feel welcome to participate.