Beyond Academia


Participation and AI

Date:

August 13


Time (local):

3.30-4.30pm

Abstract:

As AI use continues to rise, the need for inclusive and participatory approaches in AI development and deployment becomes increasingly crucial. This panel brings together practitioners from across sectors outside academia to explore how PD can play a critical role in AI’s ethical and equitable integration in various domains. Panelists will discuss the PD practices, challenges, and future directions in use relating to AI. The panel will conclude by discussing the PD principles that might guide AI toward positive societal impact to help technology development better align with human values and needs.

Panelists:


Milena Pribić (Design Principal, IBM)

As a researcher, designer, and advocate, Milena focuses on defining what it means to design for AI at IBM. She leads ethical AI practices for Data & AI projects and is global Design liaison to IBM’s AI Ethics Board.


Uday Dandavate (Co-Founder, SonicRim)

Co-founder of SonicRim, a design research company specializing in co-creation, Uday provokes fresh perspectives that humanize technologies and democratize design through blogging, teaching, speaking, and facilitating.


Rashid Owoyele (Managing Partner, Transekt)

Expert in Social Innovation and Cooperativist Design, Rashid trained as a Transdisciplinary Designer and has to date carried out social impact and social innovation projects on 5 continents, with thousands of students and professional participants.

Facilitator:


Daria Loi (Co-Founder & CXO, Astral)

With decades of design and research experience in high tech and numerous collaborations with academic and non-profit sectors, Daria’s focus is mixing design strategy with participatory research & innovation to enrich people’s life & humanize technology.


Eunice Sari (Co-Founder & CEO, UX Indonesia)

Dr. Eunice Sari is the CEO and Co-Founder of UX Indonesia, the first insight-driven UX Research, Training, and Consulting Company based in Indonesia since 2002, and co-founder of Customer Experience Insight Pty Ltd (Australia). With more than 20 years of experience in academics and industries, she has helped many organizations accelerate their digital transformation and pioneer innovative UX projects that affect lives and improve businesses’ bottom line in the USA, Europe, Australia, and Asia. 

Participation and Citizen/Community Engagement

Date:

August 14


Time (local):

9-10am

Abstract:

Democratizing design processes is an underlying tenet of PD, ensuring that design is inclusive, community-focused, and reflective of diverse voices, especially those often underrepresented. This panel explores how current PD practices enhance citizen and community engagement. Practitioners outside academia will share experiences, methodologies, and outcomes from engaging directly with communities in the civic sector. Attendees will learn about the challenges and success stories of fostering genuine participation within public discourse to inspire new models of community empowerment and engagement.

Panelists:


Penny Hagen (Director of Tangata Tiriti – Auckland Co-design Lab)

Dedicated to assisting the public sector to take a participatory and systems-oriented approach to equity and wellbeing, Penny focuses to complex social issues by connecting policy and evidence to the lived realities and aspirations of communities.


Danny Spitzberg (Research Director, Exit to Community Collective)

Trained as an economic sociologist and co-op business developer, Danny connects worker co-design with product development. He helps partners become autonomous and sustainable by building client-side and community skills and capacity to conduct strategic research.


Emiola Banwo (Product Designer, Rewiring America)

With a background in Computer Engineering and Cognitive Science and 10+ years of experience in Product Design, Emiola specializes in collaboration tools and dedicated his life to accelerating the work of those working at the frontlines of Climate Action.


Humphrey Oboubi (Founder, LETS Studio)

With a focus on building infrastructure for a healthier democracy, Humphrey works to promote participatory governance in Bay Area cities and support public-serving institutions in designing community engagement strategies that are both effective and empowering.

Facilitator:


Raphael Arar (Design Lead, One Project)

Working at the nexus of complex systems, transdisciplinary design and arts-based research, Raphael helps communities and organizations to untangle messes and uncover opportunities through a balancing act of problem-solving and creative inquiry.



Organisers

Social Media


Address


Advanced Centre for Sustainable Socio-economic and Technological Development (ASSET),

University of Technology Sarawak (UTS)

96000 Sibu, Sarawak,

Malaysia

Contact Us


Tel: (+6) 084-367520

Fax: (+6) 084-367301

Email: asset@uts.edu.my

Follow us on:

Copyright © Advanced Centre for Sustainable Socio-economic and Technological Development 2025. All rights reserved