We recently celebrated World Statistics Day on 20 October.

To mark the occasion, the Statistical Society teamed up with the Australian Data Science Network for a lively online panel discussion on a topic of growing importance: trust in data.

The expert panel brought together a wealth of experience from government, academia, and industry to explore the real-world challenges of building and maintaining trust in data.

Since both the Statistical Society of Australia and the Australian Data Science Network are partner organisations of The Random Sample, we’re excited to share that discussion with you here.

The discussion was moderated by Lynne Giles, an Associate Professor of Biostatistics at The University of Adelaide and President of the Statistical Society of Australia.

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Our panellists:

Dr Lucy Farrell is Director of Data Strategy in the Australian Centre for Disease Control Establishment Strategy Branch at the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. In this role she is responsible for leading strategic reforms to improve national coordination, sharing and use of public health data, including through legislative reform, governance, methodology and technology. Prior to this role Lucy worked at the Australian Bureau of Statistics in analytical and methodology roles. Lucy is particularly interested the political and social dimensions of evidence use: what makes data meaningful, usable and powerful in shaping better outcomes for communities.

Associate Professor Kalinda Griffiths is a Yawuru woman living and working on Larrakia Country. She is an epidemiologist and the Director of Poche SA+NT at Flinders University with research focused on the quality and governance of Indigenous population level data, the measurement of health disparities, and the improvement of health services and outcomes. She has played a leading role in guiding policy on data systems and health and wellbeing reporting. She is an NHMRC Leadership Fellow and senior Atlantic Fellow for Social Equity. In addition, she holds a visiting fellowship at the Centre for Big Data Research in Health at UNSW and an honorary fellowship at the Menzies School of Health Research where she co-leads the Ramaciotti Training Centre.

Dr Ben Harrap is Vice President of the Statistical Society of Australia and a biostatistician who loves all things data. They’ve worked in many data contexts, from clinical trials and observational research to administrative data and large data linkage projects. Ben currently works at Yardhura Walani on the Mayi Kuwayu National Study of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing, where they oversee the end-to-end process of survey design, data collection and management, and statistical analysis, with Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Indigenous Data Governance being integral the whole way through.

Simon Jackman is a leading analyst of public opinion, elections and electoral systems and an Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney. After doctoral study at the University of Rochester and Princeton University, Jackman was a professor at the University of Chicago and Stanford University in political science and statistics, returning to Australia in 2016. Jackman is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, and the Society for Political Methodology and is the author of Bayesian Analysis for the Social Sciences (2009; Wiley). His recent work centres on the analysis of surveys and corrections for non-response, machine learning for predictive modelling and integrating LLMs into the analysis of social media and news.

Dr Sue Keay is Director of the UNSW AI Institute and an expert in robotics, AI, and automation. She founded Robotics Australia Group and leads initiatives that translate research into real-world impact. A fellow of ATSE, she serves on multiple advisory boards, including Visionary Machines. Sue is a member of the Kingston AI Group and Chief Executive Women. She holds a PhD in Earth Sciences (ANU), an MBA from the University of Queensland, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute for Company Directors.

Dr Aaron Snoswell is a senior research fellow in AI accountability at the QUT Generative AI Lab. His research uses computational and sociotechnical approaches to evaluate and better understand the knowledge and behaviour of Large Language Models. Aaron received his PhD in computer science in 2022 from University of Queensland. Prior to academia, Aaron worked across industry as a mechatronic engineer in medical device research and development, pilot and astronaut training, and software engineering.