HEMA SRIDHAR

Strategic Advisor – Technological Futures

Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures

Hema has nearly 20 years of experience in government, primarily in the defence and national security sectors. As the Chief Advisor for Industry and Science at the Ministry of Defence, she worked with industry, research and science entities, government agencies and international partners to provide strategic advice to inform policy formulation, governance and capability decisions.

In her former capacity as the Chief Science Advisor for Defence, she worked closely with the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor (PMCSA) and other Chief Science Advisors to contribute to government strategic thinking and decision-making. Hema has a strong background in emerging and disruptive technologies, with a focus on risk, governance, and impact.

In her current role as the Strategic Advisor for Technological Futures at Koi-Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures, Hema is responsible for considering the impact of emerging technologies on society, risks and foresight. In this capacity, Hema has co-authored an AI risk framework for the International Science Council and is working closely with many entities (such as the OECD, World Economic Forum, UN to further the thinking on foresight and issues of governance of emerging technologies. She is a member of the French government governance working group established to support the AI action summit in February 2025.

Hema has a Master of Science in Physics and a Bachelor of Technology in Opto-electronics from the University of Auckland.