Kelly Forbes

Kelly Forbes is the President and Executive Director of the AI Asia Pacific Institute (AIAPI), where she leads efforts to strengthen Asia-Pacific economies by advancing the responsible development and adoption of artificial intelligence. She focuses on addressing the risks associated with artificial intelligence and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a strategic advisor, she acts as a bridge between policy, research, and industry, working with leading organisations and governments on the governance of AI.

Kelly holds dual qualifications as a lawyer in both Common and Civil Law and holds certificates from The Australian National University and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She holds qualifications in Equity Law from The University of Auckland, a Certificate of Proficiency in Law from Queensland University of Technology, a Bachelor of Laws from UNICURITIBA, and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from The Australian National University. Her technical expertise and practical applications of AI as a global challenge stem from her Bachelor of Laws dissertation, which examined the role of international law in promoting international cooperation and justice to solve global challenges.

Career History

• President and Executive Director, AI Asia Pacific Institute (current)
• Editorial Board Member, AI and Ethics Journal at Springer Nature
• Advisory role at Qlik, accelerating responsible development of AI-driven product portfolio
• Advisory Committee Member, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
• Founding Member of the Singapore Branch of the International Law Association
• Legal Assistant, Norton Rose Fulbright
• 2013 Secretary and President of the International Law Association Victorian Chapter (Australian Branch)
• 2012-2014 Legal Researcher and Paralegal, State Revenue Office Victoria

Kelly has spent the past 15 years working in the Asia-Pacific region and is currently based in the United Arab Emirates. She is a member of the IEEE P2863TM Standards Development Group and serves on the Editorial Board of the AI and Ethics Journal at Springer Nature. Her contributions have been recognised internationally, with her work being featured in Forbes magazine and various global conferences. What Kelly Forbes could bring to her role at the AI Asia Pacific Institute: Her deep expertise in cross-jurisdictional law, combined with 15 years of Asia-Pacific experience and demonstrated leadership in building international cooperation frameworks, positions her to drive responsible AI governance across the region while advancing sustainable development goals through strategic policy advocacy and multi-stakeholder collaboration.