Dr Gareth Jones is an Indigenous scholar-practitioner from Aotearoa New Zealand and Chief Executive of Ngā Pou Mana Tangata Whenua Allied Health. His work spans Indigenous health leadership, artificial intelligence, cybernetics, digital self-determination, Indigenous knowledge systems, intelligence, national security and emerging technologies.

Gareth is currently undertaking doctoral research at the Australian National University School of Cybernetics, investigating whether artificial intelligence can meaningfully engage with Indigenous worldviews, with a comparative focus on Māori, Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Pacific knowledge systems.

He has a postgraduate background in intelligence, international security, conflict and terrorism studies, and applied psychology, with particular interests in online harms, misinformation and disinformation, and radicalisation. His international engagement includes participation in Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) working groups, including work focused on youth, gaming and preventing pathways to online radicalisation and violent extremism.

Gareth is also the creator of Ask an Aunty, a culturally grounded programme developed through approximately six years of workshop delivery and more than a decade working to support youth well being. The programme works with young people to strengthen digital resilience and critical thinking while exploring social media, AI, misinformation, online harms, attention and healthy relationships with technology.

A key element is Disconnect to Reconnect, which encourages intentional disconnection from constant digital connectivity while strengthening connection with culture, Country, family, community and identity. His wider work brings together Indigenous knowledge, cybernetics, intelligence and community practice to explore safer and more human-centred approaches to AI and our increasingly connected world.