SESSION 2

National Investigations Symposium 2027

Explore the speakers, presentations and panellists across the 3 streams:

WEDNESDAY 2 JUNE 2027: 13:15pm - 15:00pm

STREAM 2A: CONTEMPORARY INVESTIGATIVE CHALLENGES

Vic Gaffney

Team Leader, Investigations

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT & WATER, SA

Vulnerable witnesses and interviewing: A trauma-informed, culturally safe approach

The ICU maintains a zero-tolerance approach to violence; abuse directed towards park rangers. We examine a complex investigation involving a lone Aboriginal female park ranger who was the victim of alleged offending and a vulnerable witness after being subjected to racial abuse and intimidation by a group of aggressive males, at a National Park in South Australia.

ICU implemented its Witness Care Package to support the victim’s wellbeing and prepare her for the investigative process, focusing on building rapport, explaining investigative procedures, reducing anxiety, addressing welfare and cultural considerations, and maintaining ongoing communication throughout the investigation. This early intervention enhanced the witness's confidence and ability to participate effectively.

Integrating witness care, trauma-informed interviewing practices, and culturally responsive engagement, which significantly improved investigative outcomes. It highlights the importance of adapting investigative strategies to meet the needs of vulnerable witnesses while maintaining evidentiary integrity, procedural fairness, and the wellbeing of those involved.

STREAM 2B: EMERGING RISKS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Jose-miguel Bello y Villarino

Senior Research Fellow

UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY, NSW

Jessica Cahill

Acting Principal Intelligence Analyst

ICAC NSW

Jenny Ryan

Senior Corruption Prevention Officer

ICAC NSW

PANEL DISCUSSION

AI-enabled investigation processes: governing automation, external data and investigative intelligence

Effective use of AI in public-sector integrity agencies depends on the availability, reliability and lawful governance of data. This panel examines these interconnected challenges through three perspectives: automating open-source intelligence and governing its collection and use; managing uncertainty when AI systems rely on external data; and using insights from completed investigations to identify patterns for future investigations.

The speakers will consider risks relating to data provenance, quality, acquisition and scalability, alongside the governance arrangements required to maintain accountability and investigative integrity. Attendants are expected to gain practical understanding of potential reasons why technically promising approaches may not scale and how agencies can evaluate data limitations and governance risks before deploying them.

The session provides transferable insights for investigators, intelligence practitioners, integrity professionals and decision-makers considering responsible uses of AI.

  • OSINT automation and its governance
  • AI and uncertainty about external data
  • Limits to data scalability for completed investigations

STREAM 2C: INVESTIGATING IN THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT

DETAILS TO BE CONFIRMED

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The NIS is a joint initiative of the NSW ICAC, the NSW Ombudsman and IPAA NSW

@2026 Institute of Public Administration Australia NSW Division Ltd