Hickin to Step Down as AI Centre Director
Lee Hickin will leave his post leading Australia's National AI Centre in January 2027, and a replacement is being recruited.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
Lee Hickin, director of Australia's National AI Centre, has announced he will step down in January 2027. A job advertisement has been posted seeking a successor to lead the centre's push for trusted artificial intelligence.
Why it matters
The National AI Centre is tasked with encouraging small and medium businesses to adopt artificial intelligence, so its leadership shapes how Australian firms approach the technology. Hickin said it was time to retire after 33 years working in the technology industry.
The National AI Centre is funded by $21.6 million from the federal government and was established in 2021 within the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. The source does not detail how the funding will be allocated after Hickin's departure.
The players
Lee Hickin
Lee Hickin is a technology executive with 33 years in the industry who previously held regional roles at Microsoft and Amazon.
National AI Centre
The National AI Centre is an Australian government body established in 2021 to help small and medium businesses adopt artificial intelligence.
The details
Lee Hickin announced his retirement on LinkedIn, and a job advertisement has been posted to find his replacement. Hickin previously held regional executive roles at Microsoft and Amazon before taking the executive director role in 2025.
Timeline
2021: The National AI Centre was established within the Department of Industry, Science and Resources.
2025: Hickin took on the executive director role.
January 2027: Hickin is scheduled to step down.
Roadmap
The National AI Centre was established in 2021 within the Department of Industry, Science and Resources to drive AI adoption among Australian businesses. Hickin's departure marks a leadership change as the centre continues that mandate under a new director.
Small and medium businesses in Australia looking to adopt artificial intelligence rely on the National AI Centre's guidance, so leadership changes may affect the support available to them. The practical effects will depend on who is appointed and how the centre's programs continue.
The takeaway
Leadership changes at publicly funded AI bodies can shape how businesses access guidance on adopting the technology. Businesses following the centre's work may watch for the successor's appointment and any changes to its programs.
What happens next
Hickin is scheduled to step down in January 2027, and the recruitment for his replacement is ongoing.
Further reading
For broader background on how governments are shaping AI adoption, see Artificial Intelligence coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Capital Brief.
