Dr. Edward Santow served as Human Rights Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission from August 2016 until July 2021. After leaving the Commission, he became Industry Professor for Responsible Technology and Director of Policy & Governance at the Human Technology Institute (HTI) at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), where he now leads efforts to embed human-centered values into technology and AI governance.

Santow is widely recognized for his deep expertise in human rights law, public law, anti-discrimination law, and technology regulation. During his commissioner tenure, he steered the Commission’s work on the human rights implications of emerging technologies, digital identity, refugee and migration policy, LGBTI rights, national security legislation, and the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT). Since joining HTI, he has championed responsible AI—helping shape public and private sector understanding of ethical AI deployment, privacy, and justice in the age of algorithmic decision-making.