Dr Fiona Kerr

• Biography/ Background

  Dr Fiona Kerr is an expert in human connectivity and synchronisation, partnering with technology and building adaptive human systems. The founder of The NeuroTech Institute & FOCUS NTI, she consults and researches globally in finding solutions to emerging, complex problems, often at the intersection of neuroscience, emerging technology and ethical practice.

   

  With diverse qualifications in complex systems engineering, cognitive neuroscience, psychology and anthropology, built over nearly forty years working internationally in a range of industries, Fiona offers insights into the unique advantages that both people and technology offer, and shaping a human-centric future that balances human and artificial intelligence. 

   

  She is a global speaker, and holds international board and advisory positions in the robotics industry; AI design/ethics (including Finland’s national AI steering committee and the US Defence Department) and the Ministerial Health and Medical Advisory Panel. 

• Research Interests

  While Fiona's research interests are eclectic, they all share the common theme of developing a deeper understanding of the neurophysiology of human interaction. Fiona focusses on how human-to-human interaction positively impacts collaboration, complex decision-making, trust, belonging, health and immune system efficiency; and how to build better technology and create quality partnerships with AI.

  Human-technology interaction offers many benefits and opportunities when it is developed in ways which utilise both humans and technology to maximise the advantages both bring to any given situation. This requires the unique advantages of both to be understood.

  Research with the University of Adelaide

  Professions

  How to build flourishing adaptive systems (public/private/social/technical systems); leader cognition and its impact on what they build, and on the cognitive capacity of others. Projects include:

  • TELSTRA – redesign of technical service structure to better fit the changes in technology and delivery methods.
  • Harrison McMillan – “Disconnect to Reconnect” (stage 1, 12 months), a project to track changes in the use of technology (in workplace and after hours) to maximise enablement of productivity at work and communication with clients. (Increased productivity, staff numbers and client numbers over stage 1).
  • Kinetic Theatre – Collaborated with artists and performers on a Helpmann Grant-winning dance piece based on the neuroscience of connection, performed at ‘Perform your Science”, Dec 2018. Currently collaborating on the design of an educational performance on human connectivity, which will be presented in high schools across Australia.
  • Fraunhofer Institute, Baden (Germany) – Guest Collaboration on where to intervene in complex systems to change outcomes. Presentation: “Complex Systems, innovation policies and creativity: perspectives from Singapore, Finland and Australia”).
  • Strasbourg University, Fraunhofer Institute and Pennsylvania University – Co-designed and ran a summer school with Strasbourg University and Fraunhofer Institute for Pennsylvania University’s MBA students on cutting-edge innovation practices through Europe.
  • HEC Montréal (Canada) – Co-designed and ran a program with HEC Montréal’s Mosaic accelerator on creative ideation for leading organisations including Cirque du Soleil, Disney and Ubisoft.

  Engineering

  • Collaboration partnership and platform being built between the NeuroTech Institute and the Engineering Faculty.
  • ECMS cross-disciplinary research into health/aged care and assistive technology.
  • Work on Trusted Autonomous Systems (TAS), AI-human-synthetic partnerships and complex systems dynamics.
  • Part of TAS national PhD committee.

  Health Sciences

  • Completion of scoping review on the Neurophysiological Impact of touch and eye gaze on therapeutic relationships and healing.
  • Involvement/presentations on complex decision making in critical care, patient adherence, virtual health issues and robot nurses.

  Doctoral Supervision

  “The effects of Creativity on neuroplasticity and cognition in adults with post-traumatic stress disorder.”

  Extended Discussion on Research Areas

  The neurophysiological impact of human interaction with each other, and with and through technology

  Fiona researches the neurophysiological effects of direct human-to-human interaction, interaction between humans and technology, and technological intermediation on human interaction. She partnered with Health Sciences to write a research scoping review on "The Neurophysiological Effect of Touch and Eye Gaze on Healing", examining the scientific case for the positive therapeutic impacts of direct interaction between humans. Combining this with work on the impact of technological intermediation on interaction, Fiona regularly presents at medical/technical conferences on topics such as "The Rise of the Robot Nurse - Are Humans the Innovation Disruption We Seek?", speaking on both the amazing opportunities offered by technology and the advantageous neurophysiological and immunological impacts which occur when interacting through touch or direct gaze with another human as opposed to technical or chemical interaction. During 2019 Fiona will research the impact of a small robot in both aged and health care settings. 

  In the area of defence, Fiona collaborates with the Faculty of Engineering and DST Group to study a range of areas including trusted autonomous systems and moral weaponry; is part of the working group designing a national PhD program, and has now begun working on a US military project looking at the cognitive neuroscience of interacting with trusted autonomous systems in settings requiring complex problem solving.

  Neurogenesis

  Fiona sees the brain as a work-in-progress, and has spent a number of years researching the capacity of the brain to undergo neurogenesis (the building of new brain), under the right conditions, at any age. There are a number of activities which may promote neurogenesis and assist in the construction and maintenance of complex mental schemata, including positive face-to-face interaction with others, exercise, engaging with novelty (learning new things), diet (the microbiome) and sleep. Fiona wrote and presented Neurogenesis: a force for creativity? on ABC Radio National's Ockham's Razor with Robyn Williams (short written summary: Neurogenesis, leadership and rewiring your own brain) and regularly speaks on various aspects of shaping our brains and the brain of others. 

  The brains of leaders

  Another area of interest, and part of Fiona's doctoral thesis, is the cognitive differences in different styles of leaders. In particular her research examined the difference in the brain of the emergent logic leader: one who builds adaptive organisations and creates a flourishing environment; and how this contrasts with linear, autocratic leaders in terms of their mental frameworks, the organisations they build and their behaviour within them. 
  

  Fiona's thesis, based on over 25 years of experience in industry, can be found here: Creating and leading adaptive organisations: the nature and practice of emergent logic. Fiona continues to explore how leaders can alter the cognition of those they lead.

• Professional Interests

  Science Communicator

  In order to make the work more accessible and useful to organization's and non-academic audiences, Fiona has become a scientific communicator and is now an international speaker, with topics including:

  • The neurophysiological impact of direct human interaction and interconnection;
  • The effect of technological intermediation on human interaction;
  • Partnerships between humans and AI for a human-centric future;
  • The neuroscience of leadership and the fact that great leaders can grow people's brains;
  • The power of values, collaboration, creativity and the ideation process; and
  • Diverse topics including the neuroscience of space, learning, engagement and how different artistic hobbies change the brain as we age.

  In addition to her public speaking, Fiona has written about and discussed her areas of research for a number of media organisations, including the ABC (Radio National and Radio Adelaide), SBS, The Conversation, and The Advertiser. The the "LOOK UP" movement she created in early 2019 with Lekki Maze from Glider and the OMA includes a paper called "The Art and Science of Looking Up" and is aimed at people understanding how amazing the human brain is and how human interaction can change our brains, bodies, worldview, problem solving, communities and even nations (available at lookup.org.au). A list of Fiona's work in the area of science communication, including a number of her public lectures and articles, can be found at http://fiona-kerr.com/media/.

  Government

  Fiona works with ministerial and government bodies both in Australia and overseas, utilising her expertise in complex systems to advise on shaping creative bureaucracies, long-lens policy design, the neuroscience of engagement and democracy reform. All of these combine the areas of systems and neural complexity, which are profoundly intertwined in the majority of complex, long term societal issues and challenges. She has advised Finland's ministerial AI steering committee, Pennsylvania policy-makers and economic advisers on the social / economic aspects of AI design and use, ministers in Indonesia, Singapore, France and South Australia on building Innovative ecosystems, tech use and smart cities.  

• Community Engagement

  Fiona works with not-for-profit organisations in the sectors of ageing, health, art performance and business growth to assist in operational success as well as shaping strategy to deal with complex social issues. She is vice-chair of the Catalyst Foundation (http://www.catalystfoundation.com.au/), one of South Australia's leading independent not-for-profits in the areas of ageing and disability. She is also on the board of Brand South Australia to leverage the wonderful 'brains trust' SA has in its residents, and has worked with SA think-tanks on ageing, innovation, creativity and wellbeing.  

  Fiona has spoken on areas which build capacity and improve social capital, including:

  • Clinical practice and decision-making, and practices in palliative care
  • recalibrating big tech's moral compass
  • The neuroscience of human interconnection
  • Creating a connected society enabled by technology
  • E-Health - the impact of technology on healthcare delivery
  • what ageing well looks like 
  • Diet and the microbiome
  • the role of technology in education and creative performance

   

Entry last updated: Wednesday, 2 Nov 2022