Then What?

Hello!

Welcome to the ‘Then What’ expositions.

The product of decades of getting hands dirty and pushing the edge in government service delivery, high tech, and innovation – and refusing to yield to the status quo.

Literally, I am inundated with requests from people around Australia and around the world, asking me to write not only about the NDIS, but the broader technology, AI, and human rights landscape and futures. And where do the billions and trillions of dollars actually go?

People say they appreciate my unvarnished independent commentary – and want a lot more. The demand is coming from across every sector, international keynote presentations, university courses, and various media platforms.

So here we go!

For the first few months, ‘Then What’ will be free. 

Then you will have a REALLY exciting choice. Pay MILLIONS to consultants.

OR subscribe for a FEW DOLLARS a month to the ‘Then What’ expositions.

And what do you get for a few bucks a month? Definitively NOT a ‘prepared by ACME Consulting’ marketing think piece.

You will get at least a weekly exposition of the only question that matters in government and health technology, globally. Always controversial. And I will celebrate the GREAT stuff.

Sign up now to start receiving regular ‘Then What’ expositions when it launches very soon to get full access to the newsletter and website. Never miss an update.

Me

Marie Johnson is an eminent global award-winning digital authority, and advocate for the humanitarian application of AI.

She is an international speaker, author, and commentator on artificial intelligence, human rights, technology, ehealth, cyber, identity, ethics, and innovation.

Marie’s expertise is the human interface in complex servicing systems. Her philosophy is to deeply understand the human experience as the first principle of co-design. There can be no other starting point and posing the ‘Then What’ question is the golden thread.

Marie believes that with universal co-design, AI exponentially changes outcomes and directions in human endeavour.

Described as a ‘public entrepreneur’, ‘crazy brave’, Marie is a trailblazer with a track record for tackling wicked problems head-on. Marie says she prefers the ‘edge’ because it’s uncomfortable and that’s what sparks innovation.  The ‘edge’ is often the ‘dark side of the moon’.

Throughout her career, Marie’s extraordinary expertise has been sought by world leaders and global organisations on the geo-political and democratic dynamics of national technology.

Her distinguished career encompasses leading Microsoft’s Worldwide Public Services and eGovernment industry based in Seattle. In taking up this role, the US Government awarded Marie the prestigious O-1 Visa for Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement.

For many years, Marie was the Chief Technology Architect for the Australian Department of Human Services, with responsibilities including the architecture and technology business cases bringing together the massive systems of Centrelink, Medicare Australia, and the Child Support Agency. Marie was previously the Chief Technology Architect for the Australian Health and Human Services Access Card.

Marie was Head of the Technology Authority for the Australia’s National Disability Insurance Agency and responsible for the creation of Nadia, the world’s first AI powered Digital Human for service delivery.

Marie is a writer and regular contributor to a variety of media publications. She has authored chapters for books, and authored and co-authored international papers.

Marie is an in-demand international keynote speaker and sought-after participant on podcasts and webinars. She has spoken at Singularity University Exponential Medicine; Medica, the world’s largest medical and health trade fair; O’Reilly AI; and in 2020, delivered the Kenneth Jenkins Oration.

The innovation and digital initiatives Marie has led have been recognised globally.

These include the United Nations Public Service Award in the category ‘Application of ICT in government: egovernment’ for Business Entry Point (www.business.gov.au) which she led for 5 years.

Marie was recognised as the 2006-2007 ‘Innovative CIO of the Year – Australia’; named one of Australia’s ‘100 Women of Influence” in 2013; and awarded the ‘Exceptional Woman of Excellence’ at the 2019 Women Economic Forum.

In 2022, Marie received the Australian Capital Territory Mental Health Carer Award.

Marie is an active supporter of cardiac health and cancer research as a donor, fundraiser, and participant. This included shaving her head bald for the World’s Greatest Shave, and running the 2012 London Marathon which together with a team of ten raised more than $100,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation. The Johnsons are supporters of the Indigenous Marathon Foundation.

Marie has an MBA from the Melbourne Business School (specialising in innovation, technology, and ecommerce); Bachelor of Arts Deakin University (international relations, defence, and strategic studies); Graduate of the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government Senior Executive Fellows Program; and Graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Find out more about Marie on Marie-Johnson.com