Mercy Health’s leadership in ethical artificial intelligence (AI) governance is being recognised nationally, with Chief Information Officer Dr Paul Jurman appointed to three significant leadership roles spanning the health and higher education sectors.
Dr Paul Jurman has been appointed as an External AI Expert on the Australian Catholic University AI Council, an Adjunct Professor of Practice at ACU, and the inaugural Chair of Catholic Health Australia’s AI Community of Practice. The appointments reflect growing interest in practical approaches to ethical AI governance and responsible adoption across Australian organisations.
The recognition builds on Mercy Health’s longstanding commitment to ensuring emerging technologies are implemented in ways that support, rather than compromise, human dignity and trust.
“While many organisations are focused on how quickly artificial intelligence can be adopted, our focus has been on how it can be implemented ethically and responsibly,” he said.
As AI technologies become increasingly embedded in everyday life, healthcare and aged care providers are grappling with questions around transparency, accountability and appropriate governance. For Mercy Health, those questions are closely linked to its mission and values.
“Trust sits at the heart of healthcare and aged care,” he said. “As artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent, organisations must be able to demonstrate that they are using AI ethically and responsibly.”
Mercy Health was the first Australian health and aged care provider to endorse the internationally recognised Rome Call for AI Ethics, which promotes transparency, accountability, inclusion and respect for human dignity in the development and use of artificial intelligence. Since signing the Rome Call, Mercy Health has developed a practical governance framework to help organisations apply those principles in real-world settings.
The organisation’s work also aligns with the direction outlined in Magnifica Humanitas, the May 2026 encyclical of Pope Leo XIV, which calls on organisations to ensure emerging technologies serve humanity, protect human dignity and advance the common good. The encyclical places particular emphasis on ethical governance, accountability and responsible innovation as AI adoption accelerates globally, reinforcing the principles that underpin Mercy Health’s approach.
For Paul, the appointments provide an opportunity to contribute to important conversations about the future of AI while continuing to share practical lessons from the healthcare and aged care sectors.
As organisations across Australia seek to harness the benefits of artificial intelligence, Mercy Health’s experience demonstrates that innovation and ethical responsibility can work hand in hand, ensuring technology remains focused on serving people and supporting better outcomes for communities.
