Ep 31: World-First AI in Schools – With Leigh Williams, CIO at Brisbane Catholic Education

In this episode of The AI Grapple, Kate vanderVoort chats with Leigh Williams, Chief Information Officer at Brisbane Catholic Education, who is leading a world-first implementation of AI across a school system. With more than 13,000 staff and hundreds of locations under her care, Leigh shares how her team is bringing ethical, scalable, and deeply human-centred AI into the classroom. From cutting admin by 9 hours a week to transforming how students are supported and assessed, this is one of the most exciting real-world uses of AI we’ve seen.

Leigh’s career spans teaching, executive leadership, national advisory roles, international education, and academic research. She is also a passionate advocate for early-career women in tech and has multiple postgrad qualifications in education, business, IT and leadership.

Whether you’re in education, technology, a parent or leading digital change in any sector, this episode is packed with practical takeaways on how to roll out AI ethically, safely, and effectively – at scale.

🔑 Key Highlights

1. From Teacher to Tech Leader

Leigh shares her journey from teaching IT and biology in classrooms to leading national transformation programs and now driving digital innovation across one of the largest education systems in Queensland. Her experience across international and domestic education gives her a unique lens on what’s possible with AI in schools.

2. How AI is Saving Teachers 9 Hours a Week

Through a pilot with Microsoft Copilot, Leigh’s team measured a time saving of over nine hours per week per teacher – a full day’s work. That time is now going back into the classroom, improving teacher wellbeing and student outcomes. Leigh explains exactly how this was achieved and why it’s already attracting teachers to work at BCE.

3. Hyper-Personalised Student Learning

Leigh outlines how AI tools are being used to create tailored learning pathways for every student – adjusting literacy and numeracy content in real time based on individual performance. This goes far beyond digital textbooks, offering meaningful engagement based on each student’s interests and learning style.

4. The Rome Call for AI Ethics

Ethics isn’t an afterthought. Leigh walks us through how the Rome Call for AI Ethics, developed by the Vatican in partnership with Microsoft and IBM, provides the framework for every AI initiative BCE rolls out. This includes principles like inclusivity, impartiality and reliability – and how they’re applied practically in the school system.

5. Real-Time Assessment and Wellbeing Tracking

From progressive reporting to emotional check-ins, AI is helping identify trends in student wellbeing and engagement. Leigh shares examples of how BCE is using AI to create more dynamic, compassionate classrooms that go far beyond traditional assessment models.

6. Shifting the Conversation: From Fear to Possibility

Leigh talks about how she worked with the BCE board, staff and parents to move from caution to confidence with AI. By addressing fears head-on and sharing real data from pilots, her team created trust and momentum that made scaling AI possible.

7. What’s Next: AI, Robotics and Immersive Learning

Looking to the future, Leigh shares her excitement about the next wave – combining AI with robotics, virtual reality and augmented reality to create deeper, more immersive learning experiences. Think ancient Rome in the classroom – in 3D.

📣 Connect with Leigh

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leigh-williams-profile/

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