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Dr

Andrew Lensen

(he/him)

Programme Director Artificial Intelligence

School of Engineering and Computer Science

Orcid identifier0000-0003-1269-4751
  • Programme Director Artificial Intelligence
    School of Engineering and Computer Science

BIO

Andrew Lensen received the BSc, BSc (Hons 1st class), and PhD degrees in computer science from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, in 2015, 2016, and 2019, respectively. He is currently a Senior Lecturer (Pūkenga Matua) in Artificial Intelligence (Atamai Horihori) at the School of Engineering and Computer Science and Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. He also is the Programme Director for Artificial Intelligence.

His core research interests centre around explainable and interdisciplinary artificial intelligence (AI) in New Zealand, including its social and ethical implications. He also has expertise in methods such as genetic programming and unsupervised learning (nonlinear dimensionality reduction) for XAI. He has a number of collaborations on "AI for good", which investigates the use of AI in ecology, flood modelling, legal decision-making, complex fluid analysis, and more.

He has recently co-launched LensenMcGavin AI (lm-ai.nz), a consultancy specialising in responsible AI in Aotearoa.

 

He was awarded the Critic and Conscience of Society award in 2026.

MEDIA

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ACADEMIC POSITIONS

  • Programme Director, Artificial Intelligence
    Victoria University of Wellington, School of Engineering and Computer Science, Wellington, New Zealand1 Oct 2024 - present
  • Senior Lecturer
    Victoria University of Wellington, School of Engineering and Computer Science, Wellington, New Zealand1 Jan 2023 - present
  • Postgraduate Coordinator (Coursework)
    Victoria University of Wellington, School of Engineering and Computer Science, Wellington, New ZealandMay 2022 - 30 Sep 2024
  • Lecturer
    Victoria University of Wellington, School of Engineering and Computer Science, Wellington, New Zealand6 Jul 2020 - 31 Dec 2022
  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow
    Victoria University of Wellington, School of Engineering and Computer Science, Wellington, New Zealand2019 - 2020

NON-ACADEMIC POSITIONS

  • Director
    LensenMcGavin AI, Wellington, New Zealand16 Jan 2025 - present

DEGREES

  • PhD
    Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand2016 - 2019
  • BSc (Hons 1st Class)
    Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand1 Jan 2015 - 1 Jan 2015
  • BSc
    Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand1 Jan 2012 - 1 Jan 2014

LANGUAGES

  • English
    Can read, write, speak, understand and peer review

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

  • 4 Quality Education
  • 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
  • 10 Reduced Inequalities
  • 15 Life on Land
  • 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

AVAILABILITY

  • Masters Research or PhD student supervision
  • Collaborative projects
  • Media enquiries
  • Membership of an advisory committee
  • Industry Projects

FIELDS OF RESEARCH