Mimi Zou

Professor
Head of School of Private & Commercial Law
UNSW Sydney

Professor Mimi Zou is a leading global expert in law and innovation, based at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) with a Visiting Fellowship at the University of Oxford. She is internationally renowned for her work in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) governance and policy, financial, regulatory and legal technology. She received a Global Australian Award in 2024 for her significant research and policy contributions to these fields, including as an expert advisor to the G7, World Economic Forum, World Bank and the UK Government's responsible technology adoption body.

Prior to joining UNSW, Professor Zou held various senior academic positions at top institutions worldwide, including the University of Oxford where she was appointed to the first post in Chinese law and founded Oxford's first lawtech innovation lab and a regtech spinout. She has been called to the Bar in England and Wales and admitted as a Solicitor in New South Wales. She graduated from the University of Oxford with DPhil in Law and Bachelor of Civil Law with Distinction degrees.

Professor Zou actively collaborates with industry, government bodies, and civil society organizations to advance responsible AI practices and enhance ethical standards in technology use. She is an adviser to a number of cutting-edge AI startups in the USA and UK. Her insights are regularly sought by global media, and she frequently speaks at prestigious conferences around the world. A committed educator, Professor Zou actively mentors the next generation of innovators, fostering critical thinking and interdisciplinary knowledge in her students.