My research designs and validates a governance artefact for trustworthy AI adoption in critical infrastructure, grounded in operational environments and evaluated against established regulatory and cybersecurity standards. Drawing on Design Science Research (DSR) methodology, the research integrates explainable AI (XAI), AI assurance principles, and cyber-physical systems security to construct a governance framework that addresses the critical gap between rapid AI adoption and the absence of operationally grounded governance criteria in high-stakes environments. The expected outcome is an evidence-based framework applicable across OT/IT convergence environments, offering practical guidance for responsible and accountable AI deployment in sectors where failure carries significant public safety consequences.
Sara Abbas
PhD Student
School of Science
Email: sara.abbas@ecu.edu.au