Jeff Bleich Centre for Democracy & Disruptive Technologies

An expert voice on how to strengthen the core values and institutions of democratic societies in a world where technology constantly disrupts the status quo.

Centre Overview

The Jeff Bleich Centre for Democracy and Disruptive Technologies (JBC) is a research centre in the College of Business, Creative Arts, Law and Social Sciences, Flinders University.

The JBC recognises that democratic values and institutions need strengthening in order to flourish in democratic societies. It also recognises the disruptive nature of some technological advances, including the positive social impact that some of these technologies can facilitate, as well as the misuses that can undermine public trust and democratic values and processes.

The centre is named after Jeffrey Bleich, former US Ambassador to Australia appointed by President Barack Obama in 2009. Ambassador Bleich serves as Chairman of the JBC Advisory Board.

"

“We all know that the advent of digital technology has fundamentally changed the way we each work, live, and relate. But it has also changed our societies and how we defend ourselves.

Our nations — both separately and together — must operate in new ways to preserve our values and protect our people and allies in new battle spaces.

This is the mission of the Jeff Bleich Centre for Democracy and Disruptive Technologies.”

Ambassador (ret) Jeffrey Bleich Former U.S. Ambassador to Australia

Latest News

Latest Event

There is no harder, more wicked problem than AI.
No harder, more wicked opportunity.

What role should Australia play in an AI-driven world?
Find the answers at the 2026 JBC Distinguished Lecture, delivered by The Hon Dr Kevin Rudd AC.

Click to watch the full lecture and panel discussion

Latest Report

Sovereign AI Through Governance Harnesses:
Evidence from a Multi-Jurisdiction Evaluation

Ben Kereopa-Yorke, Rodrigo Praino

Local governments don't need their own AI model — they need better guardrails. Our governance harness wraps any frontier AI with auditable safeguards (source checks, citation rules, escalation protocols), boosting accuracy up to 22 points across four models.

Click to read the full report

Our Research

The Jeff Bleich Centre was established to undertake world-leading research, to strengthen the core values and institutions of democratic societies.

Most of our research projects are externally-funded through competitive grants, contracted research, and philanthropic donations.

Opportunities for Researchers

Visiting Scholar Fellowship

We welcome esteemed national or international scholars who seek to work on research that intersects with the Centre's core research themes.

Award: 7,000 AUD for no less than 6 weeks

Assessment Criteria

Alignment with one/more of the Research Topics
Candidate track record in producing research
Benefits to the candidate derived from participating in the Fellowship
Benefits to the JBC from the Candidate's participation in the Fellowship
Proposed collaboration with a member of the JBC

How to Apply

To apply, please provide the following documents via email:

Academic CV
Letter of Recommendation
Personal statement addressing the Fellowship criteria
Summary of proposed work (must include a summary of work proposed to be undertaken, any members of the JBC the Candidate intends on working with)

Enquire today!

Fulbright Mentorship Program

We are able to pair prospective applicants with Flinders University academic staff who have previously acquired Fulbright scholarships in their research field.

These mentors can provide valuable advice on how to write a successful Fulbright application, and give insights into what assessors are looking for.

More about Fulbright

Enquire

Become an Affiliate with the JBC

We welcome academics from across the world to join us in delivering high-quality research and engagement initiatives.

Enquire today!

Opportunities for Students

We train the next generation of researchers and policy-makers within areas crucial to our democracy.

Applications for 2027 are now closed

Washington Internship

An exclusive opportunity to work in the office of a member of the U.S. Senate or the U.S. House of Representatives, and to experience American political life right where it happens on Capitol Hill.

Find out more

Applications for 2027 are now closed

Vienna Space Internship

Spend up to 8 weeks in the charming city of Vienna where you'll discover how law and policy can impact human activity in space, with an opportunity to sit in on meetings at the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs.

Find out more

Keen to complete an Honours?

Align your thesis with one of our research themes and score a $1,000 bursary!

Access the brochure

Apply now for 2027

We offer a $1,000 bursary to bright and capable undergraduate students wishing to align their Honours thesis with the research themes and goals of the JBC.

To be eligible, research projects need to focus on at least 1 of the 4 Research Areas of the JBC, and would need to receive provisional approval from a JBC member who is willing to supervise the project.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and will close once all available slots have been allocated.