AI Health Innovation Hub End-of-Year Meetup 2026
Description
This Meetup
One of the main requests after this year's AI in Mental Health Forum was more opportunities for the sector to network. This is the first AI Health Innovation Hub Meetup.
The AI Health Innovation Hub (AHIH) is EmoEx's incubator and the team behind the Forum. AHIH exists to bring Aotearoa New Zealand's AI in the mental health sector together.
We'll also introduce AHIH memberships and share the 2027 events calendar.
The Fireside Chat
Mental health and AI: when and how should AI hand over to a human?
Will Zhang from EmoEx talks with Michelle Eisenberg, Ph.D., Head of Clinical at ThroughLine.
They'll discuss when a conversation with an AI needs a human, what makes a handover feel safe, and what the sector hasn't solved yet. There will be time for questions from the room.
What to Expect
Discussion: A focused conversation with people working at the intersection of AI and mental health. Expect grounded, practical insight rather than polished keynotes.
Networking: Informal time to connect with peers working across healthcare, policy, research and digital health in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Food and Drinks: Light food and drinks are provided.
About AHIH Meetups
The AI Health Innovation Hub Meetup is a regular, informal event for clinicians, researchers, policymakers, digital health leaders and sector professionals working at the intersection of mental health and technology.
Meetups give the sector regular chances to connect between Forums. Each one centres on a discussion with people doing practical work in the field, followed by time to meet peers from across healthcare, policy, research and digital health.
Good to Know
Cost: $15 +GST. If you received an invitation from us, use the code in it for a free ticket.
Photography: Photos will be taken at the event and may be used in AHIH communications. Let our team know on the day if you would prefer not to be photographed.
Lineup
Michelle Eisenberg, Ph.D. - Head of Clinical, ThroughLine
Dr Michelle Eisenberg is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Head of Clinical at ThroughLine, a mental health crisis navigation company reaching millions of people through platforms including ChatGPT, Claude, Google, Microsoft Copilot, and Roblox. Her work sits at the intersection of clinical safety and AI product design - she helps build the frameworks, risk classification systems, and evaluation infrastructure that make AI-powered crisis support safer at scale. Before ThroughLine, she conducted postdoctoral research at Stanford University and the Palo Alto VA on neural biomarkers for PTSD, worked in applied machine learning translating technical results for non-clinical audiences, and spent over five years in full-time clinical practice.
Will Zhang - Co-founder & CEO, EmoEx | Co-chair AI Health Innovation Hub
With over 20 years of experience in strategy, marketing, and digital innovation, Will has led initiatives focused on scalable, accessible, and culturally responsive health technology. Will’s passion lies in advancing ethical, human-centred AI that complements, rather than replaces, professional healthcare, making mental health and wellbeing support more scalable, affordable, and inclusive.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
