Description of subprojects and results, including major changes from the original proposal

With generous grant support from Manifund ($5,000 USD / $8,422 NZD total grant allocated), AI Safety Australia and New Zealand (AISANZ) awarded 11 travel grants ($500 NZD each) to enable impactful voices to attend New Zealand's Inaugural AI Safety Conference on July 4–5, 2026

Each recipient was provided $100 NZD toward ticket entry and $400 NZD toward travel costs. Applications were evaluated on whether the individual had a clear academic or field-building link to AI Safety with potential local impact in the next 1–3 years.

• Key Results & Impact:

  • Program Enrichment: ~6 to 7 grant recipients served as conference speakers, directly elevating program diversity and depth.

  • Network & Community Building: 100% of surveyed conference attendees reported making new professional connections (with over 60% forming 6+ connections).

  • Feedback: Post-conference surveys rated the event 4.8/5.0 overall, with 85% agreeing the event filled a critical unmet gap in the local AI landscape and increased their motivation toward AI governance.

• Major Changes & Lessons Learned (Retrospective):

  • Timeline & Returned Funds: Funding was transferred ~50 days prior to the conference. Due to the tight turnaround, several interested candidates experienced scheduling conflicts. Furthermore, institutional reimbursement constraints meant some academic researchers had to pay out-of-pocket initially.

  • Because we prioritized strict criterion alignment over rushed allocations, unallocated funds were returned rather than disbursed hastily. Future iterations will build in longer lead times and integrate grant applications directly into the event registration process.

Spending breakdown

Total Grant Received$8,422 NZD
Manifund allocation (~$5,000 USD)

Grants Issued $5,500 NZD 11 travel grants @ $500 NZD each ($100 ticket + $400 travel)

Unused Funds Returned$2,922 NZD Returned to Manifund due to tight allocation timeline as per T&C's however we are requesting that these surplus funds be re-invested for the exact same purpose for a follow up conference in March 2027 to prevent us reapplying. This decision is still pending.

Note: All recipients submitted formal receipts and proof of travel/accommodation purchase prior to reimbursement.