Social Impact Policy
How Binary Refinery Contributes To A Safer, More Resilient Digital Future
Binary Refinery helps organisations harness AI with clarity, purpose, and responsibility.
As a firm working in a rapidly evolving technology landscape, we recognise our responsibility to support the communities most affected by the risks AI can create.
This policy outlines our commitments to safety, education, harm reduction, and responsible practice, and the governance processes that support those commitments.
1. Our Principles
People First
Human dignity, wellbeing, and safety guide every decision we make.
Technology should expand human potential and strengthen trust.
Care and Common Sense
We take a practical, people-led approach.
We prioritise clarity, minimise harm, and support informed, confident decision-making.
Independence and Integrity
We provide vendor-independent advice and uphold strong governance, transparency, and ethical standards in all AI-related work.
2. Our Social Impact Commitments
A. Education for Vulnerable Communities
Binary Refinery provides free, accessible educational sessions designed to improve digital resilience and safety for:
Teachers and parents supporting young people exposed to deepfakes, misinformation, and non-consensual synthetic imagery.
Seniors and caregivers at heightened risk of AI-enabled scams, voice cloning, impersonation fraud, and financial exploitation.
These sessions are plain-language, empowering, and focused on practical steps to keep people safe.
B. Financial Support for Organisations Reducing Digital Harm
We contribute a portion of revenue each year to organisations working to:
Combat online abuse and image-based harm.
Protect children and young people from digital exploitation.
Support seniors vulnerable to fraud and impersonation.
Strengthen public resilience against misinformation.
Advance thoughtful, transparent, and accountable AI governance.
We publish a list of supported organisations annually.
C. Responsible Use of AI in Our Practice
We commit to using and recommending AI in ways that:
Prioritise safety, accuracy, and responsible outcomes.
Protect privacy and respect human dignity.
Avoid hype, exaggeration, and fear-based narratives.
Provide clients with clear, pragmatic guidance and realistic expectations.
Incorporate strong governance, risk management, and quality assurance.
We model the standards we advocate for.
3. How We Uphold This Policy
Transparency
We communicate openly about our practices, the limitations of AI systems, and the risks of misuse.
Continuous Learning
We monitor emerging risks and update our guidance, training, and internal processes accordingly.
Collaboration
We work with community organisations, educators, safety groups, and industry bodies to ensure our efforts are relevant and impactful.
Annual Review and Reporting
This policy is reviewed every 12 months.
We publish an annual summary of:
Community education delivered
Organisations supported
Policy updates
Key learnings and emerging risks
4. Governance & Oversight
Roles and Responsibilities
Director (Policy Owner)
Owns this policy and ensures it reflects Binary Refinery’s values and commitments.
Approves updates, contributions, partnerships, and public statements.
Oversees delivery of community education initiatives.
Ensures responsible AI practice within the business.
Binary Refinery Team Members and Contractors
Uphold this policy in all client engagements.
Identify emerging risks and escalate concerns promptly.
Maintain confidentiality, professionalism, and ethical standards.
External Partners
Are selected based on alignment with our values, safety standards, and positive social impact.
Must not engage in practices that undermine digital safety or human dignity.
5. Policy Management
Version Control
Current Version: 1.0
Date of Last Review: 3 December 2025
Next Scheduled Review: December 2026
Policy Owner:
Kat Mac – Director, Binary Refinery
Revision History
03 Dec 2025 (v1.0) — Initial release of Social Impact Policy, including commitments to education, donations, responsible AI practice, and governance framework.
Author: K. Mac
Document Governance
This policy is approved by the Director of Binary Refinery.
Amendments must be authorised by the Policy Owner.
Updates are documented in the Change Log for transparency and traceability.
Superseded versions are archived and retained for reference for a minimum of 3 years.
This document forms part of Binary Refinery’s governance framework and complements our responsible AI practices and strategic planning processes.
6. Our Belief
AI can help people work smarter, make better decisions, and build stronger organisations - but only when guided by clarity, care, and responsibility.
Binary Refinery is committed to shaping a digital future that is safer, more informed, and more resilient for all New Zealanders.
If you’d like to partner with us, host a seminar, or learn more about our social impact work, we’d love to hear from you.