AI Governance Consultant, Perth
Evoltra Advisory provides AI governance consulting to organisations in Perth and across Western Australia. We help organisations understand what AI they are using, assess the risks it carries, and build governance structures that allow AI adoption to proceed responsibly rather than in ways that create exposure the organisation has not assessed.
AI adoption in Australian organisations is outpacing AI governance. Most organisations are using AI tools across their operations, some through formal programmes and many through individual adoption that has not been assessed, approved, or governed. The gap between adoption and governance is where the most significant risks sit: data exposure, accuracy failures, compliance breaches, and accountability gaps that become visible only after something goes wrong.
AI governance is not a technology problem; it is a governance problem. Boards and executives are accountable for the risks their organisations carry, and AI risk is increasingly part of that accountability. The emerging regulatory environment in Australia, through Privacy Act reform, sector-specific guidance from APRA and ASIC, and the voluntary AI Safety Standard, is moving in the direction of requiring organisations to demonstrate that AI risk is being actively managed. Organisations that build governance structures now are better positioned than those waiting for compliance mandates.
Our AI governance work is independent of AI vendors and platform providers. We assess what an organisation needs to govern its AI use effectively, not what any particular platform requires. This includes assessment of AI embedded in vendor products, which carries risks that many organisations have not evaluated, as well as AI tools adopted by employees outside formal IT governance.
What we focus on
AI governance framework
Design of an AI governance framework that covers AI inventory, risk assessment, use policy, accountability structures, and ongoing monitoring. Proportionate to the organisation's AI risk profile.
AI risk assessment
Structured assessment of AI systems in use, including embedded AI in vendor products. Identifies the risks each system carries and the controls required to manage them.
Shadow AI discovery
Assessment of unsanctioned AI use across the organisation. Finds what is being used, by whom, and for what purpose, so governance can be built around actual usage rather than assumed usage.
Copilot and Microsoft AI readiness
Governance assessment before deploying Microsoft 365 Copilot or other Microsoft AI capabilities. Addresses data classification, access permissions, and policy requirements that determine safe deployment.
Related services
AI Governance
AI governance framework design and implementation advisory.
AI Governance Assessment
Structured assessment of current AI governance posture.
Shadow AI Assessment
Discovery and assessment of unsanctioned AI use.
Copilot Readiness Assessment
Governance readiness assessment before Microsoft 365 Copilot deployment.
Common questions
Is AI governance relevant for organisations that are not building AI themselves?
Yes. Most organisations are using AI embedded in vendor platforms, commercial AI services, and productivity tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot, regardless of whether they have a formal AI programme. Each of these carries governance obligations: data handling, accuracy risk, compliance with regulatory requirements, and accountability for decisions informed by AI. Governance applies to AI use, not only to AI development.
What is the regulatory landscape for AI in Australia?
Australian AI regulation is developing through several channels: Privacy Act reform affecting automated decision-making, sector-specific guidance from APRA and ASIC, and the voluntary AI Safety Standard for government entities. The direction is toward increased regulatory expectation, and financial services, health, and government sectors face the most immediate attention. Organisations that have not assessed their AI risk and regulatory position are behind those that have.
How do we govern AI tools that employees are using without IT approval?
Shadow AI is best governed through discovery followed by a policy and control framework built around actual usage. Prohibitive policies without enforcement are not effective. The approach that works is understanding what employees are using and why, providing governed alternatives for legitimate use cases, and applying clear restrictions on the highest-risk uses. An AI use policy and accessible governance pathway reduces shadow AI more effectively than blanket prohibition.
Do you help with AI governance for specific sectors such as government or financial services?
Yes. AI governance requirements vary by sector, and our advisory is calibrated to the regulatory and risk environment the organisation operates in. Government, financial services, and health organisations in Western Australia face specific obligations that general AI governance frameworks do not fully address. We tailor assessments and framework designs to the sector-specific requirements that apply.
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