Overview
The transformation at Whitehorse City Council began when Lisa Ippolito and Louise Bracey recognised the potential of AI to enhance creativity, efficiency, and collaboration. Partnering with Simon Kriss, they built an internal AI network anchored in ethics, education, and experimentation.
Problem
- No dedicated AI function or roadmap.
- Staff stretched with repetitive manual work.
- Rising curiosity met with uncertainty and ethical concerns.
- Need for a safe environment to learn and question AI’s role.
Key Benefits
Credible Expert Guidance
Structured learning with AI fundamentals.
Safe Exploration
Non-intimidating introduction to AI use cases.
Practical Application
From prompt writing to workflow automation.
Community Impact
30+ engaged participants per session.
Testimonials
Simon’s a fabulous presenter. He makes a complex and sometimes confronting topic feel accessible. What draws the sector to him is his ability to contextualise AI for local government.
Lisa Ippolito
Continuous Improvement Project Specialist
Solution
AI fundamentals and ethics workshops.
Department-specific sessions (Culture, HR).
Co-design of an internal AI-readiness network.
Ongoing coaching and facilitation to build confidence.
Results
30+ consistent attendees per session.
Clear ethical guidelines and practical frameworks.
Launch of “WISEhorse” – AI-powered knowledge base for internal data.
Culture shift from cautious to confident adoption.
