AI consulting for Australian organisations — frameworks first, flashy tools second.
One of three capabilities under our Fractional CIO practice. ISO 42001 practitioners covering AI readiness, use-case selection, workflow automation, secure adoption and governance for AI you can trust with production data.
Sydney operating base · On-site across NSW · Remote across Australia
What you get out of it
- A defensible AI strategy that starts with risk, not tools
- An AI risk register mapped to ISO 42001
- An AI acceptable use policy your legal team will sign
- Vendor evaluation frameworks for Copilot, ChatGPT Enterprise, Claude and Gemini
- A ranked automation backlog with a net-benefit case for each workflow
- A board and executive team that actually understand what they’ve approved
How we work with you
AI readiness assessment
A structured review of your data, security, controls, use cases and culture. Output: a scored readiness view plus the specific gaps to close first.
AI strategy & operating model
A one-page AI strategy tied to real business outcomes, plus the operating model — who owns what, who approves what, how you fund it.
Workflow automation opportunity map
Map repetitive, high-friction work and rank it by value, feasibility, risk and adoption readiness, with a net-benefit case for the top candidates.
Human-in-the-loop design and pilot
Review points, exception handling and approval evidence designed up front, then one bounded workflow piloted with measurable success criteria and a rollback path.
Secure AI adoption framework
Our five-gate framework from ideation to production, including safeguards for data, prompts, outputs, evaluation and rollback.
AI vendor & tool evaluation
Objective vendor scoring across security, data handling, contractual position, roadmap and ecosystem — not marketing sheets.
Use case workshops
Facilitated executive workshops to select the two or three AI use cases most likely to pay back, with the risk lens applied up front.
Why FORTE/CYBERx Advisory
Not another consulting firm. Former enterprise CIOs bringing operator-grade cyber and AI leadership to Australian SMEs.
One accountable CIO, not a panel
Cyber strategy, compliance and AI sit with one operator who has led technology inside banking, healthcare, higher education and government.
AI-ready, not AI-hyped
ISO 42001 practitioners. We secure the enterprise for AI before spinning up flashy tools. Frameworks first, tooling second.
Three capabilities, one programme
Cybersecurity strategy, ISO 27001 and ISO 42001 compliance, and AI consulting delivered as one plan with shared evidence and a single audit cycle.
Local, but not small
Sydney-based, delivering across NSW. On-site when it matters, remote-first when it does not.
Platform-augmented delivery
Every engagement includes FORTE/CYBERx platform access. Our consultants use it live in your board meetings — you keep using it after we leave.
Ready to scope this engagement?
Share the decision or constraint. A senior operator replies within one business day — no sales pod, no scripted discovery.
Pressure-test the decision in the Platform.
Run two full decision analyses free, compare practical paths and create a Decision Record and Tactical Plan.
Frequently asked
Isn’t AI consulting mostly hype right now?+
Most of it is. Our practice is different because we come at AI as former enterprise CIOs — meaning our first questions are about data classification, identity, egress, contractual position and regulatory exposure, not which model to fine-tune.
Which workflows should we automate first?+
High-volume, repeatable work with clear decision rules, reliable data and measurable delay or labour cost. We deliberately avoid starting with your most complex or politically sensitive process.
Do you build automations or only advise?+
Both. We take a workflow from discovery and business case through architecture, build, controlled pilot and handover to your team.
What is ISO 42001 and do we need it?+
ISO 42001 is the international standard for AI Management Systems, published in late 2023. You don’t need to be certified to benefit — the framework is a strong governance backbone. For regulated industries, boards or clients that will ask, formal certification is worth planning for.
Can you help us safely roll out Microsoft 365 Copilot?+
Yes. Copilot rollouts fail most often because of over-shared SharePoint sites and unclear sensitivity labels. We run a Copilot readiness workshop that surfaces those risks and gives you a phased rollout plan with the right controls.
How do you feel about custom AI builds?+
We’re cautious. Most SME use cases are better served by off-the-shelf enterprise AI with proper governance than a custom build. When a custom build is right, we help you scope it so it doesn’t become a shadow production system nobody can secure.
Do you have tech partnerships for AI infrastructure?+
Yes — Microsoft, AWS, Google Cloud, and specialist MDR/DLP/IAM partners. We’re architecture-led, not partner-led. The stack we recommend is the one your risk and business case supports.
What about ISO 27001 + 42001 together?+
They’re designed to be read together. We run joint programmes so your ISMS and AIMS share evidence, controls and audit cycles rather than duplicating overhead.
Talk to a senior advisor
Tell us the decision, constraint or opportunity. A senior operator responds within one business day.