Michael O'Keefe.
Twenty-five years across technology governance, regional operating model design, partner compliance oversight and Microsoft cloud - now applied to AI strategy, roadmap, procurement and governance for executives, technology leaders and risk functions in Australia and New Zealand.
About Michael
Michael founded Bouddi to close a specific gap: Australian and New Zealand executives and boards being asked to make AI investment decisions - and sign off on AI governance arrangements - that no-one had built to be defended.
His twenty-five-year career spans technology governance, risk management, cross-functional strategy and organisational change across complex technology environments. He spent more than a decade at Microsoft, most recently as Senior Director of Asia Partner Sales Excellence - owning governance, strategy and operational outcomes for the partner excellence function across six sub-regions, and overseeing third-party partner compliance with Microsoft's technology policies, data handling, cybersecurity and responsible AI usage guidelines.
His practice at Bouddi is anchored to the international standards Australian and New Zealand regulators are converging on - ISO/IEC 42001:2023, ISO 31000:2018, and APRA's CPS 220, 230 and 234 - and to the Australian-specific instruments shaping responsible AI adoption: the NSW AI Ethics Policy and AI Assessment Framework (AIAF), the Voluntary AI Safety Standard (VAISS), and the National Framework for AI Assurance in Government.
Michael is AB-731 (AI Transformation Leader) certified by Microsoft and a Prosci-certified change practitioner. He is known for resilience and composure in high-pressure, ambiguous environments, a deep commitment to customer-focused service delivery, and sustained investment in building team capability. Engagements at Bouddi are co-delivered with client business, technology, risk, compliance and internal audit teams so capability stays in-house - not on a consultant's laptop.
- Sydney-based · serving Australia and New Zealand.
- Available for confidential conversations within one business day.
Credentials & expertise
Standards, certifications and core competencies.
Bouddi work is grounded in formal standards rather than proprietary frameworks. Below: the certifications, regulatory instruments and competency areas Michael brings to every engagement.
Certifications
- AB-731 - AI Transformation Leader, Microsoft (2026)
- Prosci Certified Change Practitioner (2020)
- Microsoft Certified - Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (2019)
Standards & regulatory frameworks
- ISO/IEC 42001:2023 - AI Management Systems
- ISO 31000:2018 - Enterprise Risk Management
- APRA CPS 220 / 230 / 234 - Operational and information security risk
- NIST AI Risk Management Framework (cross-walked)
- EU AI Act (cross-walked, where extraterritorially applicable)
- NSW AI Ethics Policy & AI Assessment Framework (AIAF)
- Voluntary AI Safety Standard (VAISS)
- National Framework for AI Assurance in Government
Core competencies
- Technology strategy, roadmap and governance
- Pattern recognition, process & technology mapping
- Risk management, compliance & assurance
- Vendor & third-party oversight
- Stakeholder influence & negotiation
- Responsible AI & ethics policy
- Organisational design
- Change management (Prosci)
- People leadership & capability uplift
Industry & client experience
- Microsoft Cloud, AI & Data platforms (Azure & AI Business Process), deep relationships across Australia, Asia and in Seattle
- Major financial services - ING, ANZ, NAB, Suncorp
- Telecommunications & utilities - Telstra, ActewAGL
- Public sector - government and indigenous corporate partnerships
- Microsoft partner ecosystem across six Asia sub-regions
Career
Twenty-five years across consulting, cloud and Microsoft.
Abridged career history. The full record - engagement detail, references and outcomes - is available on request under NDA.
- Senior Director, Asia Partner Sales Excellence
- Director, Chief of Staff to Asia Chief Operating Officer
- Senior Manager, ANZ Marketing & Operations Strategy
- Senior Manager, Worldwide Sales Strategy - Business Applications
- Senior Manager, Business Group Lead - Business Applications Australia
- Senior Product Marketing Manager - Cloud & Enterprise
- Technology Strategist
Recognition
Awards and recognition.
Awards
- Microsoft Global Leadership Development Program (2024)
- Microsoft Platinum Club Award - Outstanding Achiever, Asia MCAPS (2023)
- Microsoft APAC Top Talent Program (2017)
- Microsoft Worldwide SMS&P Technical Excellence Award (2015)
Community leadership
- Professional Volunteer, IT Strategy - Jawun Indigenous Corporate Partnerships, Sydney
Engage
Start with a confidential conversation.
The first thirty minutes are no-obligation and covered by NDA on request. Most prospects come away with a clearer picture of the problem than they brought in.