Working with governments to manage change and execute ethical AI.

Santiago Vela Gomez (Santi Vela) is a Markets Engineer, International Lecturer and Digital Technology Specialist with over 20 years of global experience in Education Technology, Business Intelligence, Analytics and Enterprise Delivery. He leads innovation and execution through structured project governance, stakeholder alignment and the implementation of AI powered solutions for business leaders, government agencies and organisations across Asia-Pacific. Santi also oversees the Digital Experience practice at SoD in Australia, ensuring project delivery, quality assurance and customer outcomes remain aligned to strategic objectives.

He is recognised as an ethical AI, UX and cybersecurity advisor with experience developing governance frameworks, policies and operational practices that support responsible technology deployment. His work spans the full transformation lifecycle, including planning, risk management, change management, resource coordination and cross functional execution. He is recognised for helping organisations design and operationalise workforce capability through structured competencies, roles, and authorisations. His work enables businesses to translate strategy into validated skills, ensuring roles remain current, accountable, and aligned with operational and regulatory requirements across the full transformation lifecycle.

With a background of more than 20 years in Business Intelligence, digital transformation and enterprise training, Santi has delivered projects and educational programs across Asia-Pacific, North America and Latin America. His academic and consulting work includes roles at ILSC Education Group, the Institute of Digital Marketing, Kaplan Business School, Box Hill Institute, Original Campus, Ningbo School of Foreign Affairs, Clariden Executive Education, SOD Australia and Lonsdale Institute. He brings government consultancy experience in Colombia, the United States and Australia, supporting agencies in the adoption of advanced data and AI driven systems.

Prior to joining PACCAR Inc. as a Digital Brand Specialist, Santiago served as Director of Marketing Studies at the Ningbo School of Foreign Affairs in China and lectured in Change Management at Kaplan Business School in Melbourne. He has been a regular speaker on marketing analytics, AI strategy, augmented analytics and agile project management.

His current practice focus on AI powered business strategy, responsible EdTech implementation and structured delivery of complex technology to enhance data visibility.