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https://www.minterellison.com/people/shad-sears
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Shad Sears
Executive Director, Canberra
I lead AI assurance and audit programs, helping government and enterprises deploy AI safely and ethically. I design and assess AI management systems aligned to ISO 42001, embedding governance, risk, and compliance into real world AI use. For boards and executives concerned about AI risk exposure, regulatory compliance, and maintaining stakeholder trust, I deliver pragmatic assurance that transforms AI from a governance challenge into a strategic advantage.

Career highlights

  • Built a National Security Assurance capability - Oversaw the conception, development, and implementation of an integrated National Security Assurance capability at MinterEllison Consulting to strengthen organisational resilience. 
  • Established AI-enabled assurance and audit delivery - Led development of an AI-enabled assurance program for clients, including AI audit processes and AI agent development to support audit compliance approaches.
  • Led the Australian Government COVIDSafe privacy & security review - Led the review of data privacy and security for the Government’s COVIDSafe app on behalf of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. 
  • Delivered a Whole-of-Government National Data Catalogue - Led development and capture of 48 agencies’ data to create a whole-of-government data catalogue to enable data discovery and sharing. 
  • Designed and led the Defence Industry Security Program assurance - Designed and led the program to ensure defence vendors implemented and maintained security controls across four domains, reducing risk of vulnerabilities entering the Defence network.

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