Data Governance and Responsible AI

The challenge

Micah Projects supports people experiencing homelessness, domestic and family violence, and social disadvantage in Brisbane. The organisation holds highly sensitive information about people who have often been let down by systems before, so trust in how that information is handled is fundamental. As generative AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot arrived in the workplace, Micah needed governance that protected that trust while still allowing data to improve services.

Our approach

Ronan Analytics Managing Director Jeff Pang chaired Micah Projects' Data Governance Committee from 2022 to 2026, guiding the development of a data governance framework suited to a community services setting. The framework set out clear roles, responsibilities and decision rights, giving staff and leaders a shared understanding of how data should be collected, protected and used.

As AI became a practical reality, the work extended to developing AI guardrails with the senior leadership team and guidance on the responsible use of Microsoft Copilot, helping staff benefit from new tools without compromising client privacy.

The outcome

Micah Projects gained a practical governance framework aligned to its values and obligations, sustained committee-led oversight of data practice over four years, and the confidence to adopt AI tools with appropriate safeguards in place.