Ian Calder

Initiator
DISC Type : Di

AI Practice Lead at Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children

New Zealand

Overview

Ian Calder is the AI Practice Lead at Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children, where he guides the safe and ethical adoption of artificial intelligence. A Certified Management Consultant with over twenty years of experience, his work spans government, energy, and finance. Colleagues describe him as approachable, personable, and having strong management skills.

Ians interests lie at the intersection of global systems, policy, and environmental stewardship. He follows organizations like the World Economic Forum and the USDA Forest Service, reflecting a deep engagement with sustainability and long-horizon thinking that complements his professional focus.

His career is a unique feedback loop where his consulting on complex, real-world systems directly informs his academic teaching and research, and vice versa.

Personality Overview

Conviction Driven

Friendly Challenger

Risk-Accepting

They respond well to objective pitches but also attach some value to relationships.  They measure a product on its merit but can be influenced by strong testimonials. They usually prefer to drive the conversation.

Topics They Care About

AI Governance
He leads AI adoption within a government ministry, focusing on developing governance systems and change management to ensure tools are used safely and effectively.
Digital Ethics
As both a consultant and international lecturer, he teaches digital ethics and embeds ethical reasoning into AI workflows and complex regulatory environments.
Systems Thinking
This is a core principle in his consulting and teaching, used to design resilient systems by understanding the interplay between data, culture, and long-term goals.

Media Appearances

Ian has no verified media appearances

Work History

2-2026
AI Practice Lead at Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children
10-2025 - 2-2026
International Lecturer at Whitireia and WelTec
9-2022 - 9-2025
Senior Project Manager at New Zealand Qualifications Authority | Mana Tohu Mātauranga o Aotearoa
3-2019 - 12-2019
Business Lecturer — Systems Thinking, Project Practice, Cross‑Cultural Learning at Whitireia and WelTec
11-2017 - 9-2018
Sr. Project/Programme Manager (Contract) at Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)

Education

7-2024 - 5-2026
Certificate of Professional Studies from Victoria University of Wellington
2017 - 2019
Project Management - Sustainability from Victoria University of Wellington

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 17 Location : New Zealand Job Level : Mid-senior Designation : AI Practice Lead at Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children
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Insights For Selling To Ian

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Keep your pitch focused on the impact but insert some anecdotes into it
  • Focus on the big picture and the strategic value of your product
  • Refer to testimonials from well known people to highlight the value of your product

DONT's

  • Don’t keep repeating the same information, it could make them impatient
  • Avoid focusing only on the product or its ROI, keep building trust subtly
  • Don't be unorganized, be prepared for the pitch

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Ian is

  • Belief in the value of the product, relationship and a sense of accomplishment matter the most.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Ian

  • They are not shy of saying no if they do not develop trust in your product.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Ian move?

  • They can take fast decisions if they develop conviction in the product and find you trustworthy.
  • Can Ian take some risk or not?

  • They have the capability of taking risky decisions if necessary.

You And Ian

Personality Compatibility


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