2009–15
Software engineer
London and SingaporeStarted at Euro RSCG in the UK, then five years building banking software in Singapore.
I get AI to the point where a board can say yes.
Technology leader in Auckland with 17 years across banking, health, energy and government in New Zealand and Australia. I take AI from proof of value to production, with the governance a board needs to approve it.
00 / How I work
How I work
SI Likeness
01 / Career
Seventeen years,
five countries.
Sectors where systems have to stay up, regulators are watching, and the public expects you to get it right. Keep scrolling.
2015–18
Engineer and consultant
Kuwait and New ZealandPublic health systems for Kuwait's Ministry of Health, then full stack and mobile work for BNZ, Aviat Networks and others.
2018–19
Lead Architect, Innovation and Emerging Technology
ASB BankSet the emerging technology strategy, guided venture investments and architected Kauri ID, a self-sovereign digital identity built with 15+ NZ organisations.
2019–23
Technology Innovation Lead
EY New ZealandBuilt and led the emerging technology practice to a team of 30, across financial services, utilities, retail and government.
2023–24
Systems and Digital Innovation Lead
Austin HealthRan systems, cloud and innovation for the North Eastern Public Health Unit, with ISO 27001-aligned, privacy-by-design governance.
2024
Solution Architect, Digital Solutions Lead
JemenaDelivered the Centralised Data Hub on Databricks and AWS, with machine learning for fault prediction and outage response.
2025
Senior IT/OT Solution Designer
WEL NetworksReal-time operational data architecture, and a hosting-capacity engine that replaced manual spreadsheets.
Now
AP Labs Lead
Australia PostLeading enterprise AI strategy and delivery, from proof of value to production, with executive and board reporting.
02 / Work
Work I've led
Systems and programmes I designed or ran. Open one for the problem, my role and what changed.
NZ-Diary-Co-Op
Marketing Segmentation Engine – NZ Dairy Co-op
An intelligent segmentation engine using Azure and ML to automate and personalise marketing campaigns for a major NZ dairy cooperative.
Open the case
NZ-Co-Op-Dairy Company
Trade Documentation Automation - NZ Dairy Co-op
An AI and blockchain-powered system that automates and secures global trade documentation, streamlining compliance and logistics processes.
Open the case
Jemena
Centralised Data Hub Platform – Jemena (Energy Sector)
An advanced data hub built on Databricks and AWS, integrating real-time analytics and predictive insights to optimise energy network operations.
Open the case
Google Apps Limited
Kiwineeds
A custom-built CRM system with real-time data synchronization and multi-user support.
Open the case
Finance Company
GApps Hosting
Google Apps Hosting is a high-performance, locally hosted platform offering secure, AI-ready web hosting and infrastructure solutions tailored for businesses across New Zealand and Australia.
Open the case03 / Writing
From the blog
Notes on problems I've actually worked on: AI, data, energy and governance.
Personal BlogWhat nobody tells you before you switch on AI
This article explores the often-overlooked risks of AI adoption for charities and small businesses in New Zealand and Australia, from data privacy breaches and...
TutorialsAPRA CPS 230 and AI: A Comprehensive Guide to Operational Risk Management in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
As artificial intelligence becomes deeply embedded in financial services, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority's (APRA) Prudential Standard CPS 230 ha...
Personal BlogDOE: The Key to Unlocking New Zealand’s Future Distribution Networks
Dynamic Operating Envelopes (DOEs) let electricity distribution businesses replace fixed limits with smart, time-varying import and export settings. They maximi...
Web DevelopmentTech Problems I’ve Actually Solved – Not Just Talked About
Real-world tech challenges solved through practical architecture, data strategy, and AI delivery across industries.
Personal BlogBuilt in the Field – How My Services Grew from Real-World Problems
A real-world guide to tech services built from hands-on experience in AI, Blockchain, IoT, MLOps, and cloud architecture across diverse industries.
Personal BlogInside the Engine Room: Building a Real-Time Data Hub for Energy Operations
Transforming energy operations in Victoria with a unified data hub using Databricks, Kafka, and real-time analytics.
04 / The board test
Would your board sign this off?
An AI system that answers customer questions. Switch parts off and watch what the board says. Click a box, or use the buttons.
The board says
Yes.
Challenge: get the system rejected, then win the board back.
05 / Research
Papers
Working papers on data architecture, AI and privacy, published on SSRN.
Data Fabric Architecture for Public Sector Infrastructure in ANZ
SSRNAI-driven Forecasting for Climate-Resilient Urban Infrastructure
SSRNImproving Data Quality at Scale in Large-Scale Data Pipelines with Real-Time Monitoring and Anomaly Detection
SSRNData in Virtual Reality and Intelligent Hardware: Emerging Paradigms and Applications
SSRNPrivacy for Decentralised Applications: A Lightweight Encryption Approach
SSRN
06 / Podcast
Listen
Where AI performance, regulation and money meet: LLM benchmarking, the EU AI Act, cyber insurance, and what it takes to build agentic systems that hold up.
Listen onSpotifyYouTubeApple PodcastsAmazon Music
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Agentic AI Security and Media EmpiresPodcast on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music
Outside the day job
Blackwall
A technical book on AI security architecture: how to design AI systems that stay safe when someone is trying to misuse them.
In the works.
Yarra Tech Clinic
Free, independent technology advice for community groups in Aotearoa. I run it in my own time, and it's named after my daughter.
Questions people ask
Who is Vishnu Prakash Devarajan (Vish Devarajan)?
Vishnu Prakash Devarajan, known as Vish, is an AI and data leader based in Auckland, New Zealand, with 17 years across banking, health, energy and government in New Zealand and Australia. He led AP Labs at Australia Post, grew EY New Zealand's emerging technology practice to 30 people, and architected Kauri ID, an early New Zealand digital identity platform.
What does Vish Devarajan do?
He takes AI from proof of value to production with the governance a board needs to approve it: AI strategy, AI governance and risk, agentic AI delivery, and the data platforms underneath.
What is Blackwall?
Blackwall is Vish Devarajan's forthcoming book on AI security architecture, with companion open-source libraries in JavaScript and Python that block prompt injection, mask personal data and control what AI agents can do.
Where is Vish Devarajan based?
Auckland, New Zealand. He works across New Zealand and Australia.
How can I contact Vish Devarajan?
Through the contact form at https://vish.au/contact or on LinkedIn.
07 / Contact
Let's talk.
Executive and board roles, advisory work, speaking, or a question about something I've written. Based in Auckland, working across New Zealand and Australia.