Innovation Case Study: Lisa Ippolito, Whitehorse City Council
Whitehorse City Council
Lisa Ippolito, AI Enablement Lead, Whitehorse City Council
Enabling Responsible AI Adoption in Local Government
Lisa Ippolito is a continuous improvement specialist turned AI capability leader who has led a council-wide shift to explore and adopt generative AI at Whitehorse City Council. With no official brief or budget, Lisa has built guidelines, programs, networks, training, and real-time pilots, all while lifting sector capability and confidence.
2025 MAVlab Innovation Awards Winner:
The Thrive Award for Leadership in Change Management, supported by Swinburne University of Technology.
Leadership and excellence:
Lisa has played a key role in guiding Whitehorse City Council toward the safe and ethical adoption of AI. Despite having no formal AI role or dedicated resourcing, she co-authored the organisation’s Interim AI Guidelines, created a centralised AI Resource Hub, built a highly active AI Champions Network, and developed a mandatory organisation-wide AI e-learning module — completed by more than 600 staff.
She also initiated and secured CEO sponsorship for the Council’s first AI Capability Uplift Program for more than 100 leaders. This program includes a 12-month roadmap, expert masterclasses, department-led pilots, and showcases to support shared learning across the organisation.
Lisa’s approach is inclusive and enabling. She positions herself not as “the expert” but as a convener — creating safe spaces for questions, experimentation, and embedding learning into everyday workflows. Her leadership has been central to shifting the organisation from hesitation to confidence, grounded in practical examples and strong safeguards.
Her curious, encouraging style helps colleagues move from hesitation to hands-on experimentation.
Impact and legacy:
Lisa’s work has had immediate and measurable impact across Council. More than 600 staff have completed the AI compliance e-learning module she created — designed entirely at no cost using a free platform. She co-authored the organisation’s Interim AI Guidelines, embedded them into onboarding, and launched a cross-functional AI Collaboration Network that now has over 100 members and consistently attracts more than 30 active participants.
Lisa’s leadership was central to the success of the WISEhorse Knowledge Base project, where more than 75,000 words and 84 articles were developed using AI-enabled workflows. By introducing AI-driven drafting and structuring techniques, she significantly reduced the time, effort, and staffing required, accelerating delivery and setting a new benchmark for content creation within council.
Another standout achievement is Lisa’s use of NotebookLM, a Google AI tool that allows staff to query complex documents with source-linked citations. At zero cost, she created and shared a suite of public notebooks — now housed in the Council’s AI Resource Hub — including:
- Whitehorse City Council EBAs (2022 & 2025)
- Council Meetings
- Council Policies, Plans, Charters & Guides
- Victorian Metro Council Plans & Budgets
- Local Government Acts & Regulations (Victoria)
- Engineering & Investment references
- Infringements legislation
- Aged Care Act 2024 and Rules.
Lisa has since delivered workshops across departments, teaching staff how to build and share their own notebooks using only public documents and creative thinking.
With funding secured through People & Culture, she designed the AI Capability Uplift Program, which now funds enterprise NotebookLM licences for more than 80 staff to trial AI in real workflows over 12 months, supported by training, governance, and audit processes.
Beyond Whitehorse, Lisa co-leads the ALGIM AI Community of Practice, is a MAVlab Innovation Associate and regularly presents at sector events, and publishes guidance on LinkedIn about safe, ethical and responsible use of AI in local government.
From launching internal pilots to producing a light-hearted AI-generated song celebrating Whitehorse, she brings creativity, capability, and care to every initiative. Her legacy is a workforce that feels informed, included, and ready for change.
Collaboration:
Lisa’s collaborative approach is one of her standout strengths. She creates space for shared learning by leading forums where staff feel safe to ask questions, test tools, and explore new possibilities. Her curious, encouraging style helps colleagues move from hesitation to hands-on experimentation.
A key example of this is the AI Capability Uplift Program, co-developed with the Transformation and People & Culture teams. This cross-organisational initiative includes change management planning, tool procurement, content design, and training—delivered through a coordinated and highly inclusive approach. Notably, Lisa has:
- Partnered with People & Culture to secure funding and embed AI into the organisational learning calendar
- Ensured contractor training aligns with Council’s endorsed AI principles
- Engaged AI advisor Simon Kriss to deliver contextualised workshops and build internal confidence
- Curated practical tools such as NotebookLM so staff can access immediate value with minimal support
- Designed the AI Collaboration Network alongside staff, co-authoring its purpose, shaping its agenda, and inviting guest speakers to inspire ongoing learning
Whether facilitating cross-department showcases, resolving tool compliance issues, or even celebrating the sector with an AI-generated song, Lisa leads with creativity, inclusivity, and purpose. She has cultivated a collaborative learning culture that centres experimentation, feedback, and open access to resources—reaching far beyond her formal role.