Insights

Your AI assistant isn't reducing tickets or improving satisfaction? The issue may not be the technology but what's behind it.

Without clear metrics, it's hard to justify AI investment or defend what's already live. Learn how to measure what matters and build a business case.

Students need accessible, empathetic support, not barriers. Learn how to build wellbeing assistants that connect students with the right services, when they need them.

Staff need fast answers to HR and IT questions, but internal AI assistants often fall short. Learn how to make what you have actually work.

Staff struggle to find HR policies and wellbeing resources when they need them. Learn how to design AI assistants that deliver clarity, privacy, and support.

Dr Peter Thomas is Head of Higher Education for CDI. He is a strategic leader with over 25 years of global experience transforming higher education through technology, innovation and organisational design. His deep expertise in university transformation and AI strategy helps universities navigate the complex challenges facing modern higher education.

Peter's international experience of transformation is combined with cross-sector knowledge from finance, technology, and government. He has secured multi-million-dollar investments, built global research and innovation networks in Europe, South East Asia and Australia, and designed global leadership programmes and AI-enabled upskilling frameworks that scale across institutions and entire industries. He has taught at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, supervised large PhD cohorts and designed masters’ and industry-facing programmes.

Peter was educated at Leeds, Cambridge and Hull Universities and has a degree in Linguistics and Literature, a PhD in Computer Science and Psychology, fellowships including the RSA, BCS, and IET, international research leadership as Editor-in-Chief of a Springer Nature international research journal for 25 years, served as Professor, Head of School and Research Centre Director, and has held fellowships and visiting Professorships at universities including Melbourne University, Falmouth University, Newcastle University, Brunel University, RMIT University, The University of Western Australia and Beijing Normal University. His ORCHID ID is 0000-0003-4559-479X

With deep technical knowledge and extensive C-suite advisory experience, Peter guides senior leadership teams through capability building, ensuring institutions can realise measurable outcomes for students, staff, and stakeholders.