Building capability that lasts


Most organisations know they need to do something about AI, but fewer are implementing AI effectively and seeing a return on their investment. AI Capability Development is about building lasting foundations: the understanding, the habits, and the governance that let people use AI effectively and responsibly. It doesn't go out-of-date as the tools evolve, and it's a change process, focused on people and education over technology.

It sits underneath everything else. It includes workshops, structured continual learning programmes, maturity mapping, and the longer-term conversations about what good AI adoption actually means for your organisation.

For AI Capability Development I work in partnership with Dixon AI, meaning I can bring in additional capacity and specialist expertise where it's needed. See www.dixonai.com for further details.

What this covers

  • AI assessment and audit
  • AI leadership workshops
  • AI literacy for teams and leadership
  • AI opportunity mapping
  • Safe and responsible AI use
  • Ongoing capability support

Speaking and events


I'm available to book for keynotes, panel discussions, podcasts and conference sessions. I speak about responsible AI adoption and capability building, AI literacy, and AI governance, with a focus on the real, practical use of AI. Where possible, I prioritise interactive sessions and live demos to maximise audience engagement.

Recent speaking includes an international keynote in Barcelona, the Cornwall AI Summit, and several organisation-specific sessions.

Rufus Curnow speaking at an event

Strategic AI consulting


I help organisations at any stage of their AI journey think clearly about what to do with AI, how to implement it safely, and where the real opportunities are. As well as developing strategy and policy, I advise on specific tools and use cases, and take responsibility for keeping you informed as the technology develops. New models and capabilities emerge constantly; understanding how they affect your organisation shouldn't fall entirely to you.

This ranges from a single focused conversation with your leadership team to a longer advisory relationship or a dedicated fractional AI role.

What this covers

  • AI strategy and policy development
  • AI risk and governance review
  • AI vendor and tool evaluation
  • Leadership advisory
  • AI audits

AI training


Practical training on how to get the best out of leading AI tools, including ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft Copilot, and Google Gemini. Training is available one-to-one, in small groups, or across larger teams, and is bespoke to your organisation and its needs.

These tools are constantly evolving, and so is the training. I bring in the newest features and capabilities as they emerge, so participants are always working with AI as it actually is, not as it was six months ago. Training is designed with the same care I brought to two decades of professional learning design: structured, practical, and built around how people actually learn.

What this covers

  • Training on ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft Copilot, and Google Gemini
  • Prompt engineering and practical workflows
  • AI literacy and critical evaluation of outputs
  • Responsible and safe AI use

Sector-agnostic, context-aware


I've worked with over 25 organisations across a wide range of sectors. Workshops are designed to fit your organisation, and the general approach to AI adoption is sector-agnostic. The questions are broadly the same whether you work in education, construction, or finance. The context and examples differ, but the underlying capability and AI literacy is the same.

Examples of sectors I've worked with

  • Higher Education
  • Construction
  • Finance and Insurance
  • Manufacturing
  • Digital and Creative
  • Professional Services

Interested in working together?

Whether it's a speaking enquiry, a workshop discussion, or a conversation about AI in your organisation, I'm happy to hear from you.

Get in touch