Driving sustainable growth
At Connect, we focus on institutional governance and decision architecture.
We help organisations define the conditions under which technologies can be responsibly procured, deployed, and governed.
As emerging technologies move from experimentation to scale, the constraint is no longer capability - it’s governance.
Many organisations are exploring use cases, engaging vendors, beginning procurement. But without:
• Clear decision rights
• Defined accountability
• Structured oversight.
This style of adoption introduces risk that isn’t always visible upfront.
Our work focuses on building the underlying governance capability required to manage this shift. This includes:
• Governance system design
• Decision rights frameworks
• Procurement conditions
• Data stewardship
• Assurance structures.
We work across public systems, institutional environments, and complex delivery contexts where decisions carry long-term consequences.
From board-level governance through to operational implementation, our focus is consistent: defining the conditions under which decisions can be made responsibly, before scale.
Connect Capability
From regional economic transformation to global AI governance, our work spans sectors, scales, and systems. Each project reflects our commitment to stewardship, partnership, and designing better ways to deliver impact today and for generations to come.
Explore some of the ways we’ve helped organisations, communities, and markets shape what’s possible below, and connect with us to find out more.
Connect Team
Our team consists of highly qualified, experienced and motivated professionals. With decades of combined experience in the industry, they have the expertise to provide comprehensive, first-rate services to our clients.
Erin Black
Managing Director
Erin is a governance and institutional design specialist focused on enabling safe, scalable adoption of complex systems, including AI.
Her work spans national system transformation, regional economic governance, and international policy and standards development. She led disability system transformation within the New Zealand Ministry of Health and held governance roles including Vice Chair of Business Canterbury and NZ Co-chair of the Australia–New Zealand Leadership Forum’s Emerging Leaders Programme. Erin now co-chairs the AI for Developing Nations Forum’s Policy & Standards Independent Review Board and contributes to the development of the FAIR Standards, supporting governance-led approaches to digital and AI readiness.
An uri of Ngāti Rangi and Te Mahurehure hapū, Erin brings a strengths-based, systems-focused approach to governance, with expertise spanning social procurement, institutional readiness, and decision-rights design. She holds a BCom, BA (Psychology), and DipGrad, and is a PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner.
Craig Latimer
Strategic Advisor
A strategic and empathetic leader with 20+ years' experience leading
commercial growth, developing strong, high performing teams and spearheading transformation initiatives across multiple sectors.
Craig is a proven trusted advisor, able to draw on his strategic thinking and relationship building skills to work closely with key stakeholders, advocate for important policy initiatives and offer guidance on complex issues.
He has a BCom, is a Chartered Member of the IOD and held governance roles with the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, and national NZ Chambers of Commerce.
Shakeel Ahmed
Data Delivery Lead
An accomplished entrepreneur, scientist, and innovator. With an MSc (Research) and BSc (Chemistry), Shakeel's diverse background in analytical chemistry, food safety, and digital transformation uniquely equips him to bring a blend of scientific rigour and entrepreneurial spirit.
He has successfully launched and scaled several award-winning SaaS and HaaS products, demonstrating his ability to identify market needs and develop innovative solutions.
Shakeel spent eight years as a Food and Data Scientist, applying his scientific knowledge to drive innovation in food safety and quality. In 2020, the MPI and NZIFST recognised his contributions to the field with a commendation for Significant Contribution to Food Safety.
Eru West
Senior Marketing & Communications Consultant
A seasoned marketing and communications expert with extensive experience leading strategic initiatives across a diverse range of industries, including central government, tourism, insurance, tech startups, health and agribusiness.
Eru has proven expertise and results in campaign management, stakeholder engagement and content development. With whakapapa to Te Arawa, Ngāti Awa and Ngāti Tūwharetoa. Eru is a first class honours, Bachelors of Management Studies graduate. He double majored in marketing and strategic management at the University of Waikato.
Through the years, he's become adept at leveraging data insights and marketing technology tools to craft impactful marketing strategies, building collaborative relationships, and delivering results against organisational objectives.
Ready to Take Your Business to the Next Level?
Connect with us today
Whether you are a small startup or an established enterprise, Connect is here to help you thrive. Let us unlock your business's potential and guide you towards a successful future.