10/06/2026 updated
100 % available
Digital Transformation Consultant | Smart Cities, AI Governance & Built Environment
Genova, Italy
Worldwide
BA Recreation ManagementAbout me
Global leader with 30+ years driving digital transformation across smart cities, AI governance, and the built environment. Experienced directing Giga-projects (AlUla, Smart Dubai) and advising on EU AI Act compliance, RIBA digital construction, and Level 4 autonomous mobility.
AI AgentsBlockchainSmart ContractsSolution ArchitectureDigital TwinSmart CitiesGenerative AIDigital GovernmentDigital Strategy
Digital Transformation Consultant with 30+ years across 30+ countries, helping governments, master developers and enterprises turn emerging technology into secure, scalable operational reality. I bridge strategy and delivery across smart cities, AI governance, the built environment and autonomous mobility.
Core areas:
Smart City & Municipal Transformation — Smart City strategy, blueprints and guidelines, City Operating Brain platforms, IoT sensor networks, Digital Twin, real-time control platforms. Smart City Director for the Royal Commission for AlUla and Interim Smart City Director for Jeddah Central Development Company.
AI Governance & Agentic AI — EU AI Act compliance, ISO/IEC 42001, NIST AI RMF, risk classification, model registries, human-in-the-loop oversight, agentic and generative AI workflows for public sector and enterprise.
Built Environment & Construction Tech — RIBA Plan of Work (Stages 0–7), BIM, Digital Twin, design review, smart development management platforms, construction supply chain traceability.
Autonomous Mobility — L4 autonomous shuttles, 360 Mobility master planning, V2X, EV infrastructure, MaaS. Commissioned and oversaw the AlUla autonomous shuttle deployment.
Blockchain & Digital Identity — Design & Delivery Authority for the European Commission's EBSI across 14 EU Member States; SSI/DID, verifiable credentials, smart contracts, GDPR-compliant architectures.
Enterprise Architecture & Delivery — ServiceNow (ITSM, HRSD, SPM, IRM/GRC, CMDB), TOGAF, solution architecture, technical governance, C-suite advisory, RFP/RFI and bid leadership.
Languages: English (native), Italian, French, Spanish.
30+ years of senior roles — full history on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/arippon
All services available on http://ripponconsulting.com
Experience
Professional experience10+ years
Freelancer since2018
Languages
EnglishNative speakerFrenchFluentItalianFluentSpanishGood
Project history
I help public authorities define and govern complex transformation programmes, and engineering and development firms add senior specialist expertise to bids, design and delivery.
Resident in Genoa · 10-year Italian residence permit — right to work, no sponsorship needed · Professional Italian · Based in Italy, available across Italy and Europe.
As an independent consultant, I lead the strategic modernization of municipal systems and the built environment by integrating advanced technologies, digital infrastructure, and AI-driven innovation, with over 30 years of experience.
01
Municipal Digital TransformationInteroperable public infrastructure and citizen-centric city platforms.
02
Digital Twins · BIM · RIBAA living operational model from concept through construction.
03
Smart Mobility & Autonomous VehiclesFleet, infrastructure, regulation and passenger experience.
04
AI Governance & Agentic WorkflowsAccountable automation aligned with EU AI Act, GDPR and NIS2.
05
Blockchain & SSI TraceabilityVerifiable identity, provenance and digital product passports.
06
Procurement & Bid LeadershipClear technical mandates and competitive, compliant proposals.
CLIENTS WORKED WITH–Royal Commission for AlUla, Saudi Arabia (RCU)–Solutions by STC–Abu Dhabi Department of Municipality and Technology–Saudi Arabian Sovereign Wealth Fund (PIF)–Telcos: STC, e&, Ooredoo
SECTORS WORKED IN–Public Sector–Construction & Utilities–Fintech–Telecoms–Sport–Culture
CAPABILITIES–Stakeholder Management–Program Management–Governance Expertise–Standards Development–Policy Leadership–Opportunity identification (solutions)–Product Management & Innovation–Product Ownership–Agile Project Management–Change Management Strategy–Workshop Facilitation–Process Optimisation–Project Management
Serving as Smart City Director for Jeddah Central Development Company (JCDC), Andrew Rippon directed smart city technology roadmaps, vendor quality evaluations, and digital infrastructure integration across four landmark multi-billion-dollar urban projects in Jeddah. Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, he spearheaded strategic planning and technology delivery for AI-powered solutions, smart utility networks, and autonomous mobility frameworks across the master development. He established comprehensive governance models, policy guidelines, and operational standards to ensure all smart city systems complied with Saudi national policies, municipal regulations, and international sustainability goals. Rippon managed technology vendors, engineering contractors, and multi-disciplinary stakeholders to oversee the deployment of AI-driven predictive control systems, IoT sensor networks for real-time asset optimization, smart parking networks, and dedicated autonomous shuttle corridors. By introducing predictive maintenance models and centralized city operating brain concepts, he drove internal stakeholder alignment across all four Giga-project districts, establishing strategic partnerships with global technology providers to enhance construction efficiency, operational sustainability, and urban livability.