Fractional Chief AI Officer
The advisory version of our AI Implementation Partnership. A senior AI leader sets direction, guardrails and board reporting, works alongside your existing CIO or IT provider, and your team delivers the work.
A fractional Chief AI Officer is a part-time executive accountable for an organisation's AI agenda. InnovateX Solutions retainers start from A$2,500 a month for about four hours of senior time. When you want training and hands-on implementation as well, the AI Implementation Partnership covers it.
What does it cost?
Rolling monthly with 30 days’ notice. Most engagements begin within two weeks of the discovery call.
a month for about 4 hours a month. A monthly 1:1, email and chat advisory access, light-touch roadmap and risk reviews, and vendor and contract checks.
a month for about 8 hours a month. Everything in Advisor plus active roadmap ownership, vendor and budget oversight, quarterly board preparation and cyber and compliance reviews.
a month for 16 hours or more a month. Everything in Partner plus a weekly leadership cadence, execution oversight on active programs and board attendance on request.
Custom enterprise scopes are quoted. Prices as published on 21 October 2026. Prices exclude GST.
What do you get?
Senior judgement on the decisions that matter, at a cadence that fits your size.
AI direction and priorities
A clear view of where AI is worth investing, ranked against business value and readiness using the 6S method.
Guardrails first
An AI use policy, data boundaries and approved tools, informed by the security work we do for government.
Board reporting
Plain reporting on AI risk and progress, with quarterly board preparation from the Partner tier.
A path to delivery
When you're ready for training and hands-on help, move to the AI Implementation Partnership.
Is it the right fit?
Usually, yes, when two or more of these sound familiar.
- The board wants AI direction, governance and reporting it can defend.
- Your team can deliver the work once the direction and guardrails are set.
- You already have a CIO or IT provider and need AI-specific leadership beside them.
- Staff are using AI tools and nobody has agreed what data they can see.
“Speaks founder’s language, makes it simple to understand and did an awesome job.”
Questions about the retainer
How is this different from the AI Implementation Partnership?
This retainer is advisory. The partnership, at A$14,500 a month, adds role-specific training, champion coaching and hands-on implementation support so AI ends up running in your team's daily work.
Does a fractional Chief AI Officer replace our CIO?
No. The role works alongside your existing technology leadership. The CIO or IT provider keeps architecture and operations, and the AI leader coordinates the AI agenda.
How much does it cost?
Retainers start from A$2,500 a month for about four hours of senior time, with Partner from A$4,500 and Embedded from A$8,500. They roll monthly with 30 days’ notice.
Book a 30-minute call with InnovateX
Bring the technology or AI decision that has waited longest. You'll leave with a recommended next step, even if that step is a referral to someone better suited.