Meet Our Founder
A Personal Commitment to Practical AI Governance
I’m Darren Peat, the founder of TrustDirectAI.
I am an IT architect with over 20 years of hands-on experience delivering complex, innovative solutions exclusively within the Microsoft 365 and Azure ecosystems.
I founded this consultancy for one reason: I saw a critical collision approaching between the rapid adoption of generative AI like Microsoft Copilot and the severe, €35 million compliance risks of regulations like the EU AI Act.
Many consultancies offer high-level strategy. My entire career has been focused on practical implementation—designing the robust information architecture and governance controls that prevent risk from the ground up. When you engage with us, you are engaging directly with me and this two-decade-deep methodology.
Deep, Verifiable Expertise
My approach is not theoretical. It is built on 20 years of leading enterprise-scale projects for organizations like bp, McKesson, and Maersk Line , and it is centered on the specific tools and challenges at the heart of AI governance:
Microsoft Purview & Compliance: I have a long track record of designing and implementing the full Microsoft compliance stack. I’ve led projects centered on Microsoft Purview for clients like the Great Barrier Reef Marine Parks Authority to build data lifecycle management, establish robust data retention policies, and implement complete records management frameworks to enhance compliance.
Foundational Information Governance (IG): I address the root cause of AI risk. My work as a lead consultant in information management, from designing best-practice information architecture for pension regulators to writing comprehensive data governance plans, ensures your AI is built on a foundation of secure, well-governed data.
Copilot & Modern Workplace Security: As a lead consultant, I have guided clients specifically on the adoption of Copilot, focusing on the critical security risks of data oversharing. I have a refined, proven process for identifying and mitigating these risks across your entire modern workplace, from Teams and SharePoint to the Viva Suite.
The TrustDirectAI Difference
You are not hiring a generalist consultancy. You are partnering with an expert who has spent 20 years serving as a Technical Design Authority and Solutions Architect focused exclusively on the Microsoft platform.
My background as both an architect and a developer allows me to bridge the gap between your CCO’s compliance demands and your CIO’s technical reality. We don't just advise on compliance; we build it into your Microsoft ecosystem.
I built this firm to deliver tangible, measurable results, not just PowerPoint slides. Let's discuss how my experience can be applied to solve your specific Copilot and EU AI Act challenges.
See My Methodology in Action
My 20+ years of expertise are the foundation for our core methodology. I have codified this process into a technical 'Implementation Blueprint' designed to solve the Copilot and EU AI Act challenge.
Download the step-by-step guide to see exactly how I configure Microsoft Purview to govern Copilot, secure your data, and build a tangible, auditable path to compliance."