Rafael Baptista
Director of Strategy & Innovation
Buncombe County Local Government

Rafael has worked in local government for over 10 years. He joined Buncombe County, NC in 2020 as the Director of Strategy & Innovation. In his current role, he oversees special projects, process improvement, policy management, AI strategy, innovation, and strategic planning for the County. Rafael believes that local government can and should be a leading industry in innovation. He holds a Master of Public Administration for UNC- Chapel Hill and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from Willamette University. Rafael loves traveling with his family and watching Formula 1.
Session from the Speaker
Having the Difficult Discussions Around AI in a Large Organization
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM, June 5
Room 410
Category
Enterprise & Government
Abstract
How do you talk about AI with a workforce of 1,800 people doing 20 very different types of work? Leaders from Buncombe County’s AI program will share what it really takes to introduce AI inside a large public organization, where the questions are big, the stakes are high, and the conversations aren’t always easy. This session walks through the County’s communication and rollout strategy, including what they’ve learned about building trust, addressing fears, and empowering employees to use AI responsibly. Participants will leave with practical lessons, pitfalls to avoid, and proven tactics for leading honest and productive AI discussions in their own organizations.
Moderator
Rafael Baptista Director of Strategy & Innovation, Buncombe County Government
Presenter
Lillian Govus Director of Communications & Public Engagement, Buncombe County Government

