Yahya Kashif
AI Governance Specialist | Responsible AI & Compliance | ISO/IEC 42001 • EU AI Act • NIST AI RMF | AI Risk, Model Risk & Governance Frameworks | Co-Founder at Yahyou | AI Assurance & Audit
Salary / Daily rate
Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Mobility: London, Amsterdam, ...
Freelance, open to permanent contract
Can come onsite
Skills
About me
Intro
I am an AI Governance & Responsible AI Specialist with hands-on experience designing AI risk, compliance, and governance frameworks aligned with ISO/IEC 42001, the EU AI Act, NIST AI RMF, and global Responsible AI principles. As Co-Founder of Yahyou, I have worked closely with clients to assess their AI systems, conduct risk evaluations, build internal governance workflows, and develop operational documentation to support safe, ethical, and compliant AI adoption. Over the past year, I have been trained extensively under the AIGP (AI Governance Professional) curriculum, completing formal training with industry experts. I continue to strengthen my expertise and am preparing to attempt the certification while actively applying the learnings in real world environments. My experience spans: • Conducting AI use-case vetting and intake assessments • Evaluating AI risks (bias, transparency, robustness, explainability, security) • Assisting in the development of AI governance policies, SOPs, and documentation • Reviewing and mapping systems against ISO/IEC 42001 and Responsible AI controls • Supporting EU AI Act readiness, risk classification, and mitigation strategies • Building internal governance workflows and approval processes • Working cross functionally with legal, cybersecurity, compliance, and product teams • Conducting regulatory research (EU AI Act, GDPR, NIST, OECD) • Supporting clients in Responsible AI implementation and AI assurance I bring a blend of technical understanding, operational governance, and regulatory insight, supported by leadership experience running an advisory firm. This combination enables me to translate complex AI risks into clear, actionable governance processes. I’m passionate about helping organizations build safe, trustworthy, and compliant AI systems, and I’m actively seeking opportunities where I can contribute to AI governance, model risk management, and emerging regulatory compliance programs.
Work experience
Yahyou Digital Ltd
Sep 2022 - Present
4 years 2 months
Nahwa - Aturrah - Sharjah - United Arab Emirates
Co-Founder (AI Consultancy)
Sep 2022 - Present
4 years 2 months
Nahwa - Aturrah - Sharjah - United Arab Emirates
As Co-Founder of Yahyou, I lead strategic operations and oversee the delivery of AI governance and responsible AI consulting services for clients across diverse industries. Focus: AI Governance, Responsible AI, and AI Compliance Advisory Key Contributions: - Led AI use-case vetting and intake assessments to evaluate system risk, regulatory classification, and governance readiness - Conducted AI risk evaluations focusing on bias, fairness, transparency, explainability, robustness, and data quality - Designed ISO/IEC 42001-aligned governance workflows, SOPs, and documentation - Supported clients in understanding EU AI Act obligations and mapping system requirements - Assisted in the development of internal AI governance frameworks, approval processes, and compliance documentation - Collaborated with legal, cybersecurity, product, and leadership teams to operationalize Responsible AI - Conducted research on global AI regulations (EU AI Act, GDPR, NIST AI RMF, OECD) - Advised clients on AI risk mitigation strategies and governance best practices - Delivered internal training and sessions on AI risk, regulatory expectations, and responsible AI practices This role strengthened my expertise in risk, compliance, governance design, cross-functional alignment, and operational execution of AI governance programs.
AI Governance Specialist / Consultant
Sep 2022 - Present
4 years 2 months
Nahwa - Aturrah - Sharjah - United Arab Emirates
Parallel to my leadership responsibilities, I operate as a hands-on AI Governance Consultant, specializing in: - AI governance assessment & advisory - Governance framework development - Responsible AI implementation - AI assurance & audit support - ISO/IEC 42001 foundational work - Model risk and AI risk management - AI lifecycle review & evaluation - Intake & vetting process creation - Documentation and control mapping
Co-Founder
Web Bot Builders
Sep 2020 - Aug 2022
2 years
Silverstone, Towcester NN12, UK
- Played a key role in developing chatbot solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. - Designed and deployed conversational AI assistants capable of handling reservations, product inquiries, and sales processes. - Led client discussions to customize chatbot workflows according to business needs. - Focused on integrating chatbots into websites to drive lead generation, improve customer support, and streamline operations.
Ooszoo Sports
May 2020 - May 2022
2 years 1 month
Silverstone, Towcester NN12, UK
Executive Web Developer
Dec 2021 - May 2022
6 months
Silverstone, Towcester NN12, UK
- Oversaw the ongoing management and scaling of the company’s digital platforms. - Integrated advanced tools and bots to streamline operations and enhance user engagement. - Acted as the key technical point of contact, supporting business growth through digital innovation.
Senior Web Application Developer
Jan 2021 - Dec 2021
1 year
Silverstone, Towcester NN12, UK
- Led the conversion of the company’s website into a fully functional e-commerce store. - Implemented third-party integrations, including automation tools and customer support solutions. - Took ownership of end-to-end development, from deployment to optimization and feature enhancements.
Web Developer
May 2020 - Dec 2020
8 months
Silverstone, Towcester NN12, UK
- Designed and developed the company’s initial brand website, ensuring a modern and responsive UI/UX. - Collaborated with design and marketing teams to translate business needs into functional web features. - Gained hands-on experience in frontend and backend development with a focus on performance and scalability.
Education
Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET)
Bachelor of Science - BS, Information Technology and Telecommunication
Licenses & certifications
Open Source License Compliance Management
Issued: Jan 2024
Implementing Open Source License Compliance Management
Issued: Jan 2024