AI & Technology Oversight
Translating enterprise AI experience into board-level governance — risk frameworks, vendor accountability, and the questions that technology leaders don't always volunteer.
Public Pension Board
TRS Illinois
Board Trustee · 2026 – Present
TRS Illinois is one of the largest public pension funds in the United States, managing retirement security for more than 427,000 active and retired Illinois educators. As a Board Trustee, Kader brings enterprise technology and AI governance expertise to a board responsible for the long-term stewardship of over $67 billion in assets.
trs.illinois.gov$67B+Assets under management
427,000+Active & retired members
Areas of contribution
- —Technology and cybersecurity oversight for a fund serving 427,000+ beneficiaries
- —AI and data governance frameworks applied to institutional investment operations
- —Strategic input on digital modernization of member services and administrative systems
- —Fiduciary judgment on technology vendor selection and risk management
Education
Northwest Suburban College
Chairman, Board of Directors · Jan 2023 – Present
Northwest Suburban College offers certificate programs in Medical and Dental Assistant programs, with current work toward DO accreditation to establish a medical school. As Chairman of the Board of Directors, Kader leads governance strategy and institutional direction for a college expanding access to healthcare education.
Areas of contribution
- —Board leadership and governance strategy for a growing healthcare education institution
- —Oversight of certificate programs in Medical and Dental Assistant training
- —Guiding the institution's pursuit of DO accreditation and medical school development
- —Strategic direction on curriculum, partnerships, and institutional growth
Social Services
Little City Foundation
Board Member · Oct 2023 – Present
Little City Foundation serves children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, providing options and opportunities to live safely, learn continuously, explore creatively, and work productively. Kader contributes technology and organizational leadership expertise to a mission driven by hope, happiness, and optimism.
Areas of contribution
- —Technology governance and digital strategy for a disability services nonprofit
- —Organizational leadership supporting programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- —Strategic input on service delivery, advocacy, and community partnerships
- —Fiduciary oversight aligned with the foundation's mission of lifelong opportunity
Education
College of DuPage
Member, Future of Work Committee · Nov 2021 – Present
College of DuPage is one of the largest community colleges in Illinois. Kader serves on the Future of Work Committee, contributing AI, technology, and workforce transformation expertise to help shape how the institution prepares students for an evolving labor market.
cod.eduAreas of contribution
- —AI and technology advisory for workforce development curriculum
- —Strategic input on preparing students for AI-augmented roles across industries
- —Connecting enterprise transformation experience to community college programming
- —Advising on emerging skills and credential pathways for the future economy
Poverty Alleviation
Loaves & Fishes
Board Member · May 2023 – May 2026
Loaves & Fishes Community Services provides food, financial assistance, and social services to individuals and families in need across the western Chicago suburbs. Kader contributed technology leadership and organizational governance expertise to support the mission of alleviating poverty and food insecurity.
Areas of contribution
- —Technology and operational governance for a high-volume community services organization
- —Strategic input on digital tools for client intake, case management, and service delivery
- —Board-level oversight of programs serving thousands of families annually
- —Connecting enterprise efficiency frameworks to nonprofit service operations
Education & Media
NCTV17
Board Member & President Emeritus · Jan 2021 – Dec 2024
NCTV17 is Naperville's community television station, serving as a platform for local news, civic engagement, and community storytelling. Kader served as a Board Member and President Emeritus, leading board strategy and participating in new board member acquisition.
nctv17.comAreas of contribution
- —Board leadership and governance strategy for a community media organization
- —New board member acquisition and leadership development
- —Strategic direction on programming, community engagement, and organizational sustainability
- —Technology advisory for broadcast and digital media operations
Science & Technology
City of Aurora
Innovation & Technology Commissioner · Apr 2022 – Jan 2026
As Innovation and Technology Commissioner for the City of Aurora, Kader advised city leadership on technology strategy, digital infrastructure, and innovation initiatives for one of Illinois's largest cities. He brought enterprise AI and data expertise to municipal governance at scale.
Areas of contribution
- —Technology strategy advisory for a major Illinois municipality
- —AI and digital innovation guidance for city services and infrastructure
- —Connecting enterprise technology leadership to public sector decision-making
- —Advising on smart city initiatives and technology vendor accountability
Arts & Culture
City of Naperville
SECA Commissioner · Oct 2023 – Jan 2026
The Special Events & Cultural Amenities (SECA) Commission advises the Naperville City Council on arts, culture, and special events — including annual allocation of SECA funds and policy recommendations. Kader contributed expertise in business, nonprofit management, and community engagement to a commission that shapes Naperville's cultural identity.
Areas of contribution
- —Advisory on arts, culture, and special events funding allocation for the City of Naperville
- —Policy recommendations on SECA fund procedures, vision, and community goals
- —Connecting business and nonprofit management expertise to civic arts governance
- —Advancing diversity, culture, and community heritage through commission work
Board Expertise
What Kader brings to a board
Most boards have deep financial and legal expertise. Fewer have a trustee who has actually built and governed enterprise AI systems at scale — and can ask the right questions when technology vendors present to the board.
Cybersecurity & Risk
Institutional-scale cybersecurity judgment — from vendor risk to incident response governance — grounded in leading a 300-person data and AI organization at a Fortune 500 company.
Long-Horizon Strategy
The capacity to evaluate technology investments against a 20-to-40-year beneficiary horizon — not just the next budget cycle — informed by 25 years of enterprise transformation experience.
Stakeholder Accountability
Experience building AI governance structures that keep humans accountable for outcomes — directly applicable to the fiduciary accountability that public pension trustees carry.
Governance Philosophy
How Kader thinks about board responsibility
Fiduciary first
Board service is fundamentally about stewardship — of assets, of beneficiaries, of institutional trust. Every governance decision begins with the question of who is ultimately served and what they are owed.
Technology as a governance matter
AI and data systems are no longer purely operational concerns. They are governance concerns — carrying risk, accountability, and strategic consequence that belong in the boardroom, not just the IT department.
The Viveka principle in practice
Viveka — the organizational wisdom to know where AI adds genuine value and where human judgment must remain sovereign — is as relevant in the boardroom as in the enterprise. Trustees must understand both the capability and the limits of the systems they oversee.
Long-horizon thinking
Public pension governance operates on a 30-to-40-year horizon. The technology decisions made today — on cybersecurity, AI adoption, data infrastructure — will shape the fund's capacity to serve beneficiaries for decades. That horizon demands a different quality of judgment than quarterly operating decisions.
Background
The experience behind the governance
Kader's board service is grounded in 25 years of building and leading enterprise technology organizations — including his current role as Global Head of Data & AI, where he leads a 300-person team processing 1.5 million AI prompts per month.
He holds an MBA from Kellogg School of Management and an MS in Computer Science, and was named a 2022 Chicago CIO ORBIE Finalist. He is also the co-author of Chaos by Design (Simon & Schuster), a practitioner's guide to enterprise digital transformation.
Full biographyCurrent roleGlobal Head of Data & AI
EducationMBA, Kellogg School of Management · MS Computer Science
Recognition2022 Chicago CIO ORBIE Finalist
Published authorChaos by Design (Simon & Schuster, 2024)
PatentUS11455559B2 — Machine learning classification system
Interested in Kader's perspective on AI governance or board service?
Whether you're building a board, exploring AI governance frameworks, or looking for a speaker on institutional technology leadership — reach out to start a conversation.