About
Darragh Murray
I’m an analytics professional, AI practitioner, and data communicator based in Brisbane, Australia. With over twenty years in the data field, including international experience at the United Nations and Fortune 500 companies, I help organisations build AI-enabled data platforms and turn complex information into clear decisions.
Background
What I Do
My work sits at the intersection of analytics engineering, AI implementation, and data strategy. I’m particularly focused on how AI agents, the Model Context Protocol (MCP), and context engineering are reshaping how we work with data.
I believe in practical AI: systems that solve real problems, not hype-driven implementations. Whether it’s building agentic workflows, designing semantic layers that give AI the context it needs, or creating compelling data visualisations, the goal is always the same: enabling better decisions.
I also write The Datavist, a newsletter examining the craft of being a modern data professional, from AI and analytics engineering to the human stories behind data work.
Experience
Industry Experience
My consulting perspective is shaped by hands-on experience across diverse sectors. I’ve worked in energy (high-voltage transmission), commercial property at JLL (Fortune 500 global real estate), international education at major Australian universities, government across state and federal agencies, and at the United Nations in New York.
This breadth means I understand how data challenges manifest differently across industries—and how to adapt AI and analytics solutions to different organisational cultures, regulatory environments, and strategic priorities.
Speaking & Writing
Thought Leadership
I regularly present and write on data visualisation, business intelligence, and AI-enabled analytics. Selected engagements include:
Conferences & Events
- Data demystified: communicating data with impact, Australian International Education Conference (AIEC), Perth, 2019
- Blockchain applications for international admission systems, AIEC, Sydney, 2018 (Panel)
- Demystifying data: unlocking the value of data-driven decision-making, AIEC, Hobart, 2017
- Getting started in the data game, New Zealand International Education Conference, Auckland, 2017
- Big data, big insight and international education, AIEC, Melbourne, 2016 (Panel)
- The devil is in the data: Empowering international higher education through business analytics, AIEC, Adelaide, 2015
Community & User Groups
- Prep It: The Underrated Art of Making Data Usable, Tableau Prep User Group, 2022
- Reflections on data viz, anxiety and imposter syndrome, Tableau Fringe Festival, 2020
- Refuge from the storm: reflections on climate change, refugees and data visualisation, Brisbane Tableau User Group, 2020
Publications
- The Data Game: Building analytics capability in international education, IEAA Vista Magazine, 2017
Recognition
Community Recognition
Tableau Ambassador: Selected for four consecutive terms by the global Tableau community, recognising contributions to data visualisation education and community building.
Iron Viz Finalist: Two-time top 10 global placement in Tableau’s premier data visualisation competition (2023, 2025). Ranked top 3 in Asia-Pacific 2023.
Credentials
Education & Certifications
Education
- Master of International Studies (International Relations), University of Queensland
- Bachelor of Information Technology (Information Systems), University of Queensland
- Bachelor of Arts with Honours (History), University of Queensland
- Graduate Diploma in Business Analytics, Deakin University
Technical Certifications
- Tableau Certified Data Analyst
- Tableau Certified Associate
- Alteryx Core Certified
Technical Expertise
- AI & Agents: LLM integrations, Model Context Protocol (MCP), agentic systems, context engineering, prompt engineering
- Analytics Engineering: dbt, SQL, semantic layers, data modelling
- Visualisation & BI: Tableau, Power BI, R, Python
Connect
Get in Touch
I’m always interested in discussing AI applications, data challenges, or speaking opportunities.