2025 Forum
9th Annual Data Gov 2025 - FUTURE OF GOVERNMENT DATA:Putting the citizen at the core to enhance trust and transparency 2025 Hybrid Forum
10th -11th June 2025, Canberra
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About the event:

IBR’s 9th Annual Data Gov Conference acknowledges the report findings and will place data as a paramount asset at the core of conversations across the two-day conference around Data: Governance, Integrity, Literacy, Protection, Ethics and Ai.

Conference content will emphasise case studies, insights, implementations and panel discussions where urgency is needed to prioritise data governance and data governance frameworks, including the need for standardisation and consistency with the Government’s overarching commitment to:

 

  • Develop whole-of-government policies and frameworks to guide government entities on how to safely engage with emerging data and digital technologies
  • Foster a culture of data and digital innovation
  • Explore new data and digital funding models to support the APS’s data and digital transformation
  • Require all government entities to develop and submit digital and ICT plans as part of the IOF process, to further improve long term strategic planning and investment outcomes.
Conference Themes for 2025:
Data: Governance

Data: Governance, Integrity, Literacy, Protection, Ethics and Ai

Embedded data

Embedded data-driven practices to shape better outcomes through data & insights

protect public trust

Ensure responsible and transparent data usage to protect public trust

data security

Safeguarding and strengthening data security

privacy and consent

Ethical considerations focussed on privacy and consent in 2025

valuing data

Successful steps to promote valuing data as an asset within your organisation

The rapid development of data and digital technologies creates significant opportunities to improve APS processes and make smart and sustainable investments.
The Australian Government has committed to developing a whole-of-government Data Governance Framework to define common rules, processes, and accountabilities for adoption across the APS to ensure privacy and compliance of government data is maintained.

It will be a key initiative providing APS agencies with direction on how to ensure the quality, integrity, security, discoverability, accessibility, and useability of data assets.

The Framework will be released in 2025-26 centred on four foundational pillars of data governance: data quality; data privacy; data authority; and data innovation.

Prior to the release of the framework, we need to absorb and address the latest report between the Governance Institute of Australia and Macquarie University’s DataX Research Centre found a majority of 345 CEOs/C-suite executives, non-executive directors, and senior governance and risk professionals surveyed were not positive about how their organisation manages and protects important data, with 57% describing it as ‘average’ and 4% as ‘poor’.

Key findings included:
  • Almost 60% say the board does not have an understanding of the organisation’s current data governance challenges.
  • The standout risk around data governance is cyber-attacks, followed by emergent technologies and AI.
  • Siloed data holdings, underestimating the value of data and not having proper data governance frameworks are key issues for organisations
  • A third of organisations don’t have data governance on the risk register
  • Just under a third of organisations regularly purge data, mostly on an annual basis.

The report serves as a wake-up call, revealing a concerning lack of board understanding and substantial gaps in data governance frameworks, and a need to connect the dots between Ai and tech investment > implementation and impact.

Data: Governance, Integrity, Literacy, Protection, Ethics and Artificial intelligence

Who Should Attend:

Chief Data Officer, VP/Director/Head of/ General Manager, Data Integrity, Data Literacy, Data Ethics, Ai, Responsible Ai, Data Governance, Data Protection and Privacy, Data Insights, Data and Analytics, Data Science, Data Capabilities

Sponsorship Opportunites:

Govt Data 2025 Forum offers sponsors an excellent opportunity to demonstrate thought-leadership and leverage networking opportunities to build brand-value amongst your target audience. If you would like to know more about sponsorship, exhibition and business development opportunities please just get in touch with us

9th Annual DataGov 2025 Speakers
Speakers of the 9th Annual Data Gov 2025 - FUTURE OF GOVERNMENT DATA: Putting the citizen at the core to enhance trust and transparency 2025 Forum
Chief Data Officer, Data Analytics Branch, Department of Education, Skills, and Employment
Director Enterprise Data Strategy & Governance, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Director, Data Capability, ACT Health
Former Chief information Officer, Australian National Audit Office
Director, WA Data Science Innovation Hub; Chair & Founder, Curtin AI in Research Group
Head of Data Strategy and Engagement, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank
Director of Data Governance and Data Protection, Transgrid
Former Executive Director, Data & Performance and Chief Data Officer, Department of Regional NSW
Director, Centre for Sustainable AI
Director, Data Improvement and Analysis, Safe Work Australia
Director, Relational Insights Data Lab, Griffith University
Data Integration and Data Science for Urban Life and Smart Cities Task Force, Committee on Data for Science and Technology
Principal & Founder, Data Analytics
Executive Director, Raedan Exchange
Organisational Change Consultant, Independent
Data and Analytics Architect, Consultant
Senior Project Manager/Machine Learning Team Lead-Specialist Capabilities Unit, Data Governance Gr., Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Director Customer Innovation and Arts, Frankston City Council
Executive Director, System Assurance and Data Analytics Group, Australian National Audit Office
Director, Data Governance and Management, Transport for NSW
Senior Director - Directorate Data Officer, ACT Government
Director: Data Governance, Access and Policy Section, Department of Health and Aged Care
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9th Annual Data Gov Schedule
Schedule, program and topics of the 9th Annual Data Gov 2025 - FUTURE OF GOVERNMENT DATA: Putting the citizen at the core to enhance trust and transparency 2025 Forum

Invites to: Office of the National Data Commissioner and Governance Institute of Australia

CDOs will increasingly shape data-driven decision-making, balancing privacy and ethical considerations with the need for actionable insights. As data becomes more critical for public service delivery, CDOs will lead initiatives that leverage AI and big data analytics to improve efficiency, predict outcomes, and personalize services for citizens.

Three questions for the panellists:

1. How will CDOs collaborate more with policymakers to ensure data informs regulation, public safety, and socio-economic decisions?
2. How can we strengthen data protection and how will ethical AI use become central, as government systems handle larger and more sensitive datasets?
3. How can CDOs drive efforts to make government data more accessible and transparent, fostering public trust and enabling citizen-driven insights?

CONFIRMED PANELLISTS:

DR SUSIE KLUTH
Chief Data Officer, Data Analytics Branch, Department of Education, Skills, and Employment

IMMA CHIPPENDALE
Former Executive Director, Data & Performance and Chief Data Officer, Department of Regional NSW

10.30AM MORNING TEA

Questions:

1) What steps can we take to foster a cross-departmental understanding of the complexities of data accountability?
2) Tech Integration: Are systems interoperable across agencies? If not, what challenges do incompatible technologies create for data accountability?
3) How can we move the dial towards a cohesive, integrated approach to data accountability?

CHAIR:
OLGA LYSENKO
Director Enterprise Data Strategy & Governance, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

CONFIRMED PANELLISTS:

TARA SEARLE
Chief information Officer, Australian National Audit Office

CATHRYN NICHOLLS
Organisational Change Consultant, Independent

• Balancing data risks with meaningful outcomes
• Dealing with constant change and high demand data & Ai environment
• Scalable patterns to meet evolving environments

NITHIN BALAKRISHNAN
Director, Data Capability, ACT Health

13.00PM NETWORKING LUNCH

1. AI for Transformation
How can organizations unlock the full potential of Generative AI to transform service delivery and internal operations, while overcoming the significant challenges of data governance?

2. Responsible AI: Compliance, Ethical Standards, Transparency and Accountability
What steps are necessary to ensure Generative AI models adhere to data privacy laws and ethical standards, turning responsible AI usage into a driver of trust and innovation? What frameworks are needed to minimize bias in AI outputs, and how can AI be leveraged to promote fairer outcomes across service delivery and organizational processes?

3. Cultural and Organizational Adoption
How can leaders champion the adoption of Generative AI, balancing its vast potential for transforming operations with the need for strong governance and widespread organizational buy-in?

4. Live Demonstrations: See examples of how AI can transform organisations using the latest technology

ALEX JENKINS
Director, WA Data Science Innovation Hub; Chair & Founder, Curtin AI in Research Group 

• Insight into supporting data governance processes to improve efficiency
• Assessing the effectiveness of a standardized approach to peoples use of IT and data
• The importance of leadership in understanding the strategic direction for the future
• Assurance: Why it matters and how you can influence change?

XIAOYAN LU
Executive Director, System Assurance and Data Analytics Group, Australian National Audit Office

15.40PM AFTERNOON TEA

• Data Governance Frameworks: Implementing strong governance policies and processes to ensure high data quality and integrity, aligned with compliance and operational standards.
• Data Maturity Models: Using maturity models to assess the current state of data capabilities and creating structured plans to evolve data quality and reliability.
• Regulatory and Operational Alignment: Ensuring data quality supports both regulatory reporting and operational efficiency, minimizing risks, and improving decision-making.

BRUCE INNES
Head of Data Governance, Protection & Privacy, Transgrid

Five questions for the panellists:

1. What are the most significant barriers to advancing data maturity in organizations today, and how can they be overcome?
2. How do you align your organization’s data strategy with its broader business goals to ensure long-term success?
3. What role does leadership play in fostering a data-driven culture, and how can executives be encouraged to prioritize data initiatives?
4. How can organizations effectively measure data maturity, and what steps can they take to progress from basic to advanced stages?
5. What are the emerging trends and technologies that will shape the future of data maturity and how should organizations prepare for them?

CONFIRMED PANELLISTS:

THERESA ANDERSON
Data Integration and Data Science for Urban Life and Smart Cities Task Force, Committee on Data for Science and Technology

ANDREW SMAILES
Executive Director, Raedan Exchange

INVITED PANELLISTS:

EDWIN MATHAI
Senior Manager, Data and Integration, WorkSafe Victoria

PHILLIP WISE
Director, Data Improvement and Analysis, Safe Work Australia

Chair’s closing remarks followed by networking drinks

1 HOUR NETWORKING DRINKS

• How to simplify data and AI governance
• Assessing the complexity and fragmentation of data across various platforms
• Steps to encourage seamless governance, security, and utilisation of critical data assets

INVITED:

KRISTY VAN PUTTEN
Senior Director - Directorate Data Officer, ACT Government

• What’s driving the need for modern data management and data governance?
• What are the cultural data challenges impacting you and the root causes that require attention?
• What does a modern data management and data governance architecture look like?

CONFIRMED PANELLISTS:

OLGA LYSENKO
Director Enterprise Data Strategy & Governance, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

RUBEN ALEXANDER
Director, Data Governance and Management, Transport for NSW

TOM VERHELST
Director, Relational Insights Data Lab, Griffith University

10.30AM MORNING TEA

DATA INNOVATION 1.0

Five questions for the panellists:

1. How do you envision humans and AI working together in the future?
2. Opportunity and risk and how data and analytics plays a critical role
3. Workforce of the future: What skills do you need to work with AI assistants?
4. The function of AI and how we should treat it– is it a worker or it a tool?
5. How do you inspire confidence in data with Gen Ai models?

ALEX JENKINS
Director, WA Data Science Innovation Hub; Chair & Founder, Curtin AI in Research Group

BRUCE INNES
Head of Data Governance, Protection & Privacy, Transgrid

DR MAHENDRA SAMARAWICKRAMA
Director, Centre for Sustainable AI 

This session will explore how data literacy has become a critical skill across all organisational levels, enabling employees to interpret, analyse, and apply data insights in their roles. Attendees will learn why fostering a data-literate workforce is essential for making informed decisions, driving innovation, and staying competitive in a data-driven world. The session will highlight strategies to build data literacy programs, overcome resistance, and empower employees to confidently use data in day-to-day operations, regardless of their technical background.

• Best practices for designing learning initiatives that enhance data skills across all levels, from executives to operational teams
• Strategies to overcome resistance and ensure employees without technical expertise feel confident using data in decision-making
• How a data-literate workforce can improve business outcomes, boost innovation, and increase operational efficiency

MICHAELA SHEA
Head of Data Strategy and Engagement, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank

12.40PM NETWORKING LUNCH

• Defining how data will support organisational objectives, improve decision-making, and drive growth
• Establishing clear policies for data ownership, quality, privacy, and security, ensuring alignment with legal and ethical standards.
• Assessing and implementing the right data infrastructure, analytics tools, and platforms to collect, store, and analyse data effectively.

Session held for:

LOUISE ROSENTHAL
National Manager Data Capabilities & Chief Data Officer, AUSTRAC

How to embed data-driven decision-making into every level of the organization, fostering a mindset where data is treated as an asset.
This session will be broken down into presentation and an exercise-based session for the attendees.
Leaders can share strategies for aligning teams with organisational goals through data insights, overcoming resistance to change, and creating a transparent environment where data informs key decisions nd what makes change hard is discussed.

• Strategies for securing executive support and empowering leaders to champion data-driven initiatives across departments.
• Building a workforce with the skills and confidence to use data effectively through training programs, workshops, and continuous learning
• How can leadership ensure that intelligence is effectively utilised to support both short-term decisions and long-term strategic planning?

CATHRYN NICHOLLS
Organisational Change Consultant, Independent

15.20PM AFTERNOON TEA

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
This session would explore the evolving landscape of data ethics, with a focus on how organizations can ensure privacy, transparency, and user consent as data usage becomes more pervasive. The session would address emerging regulatory requirements, the ethical challenges of handling sensitive data, and the growing expectations from consumers around how their data is used. Experts would share best practices for designing systems that prioritize user consent and privacy by design, ensuring compliance while fostering trust and ethical data stewardship in a rapidly changing digital world.

Areas for consideration for our panellists include:

1. Navigating new privacy laws and regulations, such as AI and data ethics legislation, to stay compliant and avoid reputational risks.
2. Implementing systems and processes that prioritize privacy and transparency, ensuring user consent and ethical data usage at every stage.
3. Balancing Innovation and Ethics: Addressing the tension between data-driven innovation and ethical considerations, while maintaining public trust in the use of personal data.

THERESA ANDERSON
Data Integration and Data Science for Urban Life and Smart Cities Task Force, Committee on Data for Science and Technology

ANDREW FORD
Partner, Data and Analytic, DXC

Chair’s closing remarks for day two

Registration Packages
IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE REGISTRATION COST - SUPER EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION:
Register before 18th December 2024
$2495 + GST
IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE REGISTRATION COST - EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION:
Register before before 28th February 2025
$2695 + GST
IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE REGISTRATION COST - NORMAL REGISTRATION:
Register after 28th February 2025
$2895 + GST
IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE - UNLIMITED GROUP TEAM REGISTRATION :

REGISTER WITH UNLIMITED GROUP REGISTRATION OFFER (Register & pay for 3 delegates with normal rate & get unlimited registrations* (*Can attend in-person or virtually))

VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE REGISTRATION COST - SUPER EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION:
Register before 18th December 2024
$1795 + GST
VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE REGISTRATION COST - EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION:
Register before 28th February 2025
$1895 + GST
VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE REGISTRATION COST - NORMAL REGISTRATION:
Register after 28th February 2025
$1995 + GST
VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE REGISTRATION COST - UNLIMITED GROUP TEAM REGISTRATION:

REGISTER WITH VIRTUAL UNLIMITED GROUP REGISTRATION OFFER (Register & pay for 3 delegates with normal rate & get unlimited registrations* (*Can only attend virtually))

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