Recent findings indicate a significant shift among decision-makers toward relying on evidence rather than instinct for organisational decisions. The confidence in delivering data strategies has risen from 48% in 2023 to 54%, showing a positive trend.

Additionally, 50% of respondents now rely on evidence-based decision-making, up from 39% in 2023, marking a 44% increase.

This move towards evidence-based approaches reflects a broader trend of improving data strategy implementation and highlights the growing importance of data in decision-making processes.

In this panel discussion, mastering data maturity and harnessing AI requires organisations to improve their data strategies. Panellists pointed out that successful data governance often hinges on addressing critical issues such as data quality, security, and privacy.

Effective data maturity involves understanding and managing data across various systems while fostering organisational culture and patience.

Furthermore, achieving AI integration requires rethinking business processes and products to align with the evolving role of AI. The focus is on creating a data-driven culture that supports continuous improvement and innovation through effective data management and use.

Joanna Gurry – Executive, Data Platforms at NAB discussed how organisations often mistakenly transform data executives into AI executives overnight, without acknowledging the collaborative effort AI requires.

She emphasised her own journey from a data practitioner to an AI expert, highlighting the need for diverse skills, including mathematicians, coders, architects, analysts, and security experts.

Effective AI deployment involves a team approach rather than assigning AI responsibilities to a single person. Joanna shared examples of successful AI use in compliance through computer vision, which enhanced accuracy and efficiency.

Dayle Stevens – OAM Executive, Data & AI at Telstra, added that AI can significantly improve employee performance, as seen in Telstra’s projects that helped frontline staff by managing knowledge more efficiently.

Claudine Ogilvie – Former CIO Jetstar, CEO HivePix & ADAPT Advisor, emphasised the importance of cautious, strategic AI integration, focusing on high-impact, business-led projects that align with organisational goals, and ensuring proper data quality and governance.

This thoughtful approach helps manage risks and maximises the benefits of AI, fostering a hopeful outlook on its potential to solve complex problems and drive cultural and operational changes within organisations.

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Shift to evidence-based decision making: Recent findings show a notable increase in the reliance on evidence-based decision-making among organisational decision-makers, with confidence in data strategies rising from 48% in 2023 to 54% and reliance on evidence from 39% to 50%, indicating a 44% increase in evidence-based approaches.
  • Importance of data strategy and governance: Panellists emphasised the need for organisations to enhance data strategies and governance to achieve data maturity and harness AI effectively. Key areas of focus include data quality, security, privacy, and fostering a data-driven culture that supports continuous improvement and innovation.
  • Collaborative AI deployment: Successful AI deployment requires a collaborative effort involving diverse skills such as mathematicians, coders, architects, analysts, and security experts. Effective AI integration involves strategic, business-led projects and proper data management, as illustrated by successful AI use cases in compliance and employee performance improvement.
Contributors
Joanna Gurry Executive, Data Platforms at NAB
Joanna Gurry is a commercially focused technology executive with 25 years’ experience in banking, insurance and telecommunications. Building and leading large data... More

Joanna Gurry is a commercially focused technology executive with 25 years’ experience in banking, insurance and telecommunications. Building and leading large data and analytics teams at NBNCo, IAG, Commonwealth Bank and KPMG, Jo has led successful transformations of culture and capability in large, complex businesses. Aiming always to strike the right balance between risk and compliance with strong commercial outcomes, Jo targets strategic relationships with great partners to propel an innovation agenda – driven by advanced analytics practices and underpinned by mature information management foundations.

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Claudine Ogilvie Former CIO at Jetstar & APAC Tech Executive at Compass Group​
Claudine is an accomplished entrepreneur, CEO, and board director with 20 years of leadership across strategy, innovation, and emerging technologies. She brings... More

Claudine is an accomplished entrepreneur, CEO, and board director with 20 years of leadership across strategy, innovation, and emerging technologies. She brings deep expertise in data, AI, quantum computing, and cyber governance, with a track record spanning aviation, finance, insurance, and consulting. Known for blending commercial acumen with visionary thinking, Claudine helps organisations navigate complex technology landscapes with confidence.

  • Managing Director at O&O Consulting and CEO of HivePix.​
  • Board Director at Cuscal, Scyne Advisory, and formerly Youi Insurance.​
  • Former CIO at Jetstar Group and Lead technology, data businesses and innovation ​
    at Compass Group APAC.​
  • Past leader of Consumer and Industrial Markets at KPMG.​
  • Recognised in Australia’s Top CIO50 (2016).​
  • Holds qualifications from MIT (Quantum Computing), GAICD, UTS, and ESC Reims.​
  • Active adviser and coach to leaders in innovation, diversity, and ESG.​
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Dayle Stevens OAM Executive, Data & AI at Telstra, former GM Data at AGL
Dayle joined Telstra in July 2021 with nearly 30 years’ experience in the technology industry. She has held notable executive leadership roles... More

Dayle joined Telstra in July 2021 with nearly 30 years’ experience in the technology industry. She has held notable executive leadership roles in technology at companies such as NAB and AGL. Today Dayle leads Telstra’s Data & AI function.

 

Outside of Telstra, Dayle is a non-executive director at Beyond Blue, Australia’s most well-known and trusted mental health organisation, and a member of the IT Advisory Committee at Trinity College, University of Melbourne.

 

Dayle has long championed diversity in STEM across industry and age group boundaries, both through her own work and with global organisations aimed at encouraging women and girls to participate in STEM such as Robogals and Girl Geek Academy.

 

Dayle’s work has been recognised with multiple industry and professional awards, including being named in the CIO50 list of the best CIOs in Australia, the Australian Financial Review’s 100 Women of Influence, and being awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her services to information technology and to women. 

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Peter Hind Principal Research Analyst at ADAPT
Peter Hind has spent the last 25 years as an analyst and commentator on the ICT industry. ​ His primary areas of interest... More

Peter Hind has spent the last 25 years as an analyst and commentator on the ICT industry. ​

His primary areas of interest are the potential of technology to transform the way organisations operate, the change management obstacles executives encounter in realising this potential, as well as the tactics and techniques leaders have deployed to overcome these difficulties.​

Peter now takes on multiple roles within ADAPT including the moderation of private events and roundtables, interviewing business executives about the strategies they are pursuing and assisting with the structuring of delegate surveys.​

He also interrogates and analyses ADAPT’s treasure trove of end-user and C-suite data.​

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Data Modernisation Transformation