Former ACCC boss Graeme Samuel will head the new Data Governance Association, announced in Melbourne last week and flagged in the previous week in Which-50.com.
The 12 founding board members are drawn from major financial institutions, leading retailers, law firms, real estate corporations, airlines, and specialist data suppliers including technology, software and consulting service providers. The list includes companies like Qantas, Westpac and Woolworths as well as leading data services businesses like Quantium.
According to Samuel, “Advances in data technology and capabilities have transformed the way that Australian businesses use, store and manage data over the last decade. Used effectively and managed responsibly, data can drive innovation, revenue growth and customer experience.”
However, he said, in a world of almost infinite data storage and use, organizations have to ensure that stringent self-regulation and best-practice if they want to maintain consumer confidence and avoid heavy-handed federal regulation.
The DGA’s role is to establish best practice industry standards and benchmarks around the collection, use and management of data in Australia. The new association will provide education, thought leadership and advocacy services to its members to promote and foster understanding of how data can be used responsibly to drive innovation and competitive advantage whilst complying with all regulatory requirements, according to a statement accompanying the launch.
In a joint statement, Jodie Sangster, CEO ADMA and Murray Hyde, GM DGA added “Data is driving whole of business strategies, not just media and marketing, and so the timing is right to launch an association to serve the whole spectrum of Australian business and not just their marketing function.”
The DGA is aligned to three other associations, ADMA, AIMIA and IAPA, all of which operate as separate associations, powered by a central expert team and resource base.
The 12 founding member organisations are; Qantium, Signal, NAB, Westpac, Scentre, Veda, Woolworths, Data Republic, IAG, Qantas Loyalty, and Flybuys, Loyalty & CRM Coles.
Source: Which 50
