Welcome to our monthly newsletter - where we let you know what's been happening in the world of data, keep you in the loop with our latest blog releases, highlight our top news picks and share with you exclusive updates from the team at DAMA UK. 
 
As summer draws to a close, it’s a natural time to take stock and look ahead to what’s next.

For data professionals, there’s certainly plenty to think about! The focus is shifting from simply having the right ideas to putting them into practice - from making the case for data governance to building the foundations needed for trusted data.

In this month’s newsletter, we explore why data governance initiatives can struggle to secure sponsorship, how consistent stakeholder engagement can help turn good intentions into lasting progress, and why clearly defined ownership is essential to making data governance work.

And with the busy autumn period just around the corner, we’ve got plenty to look forward to, including the Data & AI Conference Europe, new professional development opportunities, along with a chance to assess your organisation’s Data Management maturity. 

How To Build A Business Case For Data Governance

Why does data governance funding fail? Well, perhaps a question with a shorter answer would be how to make it succeed!

George Firican’s brilliant observations on why data governance initiatives struggle to secure sponsorship suggests that the business case is simply too abstract. 

Sometimes it's as simple as the way it's been phrased…

Find out more...


Data Definition Series: Data Mesh

A Data Mesh is a decentralised data architecture that organises data by business domain, making data easier to find, understand and use.

In this latest instalment of our Data Definition Series, we explore why Data Mesh matters, how ownership is shared across the organisation, and the common pitfalls to avoid when putting it into practice.

Curious?

Good Governance Leads To Trusted Data

Every senior data leader knows the familiar trajectory of a new data governance initiative. There may be a hint of initial excitement in the form of executive sponsors giving passionate speeches, and steering committees being formed, but… 

This enthusiasm frequently gives way to a form of fatigue. The honeymoon period ends.
Raj Gupta got us thinking about this in his recent post, stating that one of the key starting points in data governance is having consistent engagement with stakeholders.

Read more

Data Ownership Roles Overview

Does data governance fail because organisations treat it as a single job description? 

Marcel Dybalski explains why so many data programmes stall before they get off the ground: they're not treated as the interconnected operating model they are. 

To make it work, he outlines a triad of essential responsibilities…

Find out more here

Call For Evidence:

The Government has launched a Call for Evidence asking an important question: should public bodies have greater flexibility to charge above marginal cost for the re-use of certain public sector data assets?

This is an opportunity for data professionals like you to share your views on how changes to the current rules could affect:

✅Data access 
✅Affordability 
✅Quality 
✅Innovation 
✅Wider public interest

In particular, the Government wants to understand:

🔹 Whether public bodies should be able to charge above marginal costs for the re-use of data assets
🔹 What challenges users could face if charging is extended to a wider range of public sector data, and how data can remain affordable and easy to re-use

The evidence gathered will help inform whether and how the Government approaches reform in this area, making your input particularly relevant. 

🚨 The deadline is fast approaching: responses must be submitted by 11:59 pm on 8 September 2026. If this is an issue you have a view on, now is the time to make your voice heard.

➡️ DAMA UK members can follow the link here to provide a response

Data migration is often viewed as a simple process of moving information from one system to another, but the reality is far more complex.

From legacy data issues and schema mismatches to process friction and system interdependencies, organisations must navigate a hoard of obstacles to ensure an effective transition.

In this latest DAMA UK article, we take a look at some of the key challenges that cause migration projects to stall, along with practical strategies organisations can use to succeed in the modern digital economy.

➡️ Click here to read the full piece

Special Offer From Kogan Page:

Looking to add some new titles to your reading list? 📚

Kogan Page ➡️ is offering 40% off all books from 26 August–2 September, giving you the perfect opportunity to pick up your next business, management or professional development read.

Simply use code SALE40 at checkout when purchasing directly from the Kogan Page website

Data Maturity Assessment:

DAMA UK is pleased to support the International Data Maturity Benchmark Assessment, an initiative from Embrace Transformation designed to help organisations gain a clearer understanding of their current level of Data Management maturity.

The assessment gives participants a structured opportunity to reflect on where they stand today, identify their strengths and pinpoint priority areas for improvement.

At the same time, each anonymised contribution helps build a broader picture of Data Management maturity across EMEA.

In approximately 15-20 minutes, organisations can:
✅ Assess their maturity across 10 strategic areas
✅ Identify key strengths
✅ Highlight priority gaps
✅ Receive an individual maturity report

➡️ To take the assessment, simply click the following link and submit your answers by September 30th: https://assessment.embrace-transformation.com/

Diary Dates

Data & AI Conference Europe 2026:

 📢 Don't Miss IRM UK’s Conference Europe in Partnership with DAMA UK

The countdown is on for the Annual Data Governance and AI Governance Conference Europe.Taking place in London from 2–6 November 2026, this five-day conference will bring together leading voices from across the global data and AI community to explore the latest developments in data governance, AI governance, analytics and digital transformation.

This year's programme features a wide range of expert-led sessions, including:

🔹 Agentic Workflows in the Wild: What Autonomous Decision-Making Actually Looks Like in Practice
🔹 Double-Edged Sword of AI Agents
🔹 Evaluating AI in High-Stakes Domains: Bias, Risk, and Compliance from HR to Big Tech
🔹 The Intersection of AI Governance and Data Governance
🔹 Shadow AI in the Enterprise: How to Find It, Classify It and Bring It Under Control
🔹 Why Enterprise AI Programs Fail and What to Do About It
🔹 Semantics for Sensible AI: Patterns and Learnings
🔹 Waking Up Your Metadata for the AI Era
🔹 When Bad Data Creates Unfair AI
🔹 The Future of Data in an AI-First World

Secure your place here

ODI - Data Ethics Professionals

📢 Become an ODI Certified Data Ethics Professional and lead the shift toward responsible AI and ethical data practices.

Taking place on September 15th, the programme gives you the practical skills, industry knowledge and professional network to put data ethics into practice:

🔹 Practical & Applied: Evaluate real-world case studies, master tools like the Data Ethics Canvas, and complete a final assessment tailored directly to your current role.
🔹 Broad Industry Impact: Designed for Data Protection Officers, Software Engineers, Program Managers, Strategy Leads, and Consultants across health, finance, tech, and the public sector.
🔹 Exclusive Network: Gain access to our growing global Alumni Community and ongoing Data Ethics webinar series upon certification.

➡️ Individuals interested in this intensive, 8 week program can book their tickets using the link: https://www.dama-uk.org/events/odi

Upcoming webinars

The Compliance Trap: How Data Governance Lost the Plot
Date: 4th September, 2026
This public webinar explores why having the structures of data governance in place doesn’t necessarily mean governance is actually happening. Dr. Tony Mazzarella explores how governance can become focused on compliance and paperwork rather than real coordination and decision-making, and what it takes to build a programme that genuinely works and survives organisational change.

Register here

 
Practical Implementation of Data Governance
Date: 11th September, 2026
In this session, open to everyone, Alistair Griffin will draw on his expertise across the education, finance, logistics, and global supply chain sectors, helping attendees focus on building governance approaches that deliver business value and gain lasting adoption. 


Register here

 
The Transition from Data Governance to Data Enablement
Date: 18th September, 2026
Join Flutter UKI's Data Enablement team for an insightful presentation on the evolution from traditional data governance to modern data enablement practices, reflecting a broader shift towards positioning data governance as a strategic, enabling function rather than purely a compliance activity. 

Register here

 
ODI - Data Ethics Professional
Date: 18th September, 2026
This session will explore the long‑standing question of how doctors and nurses approach decisions about sharing confidential patient information in the public interest. Not because they are unsure of their duties, far from it, but because the situations they face are often complex, fast‑moving, and rarely as tidy as the policy documents would like them to be.

Register here

Did you miss?

Data Maturity - From Heat Map To Roadmap
Replay this engaging session led by Simon Downes, experienced data management and enterprise data architecture practitioner.

In this webinar, Simon explored the complete journey from heat map to roadmap. 
Drawing on practical experience and established DAMA concepts, Simon Downes will shared techniques for planning and running effective maturity assessments, avoiding common scoring and facilitation pitfalls, and navigating the often-overlooked ‘translation layer’ that turns assessment findings into a prioritised, dependency-driven roadmap for lasting organisational change.

👉 Replay it here: https://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/12405/672241

Curious about our other recent webinars?
Each of our webinars addresses a specific aspect of data management or the challenges and opportunities facing us data practitioners. They’re hugely popular and valuable, so if you didn’t catch them all, why not take a look at our fantastic archive with plenty for members and non-members here 👉 DAMA UK - Events.

If you’ve enjoyed catching up and would like to receive our monthly newsletter straight into your inbox, subscribe here (you can unsubscribe whenever you want).

Sponsors & Partners

Finally, we would like to say a HUGE thank you to our brilliant sponsors & partners, who support DAMA UK on our mission to nurture a talented community of data professionals championing the value of data management across the UK.