Director and Founder of the Data Science Foundation, Chris Tomlinson, chaired the Big Data Business Solutions Conference Friday 26 April 2019 as part of the AI & Big Data Expo at Olympia, London. The conference sessions were designed to help organisations get the most out of their data projects, allowing them to make informed business decisions and to become data-driven.

Keynote presentations were given by Doug Cutting, Chief Architect of Cloudera on improving levels of trust around the use and management of data. And by Nelson Pereira, Customer Engineering Manager at Google Cloud on the development and use of Intelligent Digital Assistants. Both presentations proved to be popular with all of the seats in the theatre taken and late comers left with standing room only.

Ben Dias, a founder member of the Data Science Foundation and Head of Advanced Analytics and Data Science at Royal Mail gave an excellent presentation on the challenges he faced establishing a data science team at the Royal Mail. The insight into the ups and downs, the successes and challenges he faced was an inspiration for others contemplating embarking on the same journey.

Another highlight of the day was the panel discussion on how to ‘Create a Data Driven Culture’. Matthew Sattler, GBM Head of Big Data at HSBC opened the debate with thoughts on how to establish evidence-based decision making as a core part of the digital workplace. This was followed-up by Peter Jackson, Director of Group Data Sciences at Legal & General, with how to define a clear strategy to leverage data whenever and wherever possible to enhance business efficiency and effectiveness. All panellists made valuable contributions to the debate, the session and Q&A could have continued for some time, had the conference schedule allowed.

Peter Jackson has recently had another book published by Wiley, ‘Data-Driven Business Transformation’ which is receiving excellent reviews.

Superb presentations were given by Simon Martin, Chief Commercial and Data Officer, Mumsnet,  Andreas Gertsch Grover, Director of Data Science, Charlotte Tilbury and Sandy Ghuman, Audience Targeting Capabilities Consultant, Sky. These presentations looked at various aspects of leveraging value from data and the challenges facing management in order to make this happen.

Thanks to all speakers and panellists for giving their time and sharing their valuable experience. It was an informative and enjoyable day.

Big Data Business Solutions Conference Friday 26 April 2019

AI & Big Data Expo, Olympia, London

Agenda

• Chris Tomlinson, Director, Data Science Foundation

• Doug Cutting, Chief Architect, Cloudera

• Moderator: Chris Tomlinson, Director, Data Science Foundation
• Peter Jackson, Director - Group Data Sciences, Legal & General
• Matthew Sattler, GBM Head of Big Data, HSBC
• Steve Caughey, Director National Innovation Centre for Data (NICD), Newcastle Helix
• Gordon Coale, Senior Director - Data and Analytics, Carlson Wagonlit Travel

• Ben Dias, Head of Advanced Analytics and Data Science, Royal Mail

• Simon Martin, Chief Commercial and Data Officer, Mumsnet

• Nelson Pereira, Customer Engineering Manager, Google Cloud

• Andreas Gertsch Grover, Director of Data Science, Charlotte Tilbury

• Sandy Ghuman, Audience Targeting Capabilities Consultant, Sky

• Peter Jackson, Director - Group Data Sciences, Legal & General

• Moderator David Wells, Senior Research Manager, European Big Data and AI at IDC
• Cathal Garvey, Data Scientist, Scrapinghub
• Sandy Ghuman, Audience Targeting Capabilities Consultant, Sky
• Andreas Gertsch Grover, Director of Data Science, Charlotte Tilbury