Jez Clark

Most organisations struggle to scale AI initiatives not because the technology fails, but because traditional governance models break down when applied to non-deterministic systems. To move from pilots to production, organisations must reframe Data & AI through the lens of treated Data Products - where clear producer-consumer contracts, continuous observability, and trust replace manual gatekeeping. In this session, Jez Clark and Nicholas Deveney explore the NEW Transformation Triangle: Technology, Capability & Trust. They will break down how governance and observability evolve as data feeds AI models, where accountability shifts between data producers and AI consumers, and how to build a operating model that delivers measurable, trusted business value.

In the race to unlock value from AI and data, technology isn’t the bottleneck - PEOPLE are. Organisations are pouring millions into data platforms and tooling yet still struggle to deliver measurable impact. Why? Because the real challenge lies in attracting, developing, and retaining the right talent - and empowering them to drive change without burning out. In this session, Jez Clark, CEO of Eden Smith Group, shares a strategic blueprint for building high-impact data teams that don’t just deliver dashboards, but drive transformation. Drawing on 25 years of experience and partnerships across public and private sectors, Jez will explore how to future-proof your workforce for AI, embed continuous capability building, and bridge the gap between talent strategy and business outcomes. Discussion points: • Build data-centric talent ecosystems that scale • Plan your workforce for an AI-first future • Tackle change fatigue and boost team resilience • Align learning and culture to performance Whether you’re leading a data function, navigating transformation, or struggling to activate the full potential of your teams, this session will offer practical insights and frameworks to help you build talented data teams for business impact - and turn in turn create a lasting competitive advantage