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AI is everywhere—and data governance finally has its spotlight. This is our moment to turn attention into influence. Kirstie McGlone, Data Governance Lead, explores how data governance can ride the AI wave to gain executive support, secure resources, and shape ethical, reliable, and high-impact AI. Discover how to make AI a Trojan Horse for lasting change.
A Horse in the Boardroom
AI has stormed the gates of every organisation, celebrated as a game-changer and welcomed with fanfare. It promises speed, efficiency, and innovation. But amid the excitement, many data governance professionals, including myself, feel a sense of trepidation. Questions concerning organisational readiness, data ethics, data quality, allocation of spending, clearly defined success metrics, inputs, outputs, and data governance posture are increasingly relevant both within individual organisations and globally. These concerns merit detailed analysis, and thankfully there are excellent resources available, such as Corinium's research reports, The State of Responsible AI: 2021 and Gearing up for AI, APAC 2024.
But what if we’re looking at this wrong? What if this surge of interest in AI is not a threat, but an opportunity? What if it’s our Trojan Horse - the way to bring data governance into the spotlight? If we position ourselves well, this Trojan Horse can open gates we’ve been knocking on for years.
Why This Moment Matters
For the first time, we have genuine buy-in at the highest levels. Boards are talking about data. Executives are prioritising it. Budgets are being allocated. This is unprecedented, and it’s our chance to reframe data governance as an AI enabler.
This pivotal moment isn't about changing the core responsibilities of data governance; instead, it's about reshaping perceptions and increasing its perceived value. And here’s the truth: it’s our job to change that narrative. For too long, data governance has been underappreciated, we’ve struggled for prioritisation, funding, and recognition. Even within our own data community, data governance can feel misunderstood. If AI is the golden ticket to change that narrative, why wouldn’t we seize it? As Tim Goswell, CDMP Master and Data Strategy Lead, wisely said to me last week, “Achieve your end through their ends, what an excellent outcome!”
Rebranding Governance as AI Enablement
Words matter. Framing matters. ROI matters. Instead of resisting the AI hype, let’s leverage it. We need to be on the frontline of reframing data governance initiatives as AI enablement. It’s not a gimmick, it’s the truth. Data governance is the foundation that makes AI useful, ethical, and sustainable. Broadcast that data governance governs how people interact with data, we actively protect against AI misinformation and errors by enforcing practices like critical review and citation validation, through the established data governance framework, procedures, policies, and standards.
When seeking endorsement for resources or launching new initiatives, whether it's funding for tools, promoting data literacy, integrating data governance into project design, or operationalising data retention policies, present these efforts as vital drivers of AI readiness. By reframing the data governance roadmap with this approach, you will secure stronger stakeholder buy-in and achieve greater impact.
Rebranding isn’t new. Look at statistics, once seen as dry and technical, it evolved into data science, a discipline now considered exciting and essential. We don’t need a name change, but we do need a mindset shift. Stop apologising for data governance. Start owning its power.
Walking the Talk
If we want to lead, we need to speak the language of AI. Get AI-proficient. Join your organisation’s AI pioneers. Attend conferences. Take courses. Use the terminology. Show how data governance enables innovation.
This is our moment. Privacy reform, data democratisation, and data ethics demand strong data governance. Let’s stop being the quiet achievers and start being the strategic partners.
AI is the Trojan Horse, already inside the gates, commanding attention. The question is: will we ride that momentum and steer the conversation, or stand on the sidelines and watch the opportunity gallop away? The horse is here. The gate is open. It’s time for data governance to take the reins.
And hey, if all else fails, at least we got to go to some fancy AI business lunches.
Kirstie McGlone is a speaker at CDAO Sydney 2026. Interested in learning more about Data? Join us at CDAO Sydney this March!
Also don't miss Data & AI Architecture Sydney and Enterprise AI Sydney, happening in the same space as CDAO Sydney!
Main image credit: Generative AI image prompt: Kirstie McGlone
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