ADM(DIA) hosts inaugural Data Day Conference for the Defence Team

December 16, 2021 - Defence Stories

If tackling data should be approached as a team sport then DND/CAF had a strong roster of players who were ready to engage, learn and break down silos at ADM(DIA)’s inaugural Data Day on 25 November, 2021.

Nancy Chahwan, Senior Associate Deputy Minister of National Defence, Stephen Burt, Assistant Deputy Minister (Data, Innovation, Analytics) and John Walsh, Chief Data Officer for National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces, kicked off the day and welcomed the more than 450 participants who were eager to hear from a variety of speakers and engage in interactive sessions.

Organized by ADM(DIA)’s Data Literacy and Culture team, participants had a wide variety of topics to choose from, ranging from supply chain analytics, benefit delivery modernisation, how to ensure safe access to data, better data management and helping people effectively use data, and much more.

A moderated panel discussion was held on Data Enabling Excellence in Operations at DND/CAF. A keynote address was delivered by Michael Conlin, who shared his thoughts about what organizations need to do to mature their data ecosystem, based on his experience as the first Chief Data Officer at the US Department of Defense.

Participants also learned how the Department is advancing the DND/CAF Data Strategy and how the Defence Team is overcoming challenges to leveraging data as a strategic asset. They also benefited from learning about the data journeys at CBSA, ESDC and Statistics Canada.

LGen Frances Allen, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff congratulated DIA for launching such comprehensive and informative sessions and highlighted the importance of data to our operational output and our future as an organization.

Whether or not you attended this event, DIA encourages all Defence Team members to join or continue the discussions with Data and Analytics communities across Defence. Here are some resources to help start or continue your journey within the Department’s ongoing data transformation:

• The Analytics Support Centre (ASC) Newsletter (accessible only on the National Defence network)
• DND/CAF Data and Analytics Community of Practice

Building on the success of this inaugural event, the Data Literacy and Culture team are looking to plan more events. For updates, please refer to the ADM(DIA) Newsroom (accessible only on the National Defence network) and ADM(DIA)’s Twitter (you are now leaving the Government of Canada website).