Every year, the DAMA UK committee gathers to reflect on our progress in supporting data professionals across the UK. As a volunteer-led organisation, our committee members dedicate their time and expertise to advancing the field of data management. This year, we were delighted to welcome Antony Marlow to the committee, alongside our existing members elected last year. 

As many of you have heard me say before, the data profession is still in its early stages compared to well-established fields such as accountancy and medicine. With the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, it has never been more crucial for DAMA UK to collaborate with data professionals both in the UK and globally to drive higher standards and recognition for our industry. 

Here’s an overview of our discussions and progress against our key objectives: 

1. Expanding Our Membership 

Objective: Grow our dynamic community and welcome more professionals into DAMA UK. 

Progress: Corporate membership has seen significant growth in recent years, highlighting the increasing recognition of data management’s importance to business success. 

Next Steps: We are committed to further enhancing the value we offer to corporate members and exploring additional ways to support them. 

2. Raising Industry Standards 

Objective: Promote the professionalisation of data management by increasing the number of certified data professionals and advocating for their recognition on par with other professions. 

Progress: 

A growing number of professionals are obtaining their Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) qualification and joining the global community of certified practitioners. 

 

Our mentoring programme is pairing more experienced data professionals than ever before with mentees.  

Next Steps: We aim to support professionals beyond qualification. Our Training sub-committee is actively reviewing how we can enhance our training offerings, both for those seeking certification and those who have already qualified. 

3. Enhancing Member Support 

Objective: Provide our members with the best possible guidance, resources, and networking opportunities. 

Progress: 

• Over the past year, we have hosted 15 webinars, with 3,751 data professionals registering, watching, or attending live sessions. Our most popular webinar to date focused on Data Literacy 101. 

• Engagement on our LinkedIn pages continues to grow, with increasing interaction from our community. 

• We have launched regional meet-ups, including in Scotland and the North, to facilitate local networking opportunities. 

Next Steps: 

• We have an exciting lineup of webinars planned, but we always welcome new topics and speakers. If you’d like to host a session, let us know! 

• We will continue to expand our regional events to better serve our members across different geographical areas. 

4. Regularly Reviewing Our Offerings 

Objective: Ensure our resources, training, and information remain relevant in an ever-evolving data landscape. 

Progress: Updates to our website are underway to improve accessibility and usability for our members. 

Next Steps: AI is an essential topic in today’s data conversations, and we are exploring ways to incorporate AI-related content into our offerings. Stay tuned for the launch of our refreshed website later this year! 

5. Strengthening International Collaboration 

Objective: Foster partnerships with DAMA chapters worldwide to share best practices and drive the profession forward. 

Progress: We are actively collaborating with international DAMA chapters, exchanging insights and supporting new chapters as they emerge. 

Next Steps: We will continue to strengthen these global connections. Additionally, DAMA EMEA has recently published an International Data Maturity Benchmark Report (January 2025), which we look forward to sharing this with our members. 

Looking Ahead 

As one of the largest DAMA chapters globally, we recognise that there is always more to do. With technology evolving at an unprecedented pace, our work has never been more important. It is a privilege to collaborate with such a dedicated group of volunteers on the DAMA UK committee, and we are always eager to hear from our members. As a membership organisation, we exist to serve our community—so please reach out with your thoughts, ideas, and feedback. 

If you’re not yet a member, now is the perfect time to join! 

What’s Coming Up? 

The next 12 months promise to be eventful, with several key milestones on the horizon: 

• Spring: Website upgrade and member survey 

• Summer: DAMA UK elections (held every two years to elect committee members) 

• Autumn: DAMA UK Awards 

We look forward to another successful year of supporting data professionals and driving positive change in the industry!