Artificial intelligence has become the most talked-about force in business transformation, but its success depends on one thing: data.
At the EDM Association’s DataVision EMEA 2025 event in London on July 1, a panel of leading data experts came together to explore how AI can enhance data management, the risks it introduces and the practical steps organisations should take.
Moderated by Ben Clinch, CDO and Partner at Ortecha, the panel featured:
Joanne Biggadike, Head of Data Governance, Schroders
Matthew Widick, Director, Head of Data Enablement (SMCR), Compare The Market
Catarina Santos, Head of Data Management Tooling GDMO, UBS
Caroline Lewis, Data Practitioner, Quaylogic
Together, they offered a frank and practical perspective on what AI really means for data management in 2025
5 Key Takeaways:
1. Data Maturity Should Guide AI Deployment
Not every organisation needs to be at the cutting edge to start using AI. As Caroline Lewis highlighted, maturity should dictate the type of AI applied. For firms just starting their data journey, vendor-led models or tools that structure unstructured data can be valuable. More advanced organisations can embed AI in observability, governance and automation.
2. AI is Already Driving Operational Efficiencies
AI is no longer on the horizon – it’s here. Catarina Santos shared how UBS is using machine learning to accelerate metadata mapping, improve descriptions of data quality issues, and power virtual assistants that guide data users across the organisation. These applications are already saving time and improving consistency.
3. Human Oversight Remains Critical
While AI can transform efficiency, it cannot replace human accountability. Joanne Biggadike warned of the risks of “rubbish in, rubbish out” at scale if governance is overlooked, while Caroline Lewis stressed the need for humans to validate AI outputs and prevent model drift. The message was clear: AI should support, not replace, human judgment.
“AI makes a lot of things faster. It potentially could make a lot of bad things happen faster as well.”
– Joanne Biggadike, Schroders
4. Next-Gen Observability Is Emerging
Matthew Widick described a new approach to observability—using knowledge graphs and real-time monitoring of data, AI models, and applications. By building what he termed a “digital twin” of the enterprise, organisations can track performance, identify risks and maintain compliance in near real-time.
“You’re either going to be on the curve up or you’re going to be on the curve down. And if you’re not on the curve up, you’re done.”
– Matthew Widick, Compare The Market
5. Unstructured Data Is a Strategic Asset
AI is opening the door to a vast, previously underutilised data source: unstructured information. From handwritten insurance claims to internal policy documents, AI models can now extract, classify and structure this data – transforming it into a valuable asset for analytics, automation and governance.
Looking Ahead
The discussion at DataVision EMEA 2025 underscored both the urgency and the opportunity of AI in data management. The message for organisations is clear: start now, align AI with your level of data maturity and always balance innovation with responsibility.
AI will not replace data management. But it is reshaping the field – offering new tools to strengthen governance, unlock unstructured data and build real-time observability.
The winners will be those who embrace the change while keeping humans firmly in the loop.
Thank you to the speakers of the panel and to the EDM Association for hosting such a great event. We can’t wait return as main sponsors at DataVision New York 2025 in December!
Watch the full panel discussion here:
Ben Clinch
Chief Data Officer & Partner, Ortecha
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