Data Governance in the Pacific - Challenges and Opportunities

Our Data Governance Wellington events tend to focus on the great work, challenges and opportunities members have experienced in their own organisations around Wellington and New Zealand. However, this time we are very lucky to have a presentation from two members of the Pacific Community (SPC) that add an international dimension to our data governance conversations.

This talk will spotlight unique Pacific experiences—building federated data ecosystems, navigating data sovereignty, and fostering cross-regional collaboration—while drawing connections and insights that may be relevant to New Zealand’s own data governance community.

Our speakers for this event are:

• Malcolm Fraser - Malcolm is a data governance and digital innovation specialist focused on unlocking the value of data across public, private, and social sectors. Currently leading the Pacific Data Hub Team at Pacific Community (SPC), based in New Caledonia, he is committed to advancing ethical data practices and building integrated data ecosystems that benefit society, the environment, and the economy.

• Kevin Sweeney - Kevin is the Data Governance Advisor for SPC – Pacific Community, the preeminent international development organisation for the Pacific. He is currently leading an initiative to implement and improve Data Governance within SPC, across its Pacific Island nation members, and amongst its international partners. Prior to joining SPC, Kevin served as the Principal Advisor for the Data System Leadership branch of Stats NZ, advising the Government Chief Data Steward, helping strengthen data capability across the government data system, while serving as the New Zealand delegate on international data forums. With several decades of experience scoping and implementing data and information strategies and systems, Kevin has worked in numerous capacities in New Zealand and the United States, including as Director of the New Zealand Geospatial Office, founding partner of a strategic consulting firm, and independently through his own management consulting practice.

Event Details

This event will be an in-person event and online.

Online

The link to the Teams meeting is here.

In Person

If you wish to attend to in person, please email emailforhugh@gmail.com to register before Wednesday the 5th of November. Pre-registering helps speed up the event! The event will be held in the Kāinga Ora offices, 7 Waterloo Quay in Wellington. Please enter at the end of the building closest to the new BNZ building and go to Level 5 where the Kāinga Ora reception is.

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