Masood Alam

Masood Alam

Chief Data Architect The Scottish Government
Masood Alam

Masood Alam is a leading voice in data & AI strategy and digital transformation, with over 18 years of experience at the intersection of data architecture, artificial intelligence, and enterprise IT. He is the author of The Data Revolution, a widely respected book that explores how organisations can unlock the true value of data through modern architecture, intelligent automation, and a culture of innovation. Masood currently serves as Chief Data Architect, where he leads large-scale transformation programmes across government and industry-enabling secure, scalable, and AI-ready data platforms. His technical expertise spans cloud-native ecosystems (AWS, Azure, GCP), data governance automation, metadata-driven discovery, and AI/ML implementation. Beyond his leadership roles, Masood is passionate about mentoring the next generation of data professionals and regularly shares insights through speaking engagements, writing, and community initiatives. At the heart of his mission is a belief that data should not be a barrier - it should be a catalyst. Whether working with public sector bodies or global enterprises, he helps organisations rethink their relationship with data, putting people and purpose at the centre.

Agenda Day 2

10:05 AM THINK TANK | THE EVOLVING CDO: FROM DATA CUSTODIAN TO BUSINESS DRIVER

As AI advances and replaces many of data leaders’ admin work, the CDO role is shifting from stewarding data to shaping business results. It also signals a fear in the job security of data leaders. 2025 was a brutal year for CDOs, with organizations downgrading the influence of data leaders. Influence and authority doesn’t come from producing more reports, but from setting a cadence of visible wins that compound into credibility – and ultimately a seat at the board. The skills you’re being measured on today are change management, storytelling, and business acumen. CDO influence only grows when projects move the needle, projects demonstrate real value, and wins are clearly defined -not when reports accumulate.

• Discuss what makes a CDO relevant at a time of automation
• Determine the 5 characteristics of a CDO that make the role board-worthy, and how to communicate that value
• Theorize what the CDO role might look like in 2030.

Check out the incredible speaker line-up to see who will be joining Masood.

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