From Pilots to Operating Models, Value, Trust and Systems That Actually Scale
Week 15 takes the Data Innovation Summit XI Edition further into the practical realities of making AI and Data work inside large organisations. This week’s updates focus on value creation, operating models, trust, and the often overlooked systems and workflows that determine whether AI initiatives scale or stall.
New Speakers and Sessions
We are excited to welcome David Pontoppidan, Head of Business AI for Nordics and Baltics at SAP, to the DIS26 Industry Day Keynote stage with Zero Trust Intelligence, How to Build and Run in an Age of Deficits. Cutting through AI hype, David challenges organisations to move beyond superficial adoption and confront the realities of trust, scarcity, and decision making in modern enterprises.
A key addition this week is Hanna Isacson, Product Manager AI and Automation at ICA, joining the Retail Industry Stage with her session When AI Became a Content Supply Chain Problem. Rather than treating AI as a tooling upgrade, Hanna shares a real world case from ICA Reklam showing how AI adoption exposed deeper challenges in ownership, flow, and collaboration. We also welcome Caroline Ohlsson, Data and AI Director at Verdane, bringing a sharp investment and execution perspective with How to Bet on Value Creation Initiatives. The session focuses on how to select, sequence, and stop data and AI initiatives using a clear value and feasibility mindset.
On the data engineering front, Viviane Santiago Coelho Gomes, Data Ingestion Manager, and Ilko Masaldzhiyski, VP Data Science at Xeneta, join the Data Engineering/DataOps Stage with Why Deterministic Systems Still Matter for Data Automation in the Age of AI. Drawing from real production pipelines handling highly unstructured, business critical data, the session explains why deterministic systems remain the backbone of reliable automation, where AI and LLMs truly add value, and where they still fall short in production environments. We also welcome back Ole Olesen Bagneux, VP and Chief Evangelist at Actian, and his session How AI Is Changing Enterprise Data Search. The session explores how natural language, knowledge graphs, and emerging standards like Model Context Protocol are transforming enterprise data search into a shared foundation for both humans and AI systems.
In the Modern Data Platform and Architecture Stage, Marc Winkelmann from Scalefree International and Karsten Kristoffersen from Sparebank 1 Sør Norge present Migration to a Cloud Based Data Platform, sharing a concrete modernization journey from legacy systems to a scalable cloud data fabric. The session highlights how standardized definitions, automated data quality, and smart architectural choices create the foundation for trustworthy AI while keeping operational costs under control.
The Industry and Data Office programs continue to expand with new voices and perspectives. Lars Gudbrandsson, Chief Commercial Officer at Ritzaus Bureau, joins the panel How Can AI Redefine Creativity, Engagement, and Business Models in Gaming and Media, adding a commercial and content driven lens to the discussion.
Panels and Roundtables
We are happy to welcome Annette Hultåker, Technical Manager at TRATON, who joins multiple formats this week. Annette contributes to the panel How Can Organizations Embed Governance and Strategy to Unlock Business First Innovation with Data and will also moderate the Chief Data Officer Executive Round Table, focused on turning data into a strategic asset that drives decision making and competitive advantage. Two more Panelists will join the discussions in the data Ostagon Stage, including Ole Olesen Bagneux from Actian and Johannes Sundén, Senior Manager Solution Engineering at Snowflake, contributing to discussions on next generation enterprise data platforms and why trusted data remains the non negotiable foundation for every AI and analytics initiative.
New Partners and Stage Sponsors
This week, we are pleased to welcome Google Cloud as the new Stage Partner for the AI Strategy and Governance Stage. We also welcome new partners Collibra, Dawiso and Dairdux, with Atlan joining as DAD Sponsor, and Scandic, Birger Jarl, and Voco as Venue Partners.
With strong perspectives on value creation, operating models, deterministic foundations, and enterprise scale trust, Week 15 reinforces a core DIS26 message. Real AI impact is built through systems, governance, and people, not pilots alone.
Until next week, more to be announced!
The Data Innovation Summit Team