How stronger data governance enables confidence, innovation and growth.
Data is often described as one of an organisation’s most valuable assets. Yet for many businesses, it can still feel more like a source of risk, complexity and hesitation than an enabler of progress.
As organisations accelerate AI adoption and digital transformation, many are discovering that technical compliance alone is not enough. Without clear governance, structured data practices and confidence in how information is managed day-to-day, innovation can slow, decision-making becomes harder, and the risks around AI adoption grow quickly.
In this webinar, CWSI explores how stronger data governance helps organisations move forward with greater confidence, supporting secure AI adoption, clearer decision-making and sustainable growth.
Through practical discussion and real-world insight, this session examines the gap between the promise of AI and the operational reality many organisations face, and why well-governed data is the foundation for technologies such as Microsoft Copilot.
In this session you’ll learn:
1
Why data governance is critical for confident AI adoption.
2
The real-world challenges organisations face when implementing AI.
3
How stronger data hygiene supports innovation and growth
4
Ways to position data as a business asset rather than a liability.
5
Tools and practices that support secure, sustainable growth.
6
To ask the right questions to move from AI adoption to secure AI adoption at scale.
Speakers
Paul Conaty
Secure Data Practice Lead, CWSI
Paul Conaty is Secure Data Practice Lead at CWSI, one of Europe’s leading mobile and cloud security specialists. With over 20 years of experience across engineering, technical, and management roles, he provides strategic and tactical security guidance to organisations in Ireland and globally.
A recognised thought leader in cybersecurity, governance, and compliance, Paul advises public and private sector organisations on mitigating cyber risks. He offers practical strategies for protecting company data, from identifying vulnerabilities and strengthening IT infrastructure to implementing Multi-Factor Authentication and training employees on phishing threats. He is also an Ambassador for the GDPR Awareness Coalition, advocating for greater awareness of data privacy obligations under GDPR.
Josh Smith
Senior AI Workforce Specialist, Microsoft
Josh Smith is a Senior Specialist at Microsoft within the AI Business Solutions team. He works with UK public sector organisations to modernise services and improve productivity using Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Studio. His work focuses on supporting secure, governed and responsible AI adoption, helping organisations embed security, compliance and data protection into their AI strategies from the outset. This ensures Copilot and agentic solutions operate safely within existing identity, access and information protection controls, while still delivering measurable operational value at scale.
Lyndon Purnell
Former Tech and Cyber Security Lead at PurpleBricks, CBRE & Experian Security Lead at PurpleBricks, CBRE & Experian
Lyndon Purnell is a technology and AI compliance specialist who helps organisations modernise IT, strengthen cybersecurity, and implement safe, well‑governed AI practices. Through Lyndon IT Consultancy, he supports leaders in simplifying technology estates, improving governance, and making clearer, more confident digital decisions. He also serves as an AI Compliance Consultant at Peak Intelligence, ensuring organisations adopting AI training programmes have the right policies, guardrails and responsible‑use frameworks in place.
Lyndon brings extensive experience from senior roles including Head of Technology and Cyber Security at Purplebricks, along with previous technology leadership positions at CBRE Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) EMEA, Experian and Capital One.
