Big Data Days 2024 Concludes with Major Awards and Industry Insights

Bonn, Germany 16 May 2024- The fifth edition of Big Data Days, one of the most sought-after virtual conferences in the industry, concluded its vibrant and insightful sessions on May 15, 2024, at 6 PM CEST. The two-day event, held from May 14 to 15, 2024, from 9 AM to 6 PM CEST, saw unprecedented growth from its humble beginnings, now attracting over 800 registrations from senior data experts, academicians, and professionals seeking to upskill their knowledge in the field of data.

What started as a small gathering of industry experts has now burgeoned into a major event in the data industry calendar. The conference featured over 30 esteemed guest speakers from across the Americas, Europe, Australasia, and Asia, offering a packed agenda filled with workshops, thought leadership presentations, and panel discussions. Attendees were thrilled to have the unique opportunity to interact with these experts live in real time.

The highlight of the closing ceremony was the much-anticipated annual Big Data Awards 2024, which recognized outstanding achievements and contributions in the data industry:

Practitioner of The Year: Susan Walsh, The Classification Guru Ltd., UK

Susan Walsh, the Managing Director and Founder of The Classification Guru Ltd., was honoured with the Practitioner of the Year award. The jury highlighted her remarkable journey from a failed business venture to establishing a successful company, showcasing her resilience and entrepreneurial spirit. Susan’s achievements include:

• Entrepreneurial Success: Her journey from a failed business venture to founding The Classification Guru.
• Industry Thought Leadership: Recognition in DataIQ100, DataIQ Data Champion award, and accolades from the Accounts Payable Association.
• Educator and Author: Contributions through her book, online courses, and educational roles.
• Global Influence: Extensive presence at global events as a speaker and influencer.
• Social Media Influence: Engagement on complex topics like data quality, making them accessible to a wide audience.
• Innovative Frameworks: Creation of the COAT framework and advocacy for “Check Before Tech.”

Susan’s multifaceted contributions to the data industry have made her a deserving recipient of this prestigious award. In her acceptance speech, Susan remarked:

“…what an amazing, pleasant surprise! This is such an honour… to come from a non-data background, to come in and to take place in a data community is a huge achievement that I’m really proud of and it’s so rewarding to be recognised for the work I’m doing as well…”.

Project of the Year: PETRONAS Digital Sdn Bhd, Malaysia for “Exploration & Development Intuitive Search (EDIS)”

PETRONAS Digital Sdn Bhd was awarded the Project of the Year for their groundbreaking EDIS project, which revolutionizes data retrieval for geoscientists through AI-driven solutions. Mr. Muthu Kumar Sockalingam, Senior Manager (Exploration Tribe) at PETRONAS Digital Sdn Bhd, received the award. The jury praised the project for its:

• Innovative Solution: Integration of cutting-edge AI and natural language processing.
• Technical Excellence: Use of Large Language Models (LLMs) and exploration-specific ontology models.
• Meticulous Execution: Agile methodologies and stakeholder engagement.
• Quantifiable Impact: 80% increase in process efficiency, reduced analysis time, and high-speed data access.
• Industry Contribution: Sharing best practices and setting a benchmark for AI-powered exploration.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Muthu Kumar Sockalingam stated:

“I would really like to thank the organising committee for this prestigious award…I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the management within my company, to the team and my fellow colleagues for this incredible effort and support…It wouldn’t be possible without their co-operation. I am truly honoured to explore and continue working on AI within the space of Geoscience especially on exploration…”.

Student of the Year: Bahaa Mahmoud Abdelhafiz, Ministry of Finance, UAE

This award honours the achievement of students who excelled in the Enterprise Big Data Framework course certifications. Bahaa Mahmoud Abdelhafiz, an IT Consultant at the Ministry of Finance, UAE, was recognized for obtaining the highest score in the course.

Outstanding Accredited Training Organisation: SongHao Asset Management Ltd., Taiwan

As part of the fifth instalment, a special award was given to SongHao Asset Management Ltd. Mr. Chieh Wu, Deputy General Manager, attended the ceremony and gave a heartfelt speech with a special thank you video expressing gratitude to EBDF and APMG International. Mr Chieh Wu remarked:

“…There is an old Chinese saying, ‘Teaching and Learning Grows Together’. I am very grateful to the Enterprise Big Data Framework Alliance for equipping us with the resources and knowledge. We learned a lot and have thought a lot of young people. We will continue the effort…I appreciate Enterprise Big Data Framework for the award. Thank you so much. We are looking forward to the new books and courses…Thank you.”

In his closing remarks, Mr. Jan Willem Middelburg, President of Enterprise Big Data Framework Alliance, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of this year’s event. He thanked the partners, speakers, and attendees for their enthusiasm and commitment. In his closing statement, Mr. Middelburg remarked:

“Big Data Days 2024 has once again demonstrated the incredible growth and innovation within our industry. This year’s conference exceeded all expectations, with over 800 registrations and participation from senior data experts, academicians, and professionals worldwide. The diverse and dynamic sessions, including workshops, thought leadership presentations, and panel discussions, have provided invaluable insights and knowledge-sharing opportunities for all attendees.

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our partners, whose unwavering support made this event possible, and to our exceptional speakers, who generously shared their expertise and experiences. A special thank you goes to our attendees for their enthusiasm and engagement, which truly brought this event to life. The interactive sessions and real-time conversations have fostered a sense of community and collaboration that is essential for driving forward the field of data.

This year’s awards ceremony highlighted the remarkable achievements and innovations within our industry. The recognition of leaders like Susan Walsh, Petronas, Bahaa Mahmoud Abdelhafiz, and SongHao Asset Management Ltd. underscores the transformative impact of their work. These awards are not just accolades but also a testament to the dedication, creativity, and perseverance that define the data community.

As we close this chapter of Big Data Days 2024, we look forward to the future with optimism and excitement.

Thank you once again for making Big Data Days 2024 a phenomenal success. We can’t wait to see you next year and continue this incredible journey together.”

For more information about Big Data Days 2024 and the award winners, please visit our official website or contact our media relations team at info@bigdataframework.org

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