Chair of the Open Data User Group appointed
The Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude, has appointed Heather Savory as the chair of the Open Data User Group (ODUG).
The Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude, has appointed Heather Savory as the chair of the Open Data User Group (ODUG). Heather has a background in high-technology businesses and strong strategic and governance experience of central government, entrepreneurial businesses and consulting.
Francis Maude said:
I am delighted to announce the appointment of Heather Savory as chair of the Open Data User Group.
Data is the raw material of the 21st century - a fuel for growth - and we are leading the world in making government-held data publicly available. For this to demonstrate its true benefit we need to release the data that will support new businesses, help existing ones to grow and enhance public services.
As chair of the Open Data User Group, with her wide knowledge of the collection and use of data across the public and private sectors, Heather Savory and the Open Data User Group will act as the expert customer, advising the Government’s Data Strategy Board on what data should be released free at the point of use and for re-use.
Heather Savory said:
I am pleased to be appointed as chair of the ODUG and look forward to establishing a User Group that will represent all types of open data user, across all sectors, including small business representation.
The ODUG will give Open Data Users a voice, channelling their feedback to the heart of Government, so that real-world needs can help this important policy area, stimulate innovation and new businesses, and achieve maximum economic impact.
Heather will now begin the work of establishing the Group and selecting its members.
The ODUG will support the work of the new Data Strategy Board (DSB), and will advise it on what public sector data should be prioritised for release as open data.
The ODUG will be empowered to use the most appropriate channels of engagement with the broader users and re-users of open data, in order to reach out to all those organisations and individuals with an interest in increasing the amount of open data released by the public sector.