BSI looks to the future with new Digital Strategic Advisory Group

16 June 2021

New Digital Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) of industry leaders and innovators is formed to provide the UK National Standards Body, BSI, with insight on the fast changing technological and data developments in industry worldwide to ensure that standards strategically support domestic UK digital transformation.

Its purpose is to determine industry focus areas and challenges that have the greatest need for good practice and standardization. The group provides a valuable forum to assess the latest trends and tap into strategic industry expertise contributing to the development and execution of BSI's long-term strategy relating to digital technologies and innovation.

The Digital SAGs diverse membership is drawn from across industry. Invited members represent a broad range of sectors, disciplines and have an international perspective. The group is independently Chaired by Dan Byles, Chief Commercial Officer at UnifAI Technology and Non-executive Chair of BSI Standards Policy and Strategy Committee. The 2021 founding members include:  

  • Evie Kyriakides, Chief Data Protection & Chief Privacy Officer, Mars Incorporated
  • Hazem Danny Nakib, Associate at LSE's Systemic Risk Centre and Visiting Researcher at the University of Cambridge
  • Heather Savory, Non-Executive Director UK Parliament's Information Authority, Big Yellow Storage and former Chair of the UN Global Working Group on Big Data and of the UK Government's Open Data User Group
  • Margarete McGrath, Global Lead of Strategic Propositions, Dell Technologies
  • Mark Enzer OBE, Chief Technical Officer of Mott MacDonald and Head of the National Digital Twin Programme at the Centre for Digital Built Britain
  • Nathan Marsh, Digital & Transformation Board Advisor, member of Zenzic Advisory Board and CBI Digital Leaders Advisory Board
  • Dr Ruth Wandhöfer, INED, Advisor, Partner Gauss Ventures, CIO GC Partners, Chair PSR Panel (Payment Systems Regulator)

David Cuckow, Associate Director for Digital Standards at BSI said: “For an organization to be successful in 2021 and beyond, it is vital that they adopt digital innovations that can help them to achieve their objectives and remain resilient. In our role at BSI as the UK National Standards Body we must be responsive to industry shifts and develop standards that support the needs of today and tomorrow. The Digital SAG will help us to accelerate this process by providing a new link into industry.”

Dan Byles, Chief Commercial Officer at UnifAI Technology and Non-executive Chair of BSI Standards Policy and Strategy Committee said: “The pace of change in technology, digital transformation and the use and value of data is breath-taking. So too is the impact these changes are having on every industry and every sector in our economy. There is no ‘digital sector’ – every sector is now digital. BSI is at the forefront of helping organizations to understand and harness these changes, to drive effective and positive digital transformation across the economy. The Digital Strategic Advisory Group will be an essential part of that process, bringing together a diverse group of experts and thought leaders who will help BSI shape its digital strategy and ensure that we continue to provide companies and organizations with the tools they need to help drive resilience and value.”