All 2027 Conference Tracks

2027 Conference Tracks at a Glance

The 2027 agenda delivers the latest technology, strategy and leadership insights most critical to CDAOs and their teams.

Track A: Lead Data and AI-Driven Organizations

A track designed for data, analytics and AI leaders, including CDAOs,  tasked with delivering business value through data, analytics and AI. These leaders deliver value and mature a data-driven culture by building trust and managing data while evolving technology capabilities.

Hot topics

  • Delivering business outcomes
  • Strategy and operating models
  • Talent development, data and AI literacy
  • Building an AI-first culture,
  • Evolving technology capabilities

Track B: Scale AI and Analytics

This track covers everything a data, analytics and AI leader need to be successful with AI including: AI strategy, responsible AI, generative AI, LLMs, retrieval augmented generation, prompt engineering, data science, ML and scalability. A track designed for leaders responsible for AI, as well as AI experts, architects and engineers.

Hot topics

  • AI strategy

  • AI agents (and agentic AI)

  • Cost management

  • Responsible AI

  • AI impact on analytics, DSML and DI

  • Decision intelligence

  • Predictive/prescriptive analytic approaches

Track C: Drive Business Value With Data, Analytics and AI

This track covers everything you need to connect data, analytics and AI with value. It includes decision intelligence, prioritizing the D&A and AI portfolio, communicating value and managing cost.

Hot topics

  • D&A value management

  • Stakeholder engagement and discovery of data, analytics and AI use cases

  • FinOps for AI and tokenomics

  • Prioritising of data, analytics and AI portfolios

  • Funding and investments

  • Communicating D&A value

  • Decision intelligence

Track D: Build Modern Data Foundations

This track covers everything you need to be successful with  data management including data fabric, data products; data observability, cost optimization, scalability, resilience and reliability of data management architectures. 

Hot topics

  • AI-readiness for data and agents

  • Agentic data management

  • Data engineering

  • Federated data management

  • Data management platform convergence

  • DataOps

  • Data products and data contracts

  • Cost optimization

Track E: Strengthen Data, Analytics and AI Governance

A track designed for data, analytics and AI leaders responsible for governance programs as well as those who take on governance roles like stewardship. It addresses governance programs and platforms for data, analytics and AI as well as the strategies for coordinating distinct governance programs.

Hot topics

  • Adaptive governance

  • AI risk and governance

  • Stakeholder buy-in for governance programs

  • D&A governance operating model

  • Governance platforms

  • Unstructured data governance

  • Agentic governance/automated governance

  • Sovereignty

The CDAO Circle Program

The CDAO Circle Program is an exclusive and interactive experience designed specifically for CDAOs and AI leaders. Whether you are new-to-role or an experienced hand, this track features briefing sessions, discussions and exchanges that will elevate your own influence and your team’s performance and impact. An application is required. 

Hot topics

  • Business value from data, analytics, and AI

  • Your future as a CDAO and business leader

  • Change management, data literacy and AI literacy

  • Strategic planning for data, analytics and AI

  • AI-first: Ignorable, indispensable or inevitable?

AI Leaders Program

The AI Leader Program focuses on the highest-impact priorities for AI Leaders, including AI value realization, AI governance, and guidance for leaders looking to drive transformation and competitive advantage with AI. This program is specially designed for senior AI leaders and focuses on strategy execution.

Hot topics

  • Adaptive governance​
  • AI risk and governance​
  • Stakeholder buy-in for governance programs​
  • D&A governance operating model​
  • Governance platforms​
  • Unstructured data governance​
  • Agentic governance/automated governance​
  • Sovereignty​

Spotlight Track: Technical Insights

Gartner Technical Insights content equips data architects and engineers to modernize core architectures through implementation-focused guidance. It helps organizations establish the enterprise AI, data, and analytics foundations needed to scale AI effectively.

Hot topics

  • Lakehouse cost optimization​
  • Agentic AI architectures​
  • Data catalogs and context​
  • AI engineering, reliability and agent
  • evaluation​
  • Open vs. closed AI models​

Spotlight Track: Execution Toolkit

These sessions focus on helping you leverage Gartner’s tools to plan and execute your D&A strategy. You will leave with practical guidance and concrete solutions that can be applied within your organization.

Hot topics

  • Reference architectures​
  • Gartner Magic Quadrant insights and Critical Capabilities​
  • Gartner Hype Cycle™ reports
  • Gartner IT Score​
  • Gartner BuySmart™ Framework​

Spotlight Track: Context, Ontologies and Knowledge Layers

Context is the new currency of enterprise AI. Without rich business context, ontologies, and semantic models, AI agents are more likely to produce hallucinations and fragmented outcomes. This spotlight track provides the technical blueprints, architectural frameworks, and team capabilities needed to turn enterprise knowledge into reliable AI autonomy.

Hot topics

  • Agentic context layers​
  • Ontology and knowledge graph engineering​
  • Centralized vs. domain-driven context architecture​
  • Business context upskilling for D&A teams​

Spotlight Track: Data and Analytics Fundamentals

High-performing AI and analytics initiatives are built on strong foundational capabilities. This track equips D&A leaders with the practical blueprints, operating models, and architectural frameworks needed to reduce operational friction and accelerate time to value.

Hot topics

  • Data management infrastructure​
  • Data governance​
  • D&A operating model​
  • Data quality​