Award Winners

Yagmur Sahin

Yagmur has made considerable impact at Data Privacy Simplified since being promoted to Head of Business Development in 2025. Throughout the year, Yagmur consistently exceeded service expectations both internally and externally. Her clients frequently describe her as highly knowledgeable, with the rare ability to simplify complex issues without losing nuance.

Over the year, Yagmur refined the delivery frameworks, improved internal documentation, upgraded templates and training material, and enhanced the organisation’s ability to deliver consistently at scale.

She has also made substantial contributions to the profession through practical education and thought leadership. She authored the AI Governance Workbook for the BCS Tech10-accredited data protection practitioner course, as well as two AI Governance courses to NHS IG team that received glowing feedback.

Marc Barber

We were thrilled to receive 4 strong essays this year but both Scott Sammons, our sponsor, and David Reeve, the chair of the Awards Committee, agreed that one stood out. The winner was Marc Barber whose essay entitled “Transitioning to Information Governance” is a case study that describes the journey taken to transition from working 30 years in analytical science into the information governance profession. It takes us through these steps:

1. Identifying potential career change
2. Assessing your skillset
3. Assess what knowledge you already have about the profession you wish to transition to
4. Seek information to consolidate your knowledge
5. Close the knowledge gap
6. Prepare for the job interviews

It is clearly and precisely written and will be an important guide for anyone wanting to transition from one profession to another. We look forward to publishing it in the IRMS Bulletin soon.

Ministry of Justice’s COVID-19 Inquiry Team

The Ministry of Justice’s COVID-19 Inquiry Team has delivered an exceptional service in response to the UK’s largest and most complex statutory inquiry.

The team’s approach transformed how the department manages information relating to inquiries. Their bespoke SharePoint-based catalogue became a central repository for decisions, evidence, and metadata, supporting searchability, traceability, and reuse. Their Planner-based workflow enabled seamless coordination across modules and teams.

Their work has evolved and adapted the department’s approach to information and records management in the context of inquiries, and demonstrated how innovation, collaboration, and a learning culture can thrive under pressure.

Act Now Limited

Act Now have been training the UK information management and governance community for 24 years. Their education led approach means they are committed to providing measurable training that adds real world value to organisations by promoting and developing participants’ skills, competencies and behaviours.

This year they launched an AI governance practitioner certificate, a welcome addition to their impressive range of courses, which has received very positive feedback with an average Net Promoter score of 95 in the last 12 months.

Act Now’s strength lies in being well informed about the most current information management issues in almost every sector. They regularly update and refresh their courses.

Informu Solutions’ digital sustainability platform

Informu Solutions have been developing their carbon impact calculation, recordkeeping and forecasting platform to fill a gap in the market within sustainability reporting and data management strategies.

Its latest version now has a “golden” thread of being able to assess the status of your digital practices and plan your digital projects from a comprehensive sustainability and ethical standpoint. It takes into account:

• Carbon impact (including offsets)
• Water usage impact
• AI ethics
• Generation and handling of electronic waste
• Social inclusion and wellbeing aspects
• Adherence to relevant digital sustainability certifications
• Evaluating data centres for sovereignty considerations

It is a ground-breaking product and hugely important in an area that the company is genuinely passionate about.

Sean Palmariellodiviney and Claire Newey, Data Privacy Simplified

Tom Jackson and Ian Hodgkinson of the Business School at Loughborough sponsor this event, and they handed over the judging to the brilliant doctoral researchers into decarbonisation at Loughborough University – the next generation of experts choosing our winner.

Sean and Claire implemented multiple initiatives in pursuit of digital decarbonisation. These include regular refreshers on good personal information management, automated deletion schemes, and a SharePoint Intranet for the company documents.

One reviewer mentioned the benefit of the SharePoint for knowledge management. A single, well-organised destination for company documents encourages efficient reuse of information and explicit knowledge. Another reviewer added that the SharePoint can also prevent data duplication, as a single accessible location reduces the need for individuals to generate their own copies. This governance-level change has potential to push the whole organization closer to digital sustainability.

The use of automated deletion schemes helps to manage dark data and responsibly dispose of data. Messaging platforms are placed on retention schemes, with shorter retention periods for instant messages and longer periods for emails. One reviewer commended the proactive approach of an automated system instead of a reactive, manual approach. Another appreciated the breadth of the initiative, with the automation covering the company’s whole selection of Microsoft 365 products.

All reviewers highlighted the tangible behaviour change evident in regular information management refreshers. Sean and Claire have embedded digital sustainability in their culture with ritualistic reminders in meetings about deleting redundant emails, good version control and using the SharePoint. This practice excels in the criteria of educating staff and gives all employees agency to make a difference.

The award was accepted by Yagmur Sahin.

Daragh O’Brien

Daragh O’Brien has dedicated over 28 years to the information, data and records management profession, spanning both corporate leadership and consultancy practice.

Daragh pioneered the introduction of data quality management and data governance from a business perspective within Ireland’s telecommunications sector. His innovative approach earned him the inaugural Informatica Innovation Award for Data Quality in 2002, establishing him as an early thought leader in business-focused data governance.

In 2009, he founded Castlebridge, a premier data governance consultancy in Ireland. Daragh has provided expert advisory services in data governance, AI strategy, and regulatory compliance across public and private sectors throughout Ireland, the UK and EU. His international work includes supporting the United Nations in developing AI ethics and regulatory frameworks for developing nations.

From pioneering business-focused data quality management in the early 2000s to current leadership in AI governance and ethical data practices, Daragh’s career exemplifies sustained excellence, innovation, thought leadership, and ethical commitment to the information and records management profession.

His contributions span foundational framework development, transformative professional education, sensitive work protecting vulnerable populations, national policy guidance, international advisory work, and unwavering dedication to building the profession’s capacity. His work demonstrates both technical rigour and profound humanity, making him eminently worthy of recognition for lifetime achievement in advancing the discipline.