Highlights from the 2025 Winners
NatWest Group claimed the Data & AI for Good Hero Organisation Award for their work co-leading the world’s first Data Fusion pilot demonstrating how data can be mobilised responsibly to tackle society’s toughest challenges.
Burberry won Most Innovative Use of AI (Global) for reimagining luxury client services with Penguin, a generative AI-powered discovery and recommendation platform.
News UK took home the New Ways of Working with Data (Europe) award after judges were impressed with their transformation of legacy newsrooms by embedding data into everyday editorial decision-making.
The Transformation with AI (Global) award was taken home by The British Council as they developed a new solution that delivers instant, evidence-backed answers from a multilingual repository of over 200 reports, saving time, cutting consultant costs, and embedding data-driven decision-making into daily practice.
Lloyd’s Banking Group was awarded Best Responsible AI Programme or Initiative for the bank’s ability to turn ethics into a practical operating model for AI.
The full list of 2025 DataIQ Awards winners can be found here.
“This year’s winners represent a decisive shift in the data industry,” said Ian Fish, Chief Operating Officer, DataIQ. “We’re now seeing AI and analytics being applied not just for efficiency, but for trust, creativity, and long-term impact. The DataIQ Awards continue to showcase the talent and leadership that are shaping the intelligent organisations of the future.”
David Reed, DataIQ’s Chief Knowledge Officer and Evangelist added: “AI may dominate the headlines, but these awards remind us that people – not technology – drive progress. It’s the data leaders, engineers, and analysts who are building the governance, literacy, and culture that make AI genuinely valuable and sustainable.”
Celebrating Individual Excellence
This year’s winners included standout individuals across the data spectrum:
Data & AI Leader of the Year (Europe) went to Dan Taffler for his transformations on how businesses leverage data and AI to drive growth, productivity, and innovation.
Data & AI Leader of the Year (Global) went to Natalijia Bezubova from Entain for her ability to transform analytics into a strategic partner, embed measurable value frameworks, and foster a global culture of trust and inclusion.
The 2025 Emerging Data Talent of the Year went to Ben Pereira of Starbucks EMEA for his personal drive to join the industry, his tenacity in improving the field, and providing other professionals the tools needed to excel in the field.
And the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Carolyn E. Stebbings for her tenacious dedication to enhancing the data and AI landscape of organisations and training the future leaders of the industry.
Judging Process
Entries were assessed by a distinguished panel of senior data and AI leaders, with more than 400 submissions received this year. Each entry was scored independently, and category winners were selected through aggregated panel scores. The Grand Prix was awarded to the entry with the highest overall score, which this year went to Love Business.
View all the 2025 award winners here.
Sign up for the 2026 DataIQ Awards here.
