Two minutes with Kirsty Benn-Harris -Director of Data Governance

Data governance is everything you do to ensure data is secure, private, accurate, available, and usable. It includes the actions people must take, the processes they must follow, and the technology that supports them throughout the data life cycle.

Tell us about your role as Director of Data Governance and how this fits in with the wider ITV strategy?

ITV is transforming how we work with data and we’re moving at pace to be a digital and data-led organisation. We’re also in the midst of an accelerated digital transformation strategy - ultimately changing how our viewers watch content. Data is at the heart of everything we do, embedded into our DNA alongside creativity. As data scales in volume and sophistication, good data governance, a culture of data ownership and accountability,  is of paramount importance to support teams in being autonomous and self-sufficient when using data. 

Since joining Sanjeevan Bala’s Data Leadership team in February 2022, I’ve been fortunate to appoint the very best data governance specialists to engage and support Shared Services, Studios and M&E/Broadcasting. We’ve reworked the ITV Data Governance Framework and identified Data Owners across the business to help us to encourage and promote a culture of data ownership and accountability.   We’ve also partnered with the Open Data Institute to develop and deliver engaging best in class online learning, and we’re on a journey to introduce ITV to data governance tooling.

What’s the best thing about your role?

Having autonomy, as well as the trust and confidence of my peers.  This has enabled me to build on my previous experience to create a Data Governance function that is tailored to help everyone at ITV. It is important that the business understands the benefits that good data governance can bring and know how to apply good data governance to their everyday work.

What has been the highlight of working in the Data Leadership team?  

Building the Data Governance function from scratch knowing that the senior leadership team has given the function the trust and confidence  to continue their great work.

Sum up ITV’s data governance function in three words:

Here to help.

 What have you got in the pipeline for the next few months?

We’ve a lot planned for 2023, from rolling out role specific support and guidance across ITV, online training for the staff that produce data, as well as consume and distribute data, to implementing tooling to help automate the many functions of data governance and specifically tools to enhance the integrity of our data.

Describe ITV in three words

Loves its data.

What’s your favourite show on ITV?

Definitely I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! I’ve been a fan from watching this with my two children (many moons ago…) and I’m still a huge fan.

What do you consider to be your career highlight?

It all started with me wanting to join the Adjutants General Corps after uni to being called to the Bar in 2009. Since then I’ve gone from advising in corporate governance, research ethics, clinical governance, data protection and information governance. I’ve had the opportunity and privilege to lead in delivering many initiatives but the ones that stand out - for personal reasons - are the national dementia register and the NHS national costing tariff.  Before joining ITV, I led the Healthcare Investigation Branch Disaster Recovery during the pandemic and helped in coordinating the review of human factors in designing the Nightingale Hospitals. I’ve also taken on numerous trustee positions from providing advocacy support to street workers to supporting a new initiative offering national back-office finance support functions to Age UK brand partners.   

What’s the best bit of advice you’ve ever been given?

Always believe in yourself.

Which role models have particularly influenced you and your career?

My parents for showing me the rewards that hard work and integrity can bring. My husband for always challenging me as to which one of us gets the next best career opportunity!

What should someone do if they want to learn more about working within Data at ITV?

Reach out to Tracey.Buckley@itv.com for more information about our current roles.

https://www.itvjobs.com/