October 13, 2026
Data and AI executives are navigating a period of unprecedented change — from redefining executive responsibilities to governing intelligent systems and building organization-wide AI capabilities. Gartner CDAO Communities bring Chief Data & Analytics Officers (CDAOs) from leading organizations together for candid, peer-led conversations about the challenges and priorities shaping business today.
A central part of that experience is our Executive Summits: full-day, in-person gatherings where executives exchange perspectives, compare approaches, pressure-test strategies and build trusted connections with peers facing similar challenges. Participants hear from Gartner analysts, industry practitioners and thought leaders; participate in interactive discussions; and engage in facilitated one-on-one peer meetings designed around shared priorities.
The value of being a member of the community is gaining access to a platform where leaders can share insights and perspectives to address the top priorities impacting business leaders today.
- Xingchu Liu, Chief Data & Analytics Officer
Genentech
This fall, Gartner CDAO Communities will host Executive Summits for CDAOs in the UK and Ireland, Toronto, New York, Atlanta, Chicago and San Francisco communities. Read on for a preview of several featured speakers and sessions from the agendas.
- Where Does AI Belong? Exploring Remits in an Era of Change at the UK & Ireland CDAO Community Executive Summit
As AI becomes increasingly central to business transformation, the role of the CDAO is evolving alongside it. In this interactive session, Carlos Soares, CDAIO at DKV Mobility; Tony Zona, Chief Data Officer at Grant Thornton; Marco Iannone, Chief AI Officer at Virgin Active; and Murtz Daud, Director of Data & AI at British Gas, will examine how leadership responsibilities are shifting. They will also explore how organizations can establish clear ownership, foster effective collaboration and maintain accountability for AI outcomes.
- AI on the Frontlines - Building Trust and Accountability in the Age of Intelligent Systems at the Toronto CDAO Community Executive Summit
Responsible AI adoption requires more than policies alone. In this keynote, Ima Okonny, CDO and Assistant Deputy Minister at Employment and Social Development Canada, will discuss how adaptable governance frameworks, AI literacy and workforce education can strengthen trust, support responsible innovation and help organizations navigate the evolving AI landscape.
3 Real-Time Control of Agentic Solutions at Scale at the New York CDAO Community Executive Summit
As agentic AI moves into enterprise environments, organizations must balance speed to market with effective risk management. In this session, Roger Burkhardt, Head of AI and Chief Technology Officer at Broadridge, will explore how organizations can establish responsive controls, scale agentic solutions responsibly and deliver measurable business value.
4 Scaling AI Beyond the Boardroom at the Atlanta CDAO Community Executive Summit
In this keynote fireside chat, Sushma Punuru, Global CDO at Global Payments, and Avinash Tripathi, VP, Analytics, Data Science & AI at the University of Phoenix, will share real-world lessons from deploying AI and demonstrating its business impact. They will also discuss how organizations can embed AI into everyday workflows and prepare leaders and employees for the next phase of AI-enabled business.
5 Transform Barriers into Data-Driven Breakthroughs at the Chicago CDAO Community Executive Summit
Data transformation can stall when cultural, organizational and stakeholder challenges go unaddressed. In this boardroom discussion, Julie Slezak, Executive Partner, Data and Analytics — Americas Public Sector at Gartner; Farhan Sabzaali, Head of Data at the University of Chicago; and Mir Ali, Head of Data & Analytics at The Hershey Company, will explore how leaders can sequence change, define meaningful measures of progress and build the alignment needed to turn barriers into momentum.
6 Beyond Fluency — Raising the Bar for Organizational Data and AI Mastery at the San Francisco CDAO Community Executive Summit
Basic data and AI literacy is no longer enough to deliver sustained value. In this keynote, Vivian Tan, CDAO at Kaiser Permanente, will share lessons on how data and analytics leaders can build capabilities across diverse teams, demonstrate business impact to senior stakeholders and establish responsible, human-centered governance.
Across every Executive Summit, participants can learn from peers facing similar challenges, exchange field-tested approaches and expand their trusted networks. As Ratika Garg, Head of Data and Analytics at Taco Bell Corp, shared, “It provides a trusted forum to exchange practical experiences, challenge conventional thinking, and stay ahead of emerging trends.”
Ready to connect with fellow data analytics and AI executives? Join your local community to participate in an Executive Summit and gain practical insights through candid conversations and peer-driven learning. Already a member? Sign in to the app and register today.
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