Protecting the privacy of information shared between agencies will be a key challenge for the NSW Data Analytics Centre (DAC), according to the newly-appointed chair of its advisory board, ASX CIO, Tim Thurman. The DAC was launched last August to serve as a data sharing platform between government agencies to provide insight into the effectiveness of existing policies. The NSW government will use data to support ongoing policy development to ensure investments are targeted at programs that provide the greatest benefit to the community. Thurman said the new advisory board – made up of several senior executives in the private sector – will find technologies that will make it safer for agencies to share information. “Part of the experience I bring to the group is working with data across multiple asset classes… we [the ASX] are constantly moving data around from group to group. “I have technology that I utilise that allows me to do that very safely. I push data into our websites, I share data with our clients who are quite trusting with the data that I have. So we make it our priority to make sure that it is protected,” he said. Thurman said the DAC was currently working on 12 data projects – covering areas such as fire safety and health – but he declined to provide further details. “The idea is about accessing data across [NSW] government agencies to bring it to the point where we can actually mine it and create more efficiencies by having a cross-functional look at data from the various agencies,” he said. Thurman said the group may be able to mask data well enough that it could hold hackathons with fintech hub Stone and Chalk, as well as startup hub, Fishburners. These events will help the DAC conduct ‘proof of concepts’ and gain more insights into what can be done with the data, Thurman said. Stone and Chalk’s CEO, Alex Scandurra, and Fishburners’ general manager, Murray Hurps, are both on the advisory board. In January, the ASX paid $14.9 million for a 5 per cent equity interest in New York- headquartered Digital Asset Holdings, to fund the initial development work for a new post-trade solution for the Australian equity market. Thurman said blockchain technology is adaptable for use in the NSW health sector. “When you are building these ledgers, from a health point of view, you could put everyone’s medical details on a ledger on a blockchain and spin nodes up that will allow data to be shared by hospitals and doctor’s offices,” Thurman said. “So when you walk into a doctor’s office off the street … they will have your medical details instantaneously. That’s what the possibilities are at a very high level.” Related content BrandPost The Era of Multi-Cloud Services Has Arrived How to unlock the benefits of multi-cloud environments By Adelino Simao Mar 21, 2023 4 mins VMware BrandPost Why CISOs Are Looking to Lateral Security to Mitigate Ransomware How to fight ransomeware attacks with lateral security By Adelino Simao Mar 21, 2023 4 mins VMware BrandPost 4 Factors That Influence Modern App Success in a Multi-Cloud Environment Enable your developers to do what they do best: code By Adelino Simao Mar 21, 2023 5 mins VMware Feature 10 cloud mistakes that can sink your business Just a single mistake can send your cloud strategy plummeting to earth. Here’s a rundown of how not to approach the cloud. By John Edwards Mar 21, 2023 8 mins IT Strategy Cloud Computing Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe