The Data Strategy Board, which met on 11 July 2012 for the first time, is focused around maximising the value of data initially from the Public Data Group Trading Funds – made up of the Ordnance Survey, Met Office, Land Registry and Companies House.

The membership of the board includes data users from outside the public sector, with representatives of commercial re-users and registered members of the open data community.

On behalf of the public sector the Data Strategy Board will steer the management of contracts for weather and geographic information and consider how data from the Data Strategy Board might generate economic growth
work to ensure that ministers have appropriate advice for going forward with its “open data” plans.

Shakespeare said: “I look forward to putting my experience of running a data-driven business and my knowledge of the public sector to drive forward the strategic role of data in supporting innovation, reform and economic growth, both in public and commercial sectors. Greater transparency can lead to enhanced collaboration and unleash innovation.”