You’ll notice a heavy theme running through our summer double issue: data. Then again, isn’t that true of the IT industry in general nowadays?

The explosion of data – and what can be done with it – has been the most transformational trend to emerge from the digital age. It is the area where the most groundbreaking technology has emerged, and where the most significant challenges lie.

In this issue of Information Age alone, you can see how Transport for London is embracing big data to better understand and manage customer demand (p. 16), read up on how to strike a balance between fully utilising data assets and remaining compliant with upcoming EU data laws (p. 34), and learn how to become a data leader in 2015 (p. 20).

Speaking of data leaders, our flagship conference and the UK’s leading event on the use of data in the enterprise returns on 26 November. Data Leadership is the thinking person’s big data event – for IT pros who are not drawn into hype but do recognise opportunities.

We understand that you don’t want another hype-fuelled event telling you what big data is – you want to become leaders in generating business value from data.

Sir Nigel Shadbolt will lead the speaking bill, while Met Office CIO Charles Ewen, Eurostar CIO Antoine de Kerviler, Marks & Spencer head of enterprise analytics Peter Williams and BP head of data science Charles Cai will be among those telling their data stories at the event.

To complement its return, we are delighted to announce the launch of The Data 50 Awards – a high-profile evening ceremony that will gather the cream of the crop of the IT industry to reveal, honour and celebrate the UK’s top 50 data leaders and influencers.

All functions involved in driving data innovation in the UK will be considered, whether it be the vendors creating the technology, the end-users deploying it, or the consultancies and integrators helping them do it.

So get your nominations in at dataleadership.co.uk/data-50-awards to ensure that you or a colleague are included on this prestigious list.