International Data Week 2025 – the recap

The Australian Access Federation (AAF) was proud to participate in International Data Week 2025 (IDW2025), held in Brisbane. The event brought together global leaders in research, infrastructure, and policy to explore the future of data-driven science and the critical role of trust and identity in enabling secure, FAIR data practices.

Trusted Access at the Forefront

Heath Marks, AAF CEO, shared:

"IDW2025 was a great opportunity to engage with the international data community. It aligns closely with our purpose to support trusted access to research data across Australia and beyond. Trusted access has never been more important – 86% of cybersecurity breaches are related to trust and identity. Protecting valuable research data starts with trusted identities."

Strengthening Global Partnerships

Anurag Katariya reflected on the event's impact:

"Joining researchers, infrastructure providers, and policy leaders from around the world at IDW2025 highlighted how rapidly AI is transforming the way research data is collected, curated, shared, and reused. The event reinforced the importance of trust and identity frameworks in enabling FAIR data practices and long-term reuse. It also provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen partnerships with organisations like TERN and QCIF, and explore how identity can be embedded within research workflows to enhance collaboration and interoperability. Conversations with international delegates confirmed that the challenges we face in trust and identity are shared globally – and we must tackle them together."

Connecting the ORCID Community

Melory Almeida, PIDs and ORCID Consortium Lead, said:

"Attending IDW2025 alongside the RDA Plenary was invaluable for fostering conversations around data access and its impact on research. It was fantastic to connect with like-minded professionals, share national and international initiatives, and engage in informal discussions on global best practices in data sharing and governance. These connections may lead to exciting future collaborations."

Advancing Persistent Identifiers

Julie Toohey, ORCID Engagement Specialist, shared:

"IDW2025 was a standout experience that deepened my understanding of persistent identifiers and reinforced the importance of AAF's collaboration across infrastructure partners. It was inspiring to see Australian and international communities unite around principles of openness and sustainability. I gained valuable insights into how the AAF Australian ORCID Consortium can continue supporting these efforts through strategic engagement with national frameworks and cross-sector initiatives."

A Global Conversation on Trusted Access

Kerry Mora, Manager, Marketing and Communications, concluded:

"IDW2025 was an invaluable opportunity to advance the global conversation around trusted access to data – core to what we do at AAF. Connecting with international peers to discuss current challenges and future solutions was incredibly beneficial for Australian research."