🧠Next Horizon: Mastering AI & Data Skills for the Years Ahead Series Launch
​A collaborative community awareness series presented by DAMA Sweden NSG Forming Chapter and AI Collective Sweden Chapter.
​Why this series exists
​ AI and data are no longer separate disciplines, they are converging into a shared capability that organizations must develop intentionally. Yet most professionals are still learning AI as tools, and data as systems, rather than as human skills that shape decisions, trust, governance, and value creation.
​ This series exists to bridge that gap.
​Together, AI Collective (practitioner-led AI literacy and adoption) and DAMA (foundational data management and governance expertise) bring a unified perspective on what AI and Data skills will truly matter by 2030, not just for technologists, but for leaders, analysts, architects, and business professionals.
​ Each session builds on the previous one:
​From literacy → capability
​From tools → thinking
​From individual skills → organizational maturity
​ The series connects AI ecosystem and human judgment into a coherent future skills framework.
​Episode 1 - Unscripted Insight From
​Arran Goodridge & Alex Keenan
​Arran leads AI & Data recruitment at Oxygen Digital, partnering with forward thinking organisations to connect them with GenAI experts who move beyond proof of concepts and deliver measurable ROI.
​His network includes engineers, data scientists, and product leaders who have driven real world impact, building scalable LLM applications, production grade RAG pipelines, and intelligent systems powering enterprise innovation.
​He supports both startups and established AI teams in scaling effectively, optimising time, cost, and quality. Whether through permanent hires, specialist contractors, blended team models, or contract to hire solutions, every engagement is aligned to tangible business outcomes.
​From stealth mode innovators to industry leaders, his focus remains consistent: delivering production-ready talent that truly makes a difference.
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​Alex is the AI & Data a specialist recruitment partner focused exclusively on AI, data, and advanced engineering. He heads up freelance and contract-to-hire recruitment across the EU AI ecosystem. With over 8 years of experience in recruitment and more than 5 years specialising in tech‑focused hiring spanning DevOps, Cloud, Data, and now providing senior freelance experts in MLOps, AI Infrastructure, and Data Engineering - Alex ensures businesses have the scalable, compliant, and production-ready data environments required for AI build and deployment.
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​With a focus exclusively on connecting EU startups and enterprise AI teams on providing senior freelance experts in MLOps, AI Infrastructure, and Data Engineering experts (engineers, scientists, and product specialists) who deliver real ROI, not just proofs of concept, his network includes talent experienced in LLMs, RAG pipelines, NLP, MLOps, Databricks, and AI infrastructure, all capable of building and deploying intelligent systems at speed.
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​Helping organisations scale efficiently through freelance, remote-first, and contract‑to‑hire models designed to reduce hiring time, cut costs, and ensure compliance while keeping quality at the centre. From stealth‑mode innovators to established AI-first businesses, Alex connects teams with production-grade talent that make a measurable impact.
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​What to Expect (Across the Series)
​Participants will walk away with:
​A clear mental model of AI + Data skills beyond hype and job titles
​Practical language to discuss AI and data capabilities with leadership
​Insight into how roles, responsibilities, and career paths will evolve by 2030
​A shared vocabulary across business, data, and AI teams
​Each session delivers 1–2 concrete takeaways, not theory overload.
​Who Should Join (Overall Audience)
​Data & Analytics Leaders
​AI Practitioners & ML Engineers
​Data Architects, Governance & DAM Professionals
​Product Managers & Digital Leaders
​Business Leaders navigating AI adoption
​Professionals future-proofing their careers
​Key Takeaways
​A blueprint for building sustainable AI & data capability
​What “AI maturity” really means in next 3-5 years
​Why This Series Matters (End-of-Series Outcomes)
​By the end of the series, participants will:
​Understand AI and data as human capabilities, not just technologies
​Be able to connect DAMA principles to modern AI realities
​Speak confidently about AI literacy with executives and teams
​Make better decisions about skills investment, governance, and adoption
​Future-proof their roles in an AI-accelerated world
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​The AI Collective is a global non-profit building the human layer for the AI age. We unite 150,000+ leaders, builders, and stakeholders across 100+ forums worldwide to democratize the frontier, build trust, and coordinate how society navigates the rapid acceleration of technological progress.
​All attendees and organizers at events affiliated with The AI Collective agree to our privacy policy and are subject to our code of conduct.