ADR Wales Blog. Published 03.10.25. Written by Professor David Ford OBE & Stephanie Howarth, Co-directors of ADR Wales
Last month, we had the privilege of welcoming colleagues from across the UK and around the world to Cardiff for the ADR UK 2025 Conference. For us at ADR Wales, this was more than just a conference – it was a chance to celebrate how far we’ve come, to learn from others, and to think ambitiously about where we go next.
Showcasing Welsh innovation
Wales has long been a place where innovation in administrative data research can thrive. Thanks to our secure data infrastructure and close partnerships with government, academics and the third sector, we are able to deliver research that makes a real difference.
The conference gave us the perfect platform to showcase this work and to hear from our colleagues across the UK and beyond. The pre-conference programme set the tone brilliantly, with hands-on workshops that brought researchers, policymakers and data specialists together before the main event began. These sessions sparked collaboration and created a real sense of community energy.
The Datathon – hosted by Datacise Open Learning, with fantastic collaboration from colleagues at the National University of Singapore – was a real highlight. We were thrilled to see teams of researchers, analysts and coders dive into synthetic data from SAIL Databank, made possible thanks to the preparation and technical expertise from our colleagues in Secure eResearch Platform (SeRP). The work that went into creating realistic, secure datasets for this kind of policy-focused innovation was fantastic – and it truly paid off.
Over two days, participants explored questions around children’s mental health and the educational attainment of cared-for children, producing rigorous, imaginative solutions whilst working with synthetic data. The enthusiasm from the attendees was infectious – they brought fresh ideas and a real commitment to tackling pressing policy challenges.
Celebrating momentum and looking ahead
We are delighted to share the news that ADR Wales has secured £26 million in funding for 2026-31, supporting its work across Welsh Government, Swansea University, and Cardiff University. Building on the 2022-26 grant of £13 million Swansea and Cardiff received, alongside an additional £7.5 million secured during this period, this new investment will enhance our infrastructure, connect more datasets, and tackle new questions that matter to policymakers and communities. It also challenges us to raise the bar – to be faster, more responsive, and more inclusive.
Rt. Hon Mark Drakeford MS’s call to “be bold” couldn’t have come at a better time. For us, being bold means taking the insights we generate and turning them into action. It means making data linkage easier, more efficient, and more inclusive – all while protecting privacy and earning public trust.
Partnerships at the heart
A recurring theme across the conference was that no one can do this work alone. Whether we were hearing about ODISSEI’s national infrastructure in the Netherlands, Cidacs’ work in Brazil, or advances in other UK nations such as the evolving landscape of trusted research environments (TREs) explored by DARE UK (Data and Analytics Research Environments UK), the key messages were the same: progress happens when we move forward together.
We are proud to play our part in this collective effort and remain committed to sharing what we learn – and learning from others – as we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
People behind the data
One of the most powerful reminders of why this work matters came in Dr Nisha da Silva’s keynote on Data First and the Better Outcomes through Linked Data (BOLD). Her story of “John” – tracing one person’s journey through multiple systems – captured the human reality behind the data. Every dataset we link, every analysis we produce, is ultimately about improving outcomes for someone’s child, patient, or neighbour. That is what drives us every day.
Coming together as a community
Another rewarding aspect of the conference was seeing everyone come together over the course of the week. Beyond the formal sessions and workshops, it was fantastic to witness delegates sharing ideas, debating challenges, and building new connections. The drinks reception and evening celebration perfectly captured this spirit – colleagues came together to enjoy shared discussions, unwind, and experience a taste of Welsh culture through traditional song and dance. Moments like these remind us that administrative data research is not just about datasets and analysis, but about the people and relationships that make collaboration possible.
Our commitment going forward
As we look beyond the conference, we feel renewed energy and purpose. ADR Wales will continue to lead on secure data innovation, to collaborate across sectors, and to deliver insights that make a difference – not just for Wales, but for the UK and internationally.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in Cardiff, contributed to the discussions, and helped make the ADR UK 2025 Conference such a success. The future of administrative data research is bright – and we are ready to be bold.
— Professor David Ford OBE & Stephanie Howarth
Co-directors, ADR Wales