Ready for community: International Data Week as a catalyst for Aotearoa New Zealand's data capability

International Data Week, jointly hosted by the RDA, World Data System, and the International Science Council’s Committee on Data, has become the premier global event bringing together data professionals, researchers, policymakers, Indigenous knowledge custodians, technologists, and infrastructure leaders. IDW offers a unique space where local challenges meet international expertise, and where emerging researchers stand alongside global leaders shaping the future of open, FAIR, and collaborative data practices. For Aotearoa New Zealand - geographically distant yet globally connected - this platform has proved invaluable for building capability, widening participation, and spotlighting our region’s distinctive contributions to global data stewardship.Aotearoa New Zealand stands at a pivotal moment. As research becomes increasingly data-driven, cross-disciplinary, and globally interdependent, readiness depends on our ability to cultivate communities that support people across the entire research lifecycle. International Data Week and the Research Data Alliance offer both a gateway and a scaffold: a chance to learn from global best practice, contribute our local leadership and build communities that will sustain and inspire the researchers of tomorrow.In asking “Are you ready?”, this presentation argues that readiness is not a destination but a shared journey. Through participation in IDW and the RDA, Aotearoa New Zealand has the opportunity to 90strengthen its research talent, expand its communities, and position itself as a leader in responsible, collaborative, and future-ready data practice. ABOUT THE AUTHORTrish Radotic is the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) Research Data Alliance (RDA) Regional Community Manager for Oceania and East Asia. Based at the Curtin Institute for Data Science at Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia, she brings over 20 years of experience across IT, marketing, and international business.Trish holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Finance), an MBA (Marketing and International Business), and a Graduate Diploma in Software Programming. In her role, she supports the RDA Secretariat’s mission to build the social and technical bridges that enable the open sharing and reuse of research data across technologies, disciplines, and borders.She is passionate about the transformative potential of technology and AI as enablers of innovation, and is deeply committed to advancing global collaboration through connection, sharing, networking, and community building. -----For more information about the eResearch NZ / eRangahau Aotearoa conference, visit: https://eresearchnz.co.nz/