Delivering innovative involvement through data engagement infrastructure: the Northern Ireland Public Data Panel

ObjectivesThe Northern Ireland Public Data Panel (NIPDP) facilitates public deliberation on the use of public data across the data ecosystem. Co-created by its members and a team from ADRC NI and the Data Institute, NIPDP develops and tests best practice in involvement and democratic deliberation on data-driven issues. MethodsNIPDP was developed and implemented as data engagement infrastructure with support from across the data ecosystem, recognising the interplay of data and its uses beyond academic research. Recruitment was carried out by citizen assembly recruitment specialists Sortition to be broadly representative of the NI population. Seventeen members, supported by the NIPDP delivery team, meet quarterly to hear expert evidence and deliberate on a topic selected by members through an open application process. Recommendations are recorded and connected into stakeholders and decision-makers through the All-Party Group on Policy and Public Data and through ADRC NI and the Data Institute. ResultsNIPDP has developed a successful approach to meaningful involvement of diverse publics in data-driven decision-making across a geographic region. It differs in other approaches to enga