Feb. 23 was her final day in the role, according to an email from Brandi Wildfang, chief communications officer and public information officer for the Colorado Office of Information Technology (OIT).
State CIO David Edinger said Colorado is pursuing a different path for data.
"Data strategy and governance are integrated into everything we do, and so, instead of having one office lead these efforts, we are ensuring that teams across OIT leverage data best practices in their work," he wrote in an email to Government Technology. "Therefore, we will no longer have the chief data officer role. This structural decision will help ensure that this work is prioritized and woven into the fabric of all state technology. Deputy Executive Director of Digital and Delivery Sarah Tuneberg is leading the integration of this work."
Colorado’s IT leadership has been focused on improving residents’ experiences with digital services. AI can help improve service delivery in some cases — with regulations in place.
Bhikha was appointed in February 2021. During her time with the state, she served as chairperson of the Government Data Advisory Board for more than five years, and as ehealth commissioner for the Colorado Office of eHealth Innovation for more than four years, according to LinkedIn.
“I continue to believe in the long-term importance of centralized data leadership and am incredibly proud of what was accomplished and grateful for the opportunity to serve in this role,” she said in an April 8 LinkedIn post, citing the trust built across agencies, leadership and disciplines as something that made the rest of her work possible.
The scope of that work includes the creation of a statewide data strategy, enhancing enterprise data governance, and modernizing the state’s data architecture. Notably, Edinger has charged the CDO with providing oversight on state AI use, as data is the foundation for an effective AI program.
AI has significant potential for collecting, synthesizing and analyzing large amounts of public-facing data, Bhikha previously told Government Technology.
“I see from talking to my peers at other states it’s been very common for AI to go under all those CDOs,” she said at the time.
A 2025 report from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers found that the chief data officer role is one that can drive strategy, governance and collaboration.
