Dr Ade Awonaike

Headline Partner

Dr Ade Awonaike, Director, Data and Analytics, Turner & Townsend

Describe your career to date

 

In my illustrious career to date, I have travelled a path illuminated by data, analytics, and data science for innovation. My journey has been across multiple industry verticals including renewable energy, local government, academia, central government, utilities, transportation, arts, and financial services where I have consistently demonstrated my value-first capabilities leading data-centric transformations.

With a background in geo-sciences and geographical information systems, I made a full transition to the data space as a data consultant, and I have since built and led data teams across multiple global locations. I have designed and implemented data strategies, ideated and developed data products, and now enable the next generation of data leaders through coaching and mentorship.

Data literacy is a key enabler of the value and impact from data. How are you approaching this within your organisation?

 

Data literacy is a journey and must be tailored to prevailing culture of the organisation and multiple level audiences. For business leaders and peers, I take a practical approach through everyday conversations, meetings, and presentations to teach and coach about data literacy without having to create a special class for it.

 

As a result – though it has taken a bit of time – I get comments and feedback like “Oh! Now I get it”, and “This now makes sense”. This does not underestimate the place of formal sessions on the subject, but it works for me. 

For the Data team, the focus is on enabling individuals to scale their capabilities across multiple capability-families and the validation of skills and experience through certifications. As a result, though in early days, we have had data analyst transitioning into data engineering roles and now have multiple members of the team acquire relevant certifications in alignment to my vision for the team.

Have you set out a vision for data? If so, what is it aiming for and does it embrace the whole organisation or just the data function?

Yes, I have set a vision for the team, and this further enables Turner and Townsend’s purpose of making the difference, transforming performance for a green, inclusive, and productive world. In the simplest way, the data team vision is to create innovative world-class data, analytics and science products and services to transform our clients’ portfolios and programmes.

Dr Ade Awonaike
Dr Ade Awonaike
has been included in:
  • 100 Brands 2024 (EMEA)

Enabling data and AI leaders to drive impact