I recognised mid-way through my PhD in materials chemistry that what I really enjoyed was applying the scientific method to all problems. That realisation led to the operational research fast stream programme after graduation where I spent time deriving insights from data that would go on to inform policy-making decisions across the Department of Health and the Ministry of Defence.
I have continued in that same vein for the last ten years and have sought to help organisations make more informed decisions across several sectors, including defence, financial services, identity verification and fraud detection. Working across seemingly unrelated sectors shows how universally important data skills are, and my ability to analyse, interpret and communicate what the data is saying has helped to guide these organisations to make better decisions.
In 2022 I returned to government, to my current position in GDS. Throughout the pandemic, I saw the importance and impact of leveraging data to build public understanding and ultimately drive better public services. It is a great privilege to use my skills and experience to lead teams of brilliant data professionals in solving some of the most impactful problems with data science, analytics, and technology.