Partnering with Women in Data aligns perfectly with Aviva’s commitments to creating a diverse and inclusive organisation. It is a fundamental part of living up to our purpose of being with you today, for a better tomorrow. It means being there for all our people, serving all our customers well, and helping to contribute to fairer, more equal communities.
We are proud to have achieved our WIFC target of over 40% of women in senior management and to be named in “The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality Awards” for 7 years running. We are incredibly excited that our Group Chief Executive is HM Treasury Women in Finance Charter (WIFC) Champion. Nevertheless, we are determined to keep challenging ourselves to do more to build a workplace – and society – that works for all.
Data is one of the most important aspects of our 10-year strategy and is critical to the success of our business. The hundreds of data professionals who work with us are crucial to the ongoing success of our organisation. They’re playing an increasingly high-profile and influential role. We encourage a data driven culture of growth and inclusion to meet these ever-changing needs and seek talent that thrives on embracing change. To be able to achieve this it is essential to continue to strive for an environment for diverse data talent to grow and succeed.
With more than 18.7 million UK customers, and 320 years of experience, we have one of the broadest and deepest data sets in the financial services industry. Within that data, lies the answers to a multitude of questions, the solutions to a host of problems and the clues that will lead us to new and exciting opportunities. The truth is, data – and how we use it to better serve our customers and make smarter business decisions – will be one of the most important aspects of our strategy over the next ten years.
Data is a critical asset, essential to our business and we’re always on the look-out for the next innovation to meet our customers’ ever-changing needs. Giving them more control, helping them sort out things more quickly, making their lives easier, and ensuring they enjoy greater peace of mind. Our data teams are the ones who make that possible – turning data into insights so we can shape the future of financial services. It means we can reimagine customer journeys, dream up new digital marketing and platform ideas and develop products and services our customers have never experienced before.
With you today, for a better tomorrow
For more than 320 years we’ve been looking after our customers and helping them prepare for the unexpected – and we’ve picked up a thing or two along the way.
That’s why over 18.7 million people, in the UK, Ireland, and Canada choose us to protect what they have and to help them plan their future.
That future might seem a long way off, but the small steps you take now can make a big difference down the line – and even help you achieve your ambitions along the way too.
Count on us
We paid out £25.6 billion in benefits and claims to our customers in 2023.
Faster, happier, more productive
We’re committed to social action, climate action and being a sustainable business. In 2023 our colleagues spent 87,599 hours volunteering to support local communities.
Investing for the future
We provided £1.7 billion of financing for renewable energy infrastructure between 2020 and 2023.
From an artsy child to a data scientist at Aviva, my journey has been fuelled by creativity and curiosity. Moving frequently as a child, I found solace in creativity, which seamlessly transitioned into a love for coding when I was introduced to computers.
With a Bachelor’s in Information Technology, I began my career as a Java developer in a large consulting firm. Soon, I was part of the Centre of Excellence team, engaging with global Telecom service providers. A few projects I worked on inspired me to delve deeper into data science, leading me to pursue a Master’s in Data Science from Rutgers University, New Jersey. It was a challenging course, but I learned equally from the vibrant community.
In 2018, I joined an AI startup that was focusing on building their proprietary recommendation engine. The product had a keen focus in fintech, and I worked towards adapting it to serve hospitality, travel, and FMCG industries. With AI development, it is easy to get lost in endless experimentation. Over the four years, I focused on striking a balance between embracing new AI/ML concepts and the practicality of delivering effective business solutions.
In 2022, I joined Aviva as a Lead Data Scientist. This transition was particularly significant as I moved to the UK with my family, balancing my professional growth with being a mother to an 18-month-old. Aviva has provided me with the opportunity to explore and be autonomous in delivering AI solutions; while also offering the flexibility I need as a parent.
Currently, I lead some of the Gen AI initiatives within Aviva, where the key focus is to empower our colleagues, drive efficiency, and foster a cultural shift towards greater trust in Gen AI.
What is it you enjoy the most working with data?
What I enjoy most about working with data is the process of uncovering patterns and building stories. Data, in its raw form, can seem like a collection of random numbers and facts. However, when you dive deeper, you start to see connections and trends that tell a story. This blend of analysis and storytelling makes working with data both challenging and rewarding.
To begin with a wanted to be a Quantity Surveyor to take advantage of my love for maths, after 6 months of a degree in this field I was beaten down by the misogyny, that I have overcome in the years since! Pivoted to a different degree and never turned back.
Currently, I lead a fantastic passionate team of 40 data scientists in the UK Commercial Lines Data & AI department at Aviva. Together, we tackle challenges in pricing, automation, decision support, and spatial sciences.
I love finding innovative solutions that make a real impact, especially in areas like automated decision-making, natural language processing (NLP), and artificial intelligence (AI).
Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working in various roles, these experiences have allowed me to develop industry-leading tools and models, develop people and change mindsets.
It’s incredibly rewarding to see the tangible benefits of our work have a positive impact on business and individual growth.
This career path has allowed me to be continuously expanding my skill set, mastering programming languages like R, Python, and SQL, and gaining expertise in various data science platforms and tools as well as softer skill development such as presentation and people management.
I’m passionate about inspiring other women to pursue careers in data and AI, and I’m committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment in the field.
What is it you enjoy the most working with data?
I’m getting paid to solve puzzles, which are far more interesting than Suduko! I love working in this field because it allows me to harness the power of data and artificial intelligence to drive innovation and make a tangible impact on the business.
I get to collaborate with talented teams, solve complex problems, and develop cutting-edge solutions that enhance our customer experience and streamline our operations.
The dynamic nature of the field keeps me constantly learning and growing, and the opportunity to lead and inspire others is incredibly rewarding.
It isn’t without it challenges as a woman in this field, however gender bias and underrepresentation can be overcome by fostering a supportive network, advocating for diversity and inclusion, and continuously building skills and confidence to lead with impact and innovation.
I am an experienced data professional skilled in managing data engineering teams and working with Snowflake and Oracle databases. In my role at Aviva, I lead multiple teams on complex data projects, delivering high-quality, data-driven insights that drive business growth and success.
I have worked on countless data projects throughout my career, developing a comprehensive understanding of the most effective methods for storing, managing, and analysing large datasets. With a deep understanding of both the technical and managerial aspects of data management, I have a proven track record of delivering high-quality, data-driven insights to her Stakeholders and Customers, facilitating competitive advantage in the market.
In my spare time, I enjoy running, skiing, and playing the piano.
What is it you enjoy the most working with data?
Working with data gives me the ability to discover valuable insights that can be used to drive successful business decisions and improvements. It also means that I am lucky enough to work with all the latest cutting edge technologies, which I find really exciting.
I am currently a Principal Data Scientist at Aviva leading a small team of data scientists. My role involves collaborating with stakeholders in pricing and underwriting to understand how data can be used to solve a wide range of business problems. My job is varied and never boring, and it encompasses data analysis, predictive modelling, project management and data governance. There is always something new to learn as data science is a rapidly evolving field.
My academic journey began unconventionally; I left school at 16 without higher-level qualifications. Twelve years later, I pursued a Mathematics degree at the University of East Anglia as a mature student, then went on to gain a PhD in pure mathematics. After a year of teaching at secondary school, I joined Aviva as a statistical analyst. Over nearly two decades, I have held four different roles within the company.
During my career I have seen that women are under-represented in technical roles not just in Aviva but across all industries. I am excited to be the Recruitment Lead for our Women in Data SteerCo and to encourage more women to pursue careers in data roles.
Outside of work I am very much an outdoors person enjoying endurance sports such as triathlon and ultra-running, and I also have an allotment. These activities help me to switch off and clear my mind so that I can return to work with renewed focus.
What is it you enjoy the most working with data?
I have a curious mind and I enjoy trying to find patterns in the data which help explain or predict certain trends
As an AWS-certified Machine Learning Specialist, I have a strong passion for delivering impactful data-driven solutions. In my role at Aviva, I lead key projects within the Counter fraud space, focusing on developing machine learning pipelines, automating workflows, and driving sustainable data practices that enhance efficiency and collaboration. Outside of work, I am committed to empowering others through mentorship and have founded a community that supports tech professionals in navigating their careers.
What is it you enjoy the most working with data?
I love the thrill of uncovering hidden insights and solving complex problems through data. Working with data allows me to connect the dots between raw information and impactful business decisions, driving innovation and improving processes.
The ability to turn numbers into stories and solutions is what excites me the most!
When I was at secondary school, my dad bought me a copy of Fermat’s Last Theorem by Simon Singh. This book made me re-examine what I thought I knew – Maths can actually be fun! I can get a job solving puzzles in real life!
After graduating with a PhD in Maths, I have spent many enjoyable years working both as a post doctorate in the research sector and at various levels of data scientist in the insurance industry at Aviva. And in both roles, I was doing just that. Solving real-life puzzles that make a huge difference to stakeholders and customers. From examining the inner workings of plant-microbial interactions, to optimising the claims process at Aviva.
As a female, I’ve become quite accustomed on this journey to being a minority in the room, and having to shout that little bit louder to get my voice heard. I’ve taken on increasing leadership responsibility and am loving my current role as Principal Data Scientist, where I get to lead a team of data scientists, who all likewise love solving complex problems and seeing what they can achieve.
What is it you enjoy the most working with data?
I love how data has the power to truly revolutionise the customer experience, from enhancing our workforce to streamlining the way we do business. Technology moves so fast and this keeps me constantly engaged, as I strategise on how to harness these opportunities to stay competitive and deliver the best for our customers.
I also find great joy in inspiring others to excel in this dynamic environment and to develop their own creative solutions. As a mother of three inspirational girls, I am particularly committed to encouraging more women and girls to enter the field, ensuring they feel welcomed and valued. Promoting STEM subjects to the younger generation is a cause that is very close to my heart. Just like my dad all those years ago, I just adore planting those seeds and watching them grow.
Education: BSc Geography
https://www.linkedin.com/in/siobhan-waldron-ab6a97270/
Talk about a squiggly career! Upon leaving university I went travelling around the world for a year, upon returning I began an exciting career in the Ministry of Defence. It was here I honed my skills for threat intelligence and the collection process. I began to understand the broader threat landscape and the actors that played their part to disrupt our way of life in the UK. 16+ years later, I needed a new challenge and discovered my skill set fit well with the cyber security world.
My role has opened many doors, opportunities, and experiences for my personal and professional growth. Currently, I am responsible for communicating cyber threats across the organisation through data collection and analysis, sustaining a community of practice and developing strategies and policies.
I have a passion for equality, diversity, and inclusion and for being a role-model for women in cyber and data.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-read-0a761936/
Expertise: Building high performing teams that maximise value extraction from data solutions
Education: TOGAF Certified Architect, Oracle Certified Associate, SCRUM Alliance Certified Product Owner.
Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of building and leading data-driven teams across various industries, all with a core focus on leveraging data to deliver tangible business value. I’m a seasoned data leader, with a strong background in data platforms, cloud technology and data strategy. In previous roles, I have led data teams at a major BPO and headed up the data architecture function at a financial services company.
At EDF UK, I have led the EDF UK Customers business migration to AWS/Snowflake and have led numerous large scale data transformation programmes. I promote a less is more tech strategy and am focussed on ROI and driving reusability wherever possible.
I’m deeply committed to driving diversity within tech, which I champion through my involvement in the EDF UK data and tech steering group. I’m fully supportive of initiatives such as early careers programmes that help develop and nurture talent. I passionately believe that the gender disparity in roles such as a tech and engineering needs to be addressed and it’s on all leaders to create a culture and environment where talent can flourish.
In the data landscape, I believe that data is more interconnected than ever and the ability to share data between producers and consumers is vital to drive innovation. As we advance in this data marketplace era, I’m excited to continue building strategies that use technological transformation to drive real-world impact. And of course, developing talent that enable value to be extracted from data and drive an innovative data culture.
Expertise: Driving AI initiatives into operational business applications
Education: Applied Science, 25 years in data innovation
https://www.linkedin.com/in/owen-eszeki/
My adventure into the world of AI began in the mid-90s, pre-internet, as a Geographical Information Systems Analyst for the Australian Government. I quickly realized the immense value of data accuracy and cleanliness. Hungry for more challenges, I moved into the vibrant world of publishing at Lonely Planet Publications. Here, I understood the critical importance of project deliveries, cost efficiency vs. accuracy and digital publishing, witnessing the dawn of Google Maps and its transformative effect on the industry where I learnt that I would, where possible need to be at the forefront of data technology. Fuelled by my passion for exploration, I sold everything and travelled the world, eventually landing in the UK. My freelancing days were filled with diverse data projects, sharpening my skills and expanding my horizons. I found a home at Kimberly Clark Professional, where I turned raw data into actionable insights and honed my data engineering skills. This marked my first foray into data science, developing predictive churn models, stunning data visualizations, and natural language sentiment models. These experiences laid the groundwork for building digital marketing insights and eventually leading the data team. Recognizing the impact of ML and AI seven years ago, I transitioned to a small startup, honing my data and AI skills while leading projects and teams, especially in NLP. This path led me to EDF, where I initially served as a consultant before becoming a full-time member in the EDF Blue Lab incubator as an AI Lead. Today, I am at the helm, driving AI innovation to operational scale deployments. I oversee strategy, governance, and the responsible deployment of AI, working alongside my talented award-winning team. With a profound understanding of AI technologies and strong management abilities, I ensure foster innovation within my team. My commitment to responsible AI practices upholds transparency and ethical standards in every initiative and support EDF in understanding AI Governance practices building their AI strategic future. With over 25 years of experience working with data, my leadership and passion for advancing AI technologies empower EDF UK to achieve extraordinary results, enhancing sustainability and operational efficiency. I take pride in contributing to a culture of excellence and responsibility, shaping the future of energy innovation.
