Women in Data is a fantastic movement! At esure, we want to be a force for change, championing greater gender parity and diversity in data science, engineering, software development and analytics. We’re on a mission to become a leading digital insurer. We’re building an entire tech ecosystem to transform how we engage with our customers and operate our business. Underpinning this is a flexible and scalable digital platform, and industry-beating data capabilities that are enabling us to deliver exceptional customer experiences. We want to use our story to inspire and support more women into successful data careers.
Elspeth Hackett, Director of Home and
Underwriting at esure
I’m a Data Operations Lead with over 20 years of experience building a career in data—progressing from a statistician sitting Actuarial exams to leading data engineering and operations teams in the General Insurance sector.
I started in a small team and spent 15 years in technical roles where representation was limited, I had to build confidence, resilience, and my voice over time. I’ve experienced first-hand the challenges that can come with stepping into leadership—navigating change, balancing priorities, overcoming self-doubt, and learning to lead in a way that stays true to who I am.
Those experiences have shaped how I lead today. I’m passionate about creating environments where people feel valued, empowered to take ownership and lead as well as to grow themselves, I strongly believe that a leader can make a fundamental difference to a team and their success.
Technically, I’ve led the delivery and improvement of data platforms across on-premise and cloud environments, including Snowflake, Matillion and SAS GRID. I’ve been involved in large-scale data migration programmes to build data lakes and warehouses, as well as several company mergers, which has taught me a lot especially about leadership and communication. I have set up a triage process for the department and manage all the work coming into Data Platforms. I’m naturally detail-focused and curious, always looking for ways to improve and solve complex problems.
I’ve recently completed a Master’s in Management with Data Analytics at Keele University, continuing my commitment to learning and growth. This came with its own set of challenges completing degree independently to a full time job. I’m also a strong advocate for professional development, especially when it involves badges! I like to encourage others to build their skills, pursue certifications, and stay curious in a constantly evolving industry.
Supporting Women in Data is something I care deeply about. I want to help create a future where women feel confident entering, staying, and progressing in data careers—without the barriers that many of us have had to navigate.
Outside of work, I spend my time horse riding, exploring with the dog and travelling with my husband
Expertise: Data Management, Data Analysis, Underwriting, Fraud
Education: Level 4 Data Analysis (Firebrand), Cert CII, Financial Crime Prevention (ICA), Cybercrime Diploma (NCC)
After deciding not to pursue university, I began my career at Ageas in 2014 in a Customer Service role, initially seeking call centre experience. However, I quickly realised I enjoyed the organisation and the opportunities available, which motivated me to build a long-term career within the business.
My interest in data and investigation was sparked early on when I encountered my first fraudulent case. This moment inspired me to pursue a role in fraud, and I actively worked towards that goal. After progressing into a senior position and gaining valuable experience in an Underwriting Support team, I moved into Fraud, where I developed my analytical skills by investigating sales data, identifying fraud indicators, and producing insight packs.
I was later promoted to a Fraud Specialist role, where I contributed to the development of a point-of-quote identity theft model. This experience strengthened my understanding of how data can be used to proactively manage risk and protect both customers and the business. Keen to further develop my technical expertise, I transitioned into a Technical Underwriting role and completed a Level 4 Data Analyst apprenticeship with Firebrand.
I now work in Data Management, specialising in Data Governance across the Ageas enterprise. In my role, I collaborate with stakeholders to improve data quality, implement governance frameworks, and support the organisation in becoming more data-driven. I am passionate about ensuring data is trusted, well-managed, and fit for purpose, particularly in supporting regulatory requirements and better business decision-making.
Outside of work, I enjoy long dog walks with my husband and our Cockapoo, Woody -especially when there’s a pub along the way! I also love spending time with friends and going on new adventures, most recently trying jet skiing for the first time in Tenerife.
Expertise: Data Analysis, Speech Analytics, Quality Assurance, Complaints
Education: BA Hons Hotel &Hospitality Management with Marketing, University of Strathclyde
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-maclean-9415a499
After graduating in 2000, I started a temporary data entry job at LloydsTSB which turned out to be the beginning of a varied career in Financial Services. My journey into analysis & data began when after a long spell as a complaints handler with Goldfish Credit Cards, I moved into a Root Cause Analyst role. This is where my inquisitive nature really started to kick in and I found gaining insight on one thing led to more questions and that never ending urge to find out more! After my first maternity leave, I moved into a Quality & Business Improvement role at Barclays. This again fuelled my passion for gaining insights and leaving things better than I found them. This role allowed me to develop into Speech Analytics and that’s where I really found my calling. Being able to delve into the nuances of customer interactions and extract crucial insights to enhance service delivery and customer experience was truly transformational and led to our team winning the CCA Back Office Team of the Year and Overall Team of the Year two years in a row, and also winning ECCCSA Quality Team of the Year.
I joined esure in April 2019 to lead in the newly created Speech Analytics function. This role has allowed me to grow both professionally and personally, and has lead to my current role, leading our Insights team where we are delivering actionable insights across our business to help improve our customer journeys, our digital adoption and all the while keeping our customers and our business safe. I’m lucky enough to work in a business where I know my voice is heard and I am empowered to make decisions and help drive our business forward.
I’m passionate about data and using data effectively to improve our business. I’m a huge advocate of taking away stereotypes, and I’m keen to ensure girls know they can follow a career in data and enjoy it!
When I’m not at work, I’m mum of 2, and my husband and I volunteer with my daughters football team. I look after much of the admin involved in running a club which just 2 years after forming has almost 200 girls. I’m on the sidelines every Saturday morning cheering on the girls and I love seeing the growth in girls & women’s football.
Expertise: Portfolio Management, Motor Retail Pricing, Risk Management
Education: BSc Actuarial Science, MSc Risk Management and Insurance
LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/liviavalle
Risk and Finance have always been my passion, at university I studied Actuarial Science back in Brazil, where I am a qualified Actuary, and moved to the UK in 2022 to do a Master`s in Risk Management and Insurance.
The path isn`t always clear and I sure took my time exploring the fields that the insurance industry has to offer, such as pricing, risk and actuarial, but one interesting thing that I found was that there was one constant factor for all of them: data analytics.
Learning how to code and more importantly how to apply that skill into creating insightful information out of big datasets is the key part of working with data for me, just like puzzle solving. There is a wide range of what data analytics enables, from dashboarding to risk modelling, or identifying data drift and many more possible applications, making it fundamental to always be upskilling and bringing new ideas into the business.
Within Pricing Portfolio Management it`s not just about writing and running codes, it`s about investigating its outputs, understanding what the process enables and delivering decision-making insights. It is challenging work which is why it matters to work for a company like Esure that supports your career and cares about diversity.
The Women in Data community not only helped me to land my current role at Esure, but also to feel empowered in this male-dominated field by listening to strong women`s voices, to stories I can relate and to see women leaders I aspire to be.
The insurance market will only be seen as a ‘force for good’ if it can anticipate and react to the everchanging lifestyles, expectations and needs of our customers – and that means more data being produced, captured and consumed, coupled with a need to use that information quickly to hone the customer experience and services required. This will become easier to facilitate as cloud platforms mature, data science tooling expands into the AutoML and ‘low-code’ realms, and self-serve models continue to become adopted. People have been driving less, the property market has shifted materially, the availability and cost of vehicle parts has transformed, hybrid working is on the rise, and so driving behaviour and patterns will adjust. We’ve also got the challenges of inflation, continuing pressures on supply chains, and significant regulatory changes on pricing. All of this creates new data trends, ways in which to use data, and opportunities for new propositions.
While challenging, this scale of change represents an opportunity to radically change brand, mission, the way the market works and the products on offer. Those putting data, digitisation, technology, and the right culture and talent together will reform the industry – and the people that work and buy within it. This represents a boom in talent creation, career opportunity, fresh thinking and innovation. We’ll begin to see new propositions with an increasing focus on the industry’s environmental impact and the ways in which customers engage with their suppliers.
We’re on a mission to fix insurance for good. We provide our esure and Sheilas’ Wheels customers with a world-class digital experience, together with human service when it’s needed most. Our expertise and use of industry–leading technology, data and insights deliver a more personal and intuitive experience to our car, home and travel insurance customers.
Our people mission is simple: we aim to make esure a great, progressive and innovative place to work for all our colleagues who are committed to delivering fantastic products, service, and experiences for our customers.
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