Name: Tessa Humphreys

More about me: Originally a public librarian, I joined the FCA in 2013 to work in the Information Centre and have been in the team ever since. My role has evolved throughout my career at the FCA from more of a traditional librarian, to managing the procurement and use of the FCA’s external data sources. Although I miss elements of a traditional library, it is exciting to be able to connect FCA staff with the data they need and ensure we’re always looking for new ways to utilise data at the organisation. I have recently returned from maternity leave after having my daughter Margot and now work part time as co-Lead for the Information Centre team with my colleague Tracy. When I’m not running around after a toddler I love exploring the countryside, reading, drawing and after recently inheriting my family home in Cornwall, spending a lot of time there looking after it.

What’s your favourite thing about working at the FCA?

The people, I feel that the FCA attracts people who value working for an organisation that makes a positive impact in the world and in turn are pretty nice to work with. I also feel very lucky to work somewhere that has supported me through many stages of life (bereavement, parenthood etc) and that I have been able to progress my career despite the need to work part time. I also love the work/life balance and flexibility that is encouraged at the FCA

Name: Laura Shaw

More about me: I started in financial services working in a high street building society working on various roles. I joined the private banking sector and then moved to the LSEG. After this, I thought to “jump the fence “and join the regulator and make use of my experience of the industry. I joined in 2012 when we were still the FSA so have seen a lot of change in the time I have been working here. I started in the team dealing with paper returns submitted by firms and have moved through the business dealing with data in varying ways.

I have created returns for firms to submit, designing and testing to ensure they meet handbook regulations. I’ve worked on GDPR changes and Brexit changes for systems, and delivered for many other data led teams.  I now support a system designed to surface data to help with supervisory and enforcement action, dealing with technical and business change demand. There are so many areas to work in within the business but crucial to all of them is data. A role in this area is pivotal to so many functions we carry out. My partner and I have just bought a house, so I am upskilling in DIY rapidly.  I am mum to an 8-year-old girl and love to bake so I’m the designated cake maker for any family parties!

What’s your favourite thing about working at the FCA?

The relationships I’ve built with my colleagues across different teams is a key reason why I stay here. People support each other and help where they can by knowledge sharing or just lending a friendly ear for a chat.  I have had some incredible managers in the teams I have worked. They have been great leaders and have given me confidence to challenge myself and progress my career in ways that are different to other places I have worked.

Name: Siobhan Anah

More about me:  I’ve worked in Financial Services regulation since the late 1990s. My roles have included time in Authorisations, Supervision and Policy.

Throughout that time, I’ve always understood the power of data to inform the decisions we’re required to make. I’ve worked to fix the foundations (data quality), specify data requitements and source solutions to support colleagues (data acquisition).

I now manage a team of data professionals with a range of skills including programming, analysis and visualisation. Their task is to understand data needs and deliver insights to colleagues so they can do more, faster.

What’s your favourite thing about working at the FCA?
Currently I’m enjoying a new role I took up this year, co-chair for Elevate, the FCA’s employee network for multi-ethnic women. The network groups at the FCA are an important part of our DEI programme.

With Elevate we seek to support and empower multi-ethnic women, create awareness of the challenges we experience and build a networking community.

To achieve this data, and the insights we produce, are critical as we seek to understand where we target our activity and track the outcomes of our work.

Jenni Thompson

Senior Data Analyst – Regulatory Cyber Directorate

I am the Senior Data Analyst in the Regulatory Cyber directorate at the ICO. I started out my data career attribute coding for a worldwide data company and creating large scale databases for their clients. I enjoy analysing interesting data, which is what drew me to cyber and cyber-crime data. Data enables me to make decisions backed by research and to make the best decision I can with the information I have.

Data skills come from many unexpected places. My degree is a BA in Linguistics and the statistical and data work required in that surprises many people. It was my final year module in forensic linguistics that really piqued my interest in data, and taught me how to build a picture with numerical evidence.

I am currently leading a project to create a cyber intelligence function at the ICO.  I have been seeking out opportunities and building relationships to share data and intelligence, as well as working with intelligence colleagues to build new processes needed for the BAU of a function.

I have recently achieved professional IT Chartership with the British Computer Society in the discipline of data and analytics. Unfortunately like many women in technology fields, I’ve experienced many challenges along the way. However, I have also been given just as much guidance to navigate them, and I aim to share my knowledge to support others where I can.

Iman ElMehdawy- Group Manager, Information Management and Compliance Service

I hold a Master of Science in Molecular Parasitology. Part of my course involved learning about bioinformatics and how to handle vast amounts of biological data (DNA). This is when I developed an appreciation of how data can and does change lives. Getting involved in the transfer of information caught by the Public Records Act to the National Archives opened my eyes on the wealth of data left to us, from the Doomsday Book to the World War Two datasets and how valuable this data is.

In my current position at the ICO, I manage data to optimise our use of datasets and information while ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and established best practices. My role also covers data governance tasks such as creating policies, procedures and guidance relating to information and data management. I am starting to get involved in governance of AI as well.

It is refreshing to feel valued and celebrated as a woman working in data. I look forward to getting involved with Women in Data and helping to encourage more access and give more confidence to women to advance their careers in data.

Helen Sunderland- Assurance Support Officer

After studying Business, I began my career in education in a senior administrative role which included managing school data. Initially, there was a reliance on paper records and limited digital school information management systems options. Over time, we adopted advanced MIS and biometric systems, increasing the volume and types of data we managed, along with the need for consent.

After gaining CIPD qualifications, I transitioned to HR, handling employee records and using performance metrics to evaluate recruitment practices and HR initiatives. I then moved into hospitality and event management, utilising data for resource allocation, identifying cost inefficiencies and reconciliation processes to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting.

Next, I worked in a project coordination role in an interior design company, using data for project scheduling, coordination and budget management.

Over three years ago, I joined the ICO, the UK’s Data Protection Regulator, in the Assurance directorate. As a Local Information Management Officer for the department, I promote data protection compliance and accountability responsibilities; I also manage the department’s Management Information and EDRM. I am currently undertaking the task of building a new MI and reporting platform.

More recently, I obtained an ISC2 cybersecurity qualification and undertook a secondment within our Regulatory Cyber directorate. I engaged with Cyber Security Insurance providers to establish data sharing with the intention to use claims data to get a better understanding of the cost of cybercrimes.​ This information will help us to understand resilience across sectors, the types of vulnerabilities which are likely to lead to the costliest attacks and the steps needed to recover. Additionally, I have been involved in cyber intelligence work around the use of biometrics in schools, which has taken me back full circle to the start of my career.

Outside of work, I enjoy strength training, hiking, reading and theatre.

Alison O’Connor

Head of Economic Analysis – Impact and Evaluation

I’m Head of Economic Analysis at the ICO with 15 years’ experience in data intensive roles across both the public and private sectors. As an economist, data is at the heart of everything I do. It enables my team and me to move beyond assumptions and anecdotes to uncover meaningful patterns, test hypotheses, and measure real-world impact. I have always enjoyed working with data because it brings clarity to complexity, it helps create understanding about not just what is happening, but why.

At the ICO, I oversee and provide leadership on work related to impact considerations and measurement. Data is central in my role to empowering others to make informed and impactful decisions, drawing on evidence and insight, and understanding the impacts of our interventions to ensure that we are making a material positive difference. Whether I’m evaluating the effectiveness of a policy intervention or exploring economic trends, I find satisfaction in using data to generate insights that inform decisions and drive positive change.

As a leader, I am proud to champion the use of data and to support others in unlocking its potential. Given my own career journey with data, it is important to me support other women in data to connect, learn and grow in their careers.

I am General Counsel at the Information Commissioner’s Office, the UK regulator for personal data and Freedom of Information. I have been in this role since August 2025, leading on the ICO’s legal strategy and governance, and advising on complex data protection and information rights matters ultimately ensuring regulatory compliance and the responsible use of individuals’ data.

My career in data has centred around the theme of data guardianship, and ensuring data is used responsibly, ethically, and with legal certainty by those entrusted to it. Compliance isn’t just about following rules but about creating trust so that the value of data can be fully realised.

My route into a career in data has been via various public sector roles.  Prior to joining the ICO I was General Counsel and Director of Devolution, Governance and Law at the Electoral Commission. This followed a variety of legal posts in the Government Legal Department, most recently as head of the legal team responsible for data protection and civil society at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), where I led on reforming data protection policy and legislation, dealing with data issues arising out of Brexit, and delivering government initiatives in civil society policy.

Working in data is a broad topic which I find varied and fascinating.  I can put my wide range of experience in policy making, regulation, and law to good use.  The work we do has real world implications and it is important to bring diverse perspectives to tackling the challenges in data.

It’s incredibly important to me that everyone has the opportunity to get involved in the sector and type of work that interests them, regardless of background, gender or ethnicity. That’s why initiatives such as Women In Data – and the ICO’s Women’s Network, of which I am the Executive Sponsor – play such an important role in overcoming barriers that would otherwise remain incredibly challenging to surmount, and we need to continue promoting equal opportunities and inclusion for everyone.