We are extremely proud to partner with Women in Data! Nationwide is building a truly inclusive culture where everyone can thrive and for our Society to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.
We need a diverse range of backgrounds, skills, and experiences to help us continue to serve our customers in the best way and offer the services and products that are most relevant to them. When people can reach their potential at work, it makes a happier, more fulfilling workplace, and increases innovation, drives better decision-making and boosts performance.
Data is integral to our business operations. The emerging capabilities across machine learning and artificial intelligence offer a hugely exciting opportunity to transform customer service and experience. Customers will benefit from enhanced personalised experiences, faster service, and improved data security, instilling greater trust. Whereas colleagues will have better access to high quality information and insights through data-driven decision-making tools, including Generative AI solutions. Robust data management is crucial and underpins the ability to deliver customer value and safely utilise these advanced capabilities.
Nationwide is the world’s largest building Society and the UK’s first full-service mutual banking provider, with over 25,000 colleagues driven by a purpose and set to support 24 million customers.
A good way to bank
Unlike the banks we are owned by our members, not shareholders. That’s anyone who banks, saves or has a mortgage with us. Which means we can always focus on what’s best for them. It’s our fundamental difference and what makes us a good way to bank.
Banking but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society.
Hi there! My name is Sian McHenry, and I head up Enterprise Data Governance at Nationwide Building Society. Our function provides the framework, standards and enabling tooling to embed data management best practice enterprise wide.
I joined the Society in 2022 from Lloyds Banking Group where I helped to establish and run the Chief Data & Analytics Office. Over my career I have worked across the Financial Services sector including globally facing data and analytics roles at JP Morgan Chase & Standard and Poor’s.
I am a self-confessed data geek and am hugely passionate about using Data Management best practice to drive Business enablement & simplification. Outside of the office I am a full-time working mum of two amazing primary school aged children, which keeps me extremely busy!
Irene.mcauley@nationwide.co.uk
I joined Nationwide as a permanent employee in 2022 after working as a contractor for Base 3 Systems Ltd for a year beforehand. I learned all things SAS at Base 3, and have applied and broadened those skills at Nationwide, while having the opportunity to explore other tools such as Teradata and Power BI. My day-to-day involves me providing reporting and analysis for the teams that support the Society’s most vulnerable customers, which is something I’m very passionate about.
Since becoming a member of Women in Data®, I have been endlessly inspired by the women in this community, and I am super excited to be bringing some of that magic to Nationwide. I am a lover of all things data and look forward to sharing in those interests with like-minded people!
charlotte.puddy@nationwide.co.uk
About me
I’ve always loved problem-solving and puzzles, so a career in data may have seemed inevitable – however, after graduating with a BSc in mathematics I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. After a brief stint working behind a bar in a pub, I stumbled into a data career (long story!) which led to me joining Nationwide in September 2022.
I joined Nationwide as a Senior MI Analyst, before moving into my current role of Business Intelligence Consultant working within Retail Business Services. Working for a company as large as Nationwide meant I am constantly exposed to a lot of new people and systems, allowing me to always be learning, and getting me excited about future possibilities. I love being able to produce insight and add value using data, and seeing the stories that it can tell.
I joined the Women in Data® community whilst at a previous company as I didn’t have a local support network and was struggling to navigate a male dominated area. Hearing so many women sharing their stories really inspired me to not give up and encouraged me to find somewhere I could thrive.
www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-harthen-61b445108
deborah.harthen@nationwide.co.uk
My name is Deborah (Deb) Harthen, and I’m the lead for the Data Governance Enablement Team at Nationwide Building Society. The Enablement Team build stakeholder relationships across the business to sell the data story, and drive federated data governance adoption.
I joined the Society in 2004. During my Nationwide career I have worked in a number of business functions including front line customer support, IT Service Delivery, Programme Management (using both waterfall and agile methodologies), Security and Resilience, and I joined the world of Data Governance in March 2022. I’ve built up a broad knowledge of how our organisation works and how we use data across a range of business and technical processes.
I love learning and in October 2024 I passed achieved Master Level of the Data Management Fundamentals Exam, and I’m now looking to study two specialist areas. Outside of work I have lots of creative hobbies and I have two dogs that keep me active.
LinkedIn: Sadie Townsend | LinkedIn
Email: Sadie.Townsend@nationwide.co.uk
Hi! I’m Sadie Townsend, a Data Governance Manager in the Enablement Team at Nationwide Building Society. My role is to collaborate with key stakeholders across the organisation to build awareness of the Data Governance Policy & Controls and to enable sustainable data management best practice.
I joined the Society in 2013 in the Contact Centre, seeing first-hand how data can impact customers. I then started my role in the Data Governance team in 2019 writing minutes for our Data Governance Council and found a passion for the topic! I’ve recently obtained a DCAM certification with the Enterprise Data Management Council (EDMC) and plan to become a more involved member of this association.
Outside of work, I train kickboxing and have 2 dogs; a working Labrador and a sassy Rottweiler who keep me busy!
www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-bellwood-053ba316
sharon.bellwood@nationwide.co.uk
Hi, I’m Sharon Bellwood, a Senior Manager in Data Governance in the Data Governance Enablement Team at Nationwide Building Society. My focus is on supporting the Retail Function in implementing the data governance policy and controls. With my expertise, I strive to highlight the significance of effective data management and ensure that our practices resonate with key stakeholders.
I am passionate about leveraging data to drive customer engagement along with effective decision-making and governance. I joined Nationwide Building Society in 2023, bringing with me experience from both the Utilities and Financial Services sectors. In my previous role, I was responsible for the design and implementation of the data governance policy and along with the ownership of all asset data management. During this time, I supported both a customer data migration with the use of master data management technology, along with an asset data migration to build and support a digital twin to enable proactive maintenance.
My range of experience in data covers everything from data strategies to support business strategic goals, to data warehouse design and implementation, along with designing and implementing data analytics for both performance and forecast modelling. I have held several senior data roles, which has included leading technical teams, large scale data migrations, and financial system forensics analysis.
I am a data enthusiast; my goal is to influence strategy using data management to enhance customer experiences and improving business efficiencies. Outside of work, family is important to me. I have two grown up children Lewis & Megan, and Oscar our Lhasa Apso. I enjoy the gym and running but also love to cook.
