Championing exceptional talent 

For over a decade, Women in Data® has championed exceptional talent and role models across our industry, primarily through The Women in Data® Twenty in Data and Tech annual series. In 2026, we are delighted to take this celebration further with our inaugural Women in Data® Gala – An Evening of Recognition, honouring outstanding individuals and teams whose impact truly deserves the spotlight. 

Join us in celebrating the inspiring leaders, advocates and enablers whose passion, innovation and action are powering extraordinary change.  

The Shortlist

These short-listed recognition categories have been created by our Senior Leadership and Advisory board.  In addition to the reveal of our Twenty in Data & Tech series, Women in Data ® will recognise further outstanding achievements from our community. We will be highlighting standout leadership and teams, real-world business impact, bold innovation to emerging talent. 

This category recognises outstanding individuals whose leadership and influence are driving both business benefits AND inspiring the next generation of talent in their organisation. 

Carly Macic - Head of Data & Analytics Asia and Middle East for CIB - HSBC
Hannah Davies - Head of Data & Analytics - Admiral     
Kate Platonova - Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Downstream, Trading & Renewable Energy Solutions - Shell
Jenny Brooker - Chief Data Architect - Department of Science, Innovation & Technology
Corinne Richardson - Chief Data Officer (interim) - Department for Education
Elizabeth Harris - Director of Data & Customer - B&Q
Camilla Cecarini - Director of Data Science & AI - The LEGO Group
Lee Wilson - Group Head of Data & AI Strategy - Royal London
Joanne Riseborough - Group Data Management & Culture Director - Lloyds Banking Group
Lyndsay Weir - Chief Analytics and Insight - Barilla
Sarah Barr Miller - Director of Data and Automation - British Airways
Sarah Heffron - Chief Data & Analytics Officer, Commercial Investment Bank - JP Morgan

This category recognises the teams effecting real transformation within their own organisation, by delivering value, fostering innovation and championing inclusion.

Ministry of Defence
Admiral Group PLC
Aviva PLC
AXA UK
Kubrick Group
Department for Work and Pensions
HSBC 
Thatcham Research 
Sainsbury's
EDF (UK)
QBE Europe

This category recognises incredible individuals whose vision and thought leadership is driving innovation in our industry.

Sandra Stanley - Chief Data Science Officer - Dunnhumby
Polly Scully - UK Defence Lead - Palantir
Jane Smith - Field CD&AIO - ThoughtSpot
Paola Olivari - Director Data Analytics & AI - Google
Morgan Rees - VP Data Analytics & AI - Capgemini
Sian Maragna - Director - Chief Data Office - PwC
Hannah Cawthorne - Banking & Capital Markets Director - Databricks
Gavita Regunath - Chief AI Officer - Advancing Analytics
Johanna Hutchinson - Chief Data Officer - BAE Systems
Johanna Robson - Marketing Director - Acxiom
Bhagya Reddy - Director of Data Engineering - Reward

This category recognises individuals or teams using data to solve social, environmental or systemic challenges that have a disproportionate impact on women. 

Lloyds Banking Group 
Women in Data - Safety Initiative 
Capgemini
Scottish Widows
Bank of England 
Information Commissioner's Office
Pregnant Then Screwed 
Kubrick Group - Women's Health 
Department for Work and Pensions & Department for Education
Infected Blood Compensation Authority
Newham 
Speak Out Revolution

This category recognises those exceptional talents who are already demonstrating their potential to become an impactful leader in Data, AI and Tech. 

Uma Parekh - Senior Manager - Data and AI Product Management - Kubrick Group
Izzie Hague-Holmes - Associate Analyst (Capital Markets) - Knight Frank
Dr Katharina Reusch - Senior Manager - Capgemini Invent
Melusine Tricker - Principal Data Scientist - Aviva
Debbie Kerr - AI Lead - M&G
Janette McQuillan - Senior Data Scientist - Smarsh 
Bev Griffiths - Data Analyst - BAE Systems
Angharad Williams - GenAI Product Lead - Lloyds Banking Group
Eloise Lee - Lead Data Analyst - BAE Systems

This category recognises the experts who are making waves through high level technical skill or innovative execution 

Lucy Gibbs - Global Customer Data Science Director - Ralph Lauren 
Kirsten Levermore - Senior Business Partner, Customer Success - Anaplan
Ruth de Lloyd - Head of Delivery – Data - BBC Studios
Aleksandra Coombes - Senior Director, Data Science - Expedia 
Opal Perry - Chief Data and Technology Officer - easyJet 
Clare Wrightson - Data Governance Director - Everway 
Gemma Elsworth - Deputy Director: Data Capability - Department for Work and Pensions 
Lola Durodola - Regional Management - Area Premier Director - HSBC 
Mivy James - Chief Technology Officer - Ministry of Defence

This category recognises those individuals taking Allyship to the next level, actively advocating for women and driving material change.

Matt Cox - Executive Director - JP Morgan
James Morgan - CDO - The Crown Estate
Simon Walker - Co-founder & CCO - Kubrick Group
Paul Hollands - Chief Data & AI Officer - AXA UK
Chris Pearce - CDO - esureGroup/Ageas UK
Alex Read - Senior Enterprise Product Manager- Data - EDF (UK)
Vipul Chhabra - Chief Data and Underwriting Officer - Domestic & General
Conor Rose - Senior Programme Manager - Artificial Intelligence (AI) Accelerator - Marks and Spencer
Dean Curtis - CEO - LexisNexis Risk Solutions 
Lloyd McCall - Digital Skills and Capability Manager - Department for Work and Pensions
Gavin Sotheran - Head of Consumer Products & Consumer Health UK - Capgemini 
Mauro Flores - EVP Data Democratisation - Virgin Media O2

This category celebrates teams delivering industry-leading solutions and making a measurable difference through skill, collaboration, and diverse thinking.

Capgemini Invent 
ThoughtSpot
Arreoblue
Snowflake
Kubrick Group
Accenture
JCURV
Google 
esure Group/Aegeas UK

This category recognises those individuals whose vision, drive and passion is ensuring success for their business.

Katie Marcham - VP, Marketing - ThoughtSpot
Robin Sutara - Field Chief Data Strategy Officer - Databricks 
Siobhan Ryan - Regional Sales Director - Confluent 
Rob Holtom - Executive Director - Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) and Customer Experience - Information Commissioner's Office
Susan Hope - Business Development Director - Scottish Widows
Barbara Elson - Head of Success - Kubrick Group
Jack Harvey - People Partner - easyJet 
Lucinda Bines - Executive Talent and Resourcing Manager - Financial Conduct Authority
Rachel Park - Field Marketing Specialist - Snowflake 
Emma Crawford - External Affairs Manager - Department of Work and Pensions 
Shehnaz Showman - Senior Digital Marketing Manager - Legal & General 
Marie Pickless - Talent Acquisition Manager, Consumer - Virgin Media O2

This category recognises Brand Partners who have consistently demonstrated alignment with the Women in Data® mission including commitment to gender equity through the attraction, retention and elevation of female talent.