Richard Strange

Lead Analyst @Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks

Reading, GB

At SSEN Distribution, I focus on helping my team and those across the business trust and use our data and information to make better decisions on everything from how we look after our customers and colleagues to how we maintain our network to how we can plan our regulatory strategy more confidently. Along the way, I get to use my experience on either side of the data producer/consumer fence to work as a bridge between Asset Management teams and those who help us build, govern and look after our data systems.A big part of my role involves helping our analytics teams get comfortable with modern workflows. I\'ve stepped in as both an acting Asset Analytics and Asset Systems manager, which has given me a front-row seat to see the challenges and opportunities in how we currently work and the chance to trial changes quickly. Instead of spending all day patching up \"heirloom\" spreadsheets, I\'ve written and delivered a suite of technical and business skills training programmes. I\'ve focussed on helping existing analysts learn to harness Python, SQL, and all the new tools and approaches in the Analytics space. Instead of hiring our way out of the skills gap, we now have business-experienced analysts with a modern skillset and the tools they need to engage with the rest of the business.Furthermore, by introducing an adapted Agile approach to management, I have helped our analysts tame their workloads and self-govern how they prioritise, share and manage the work that improves the company.

Royal Holloway, University of London

Master’s Degree, Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences

University of Oxford

Doctor of Philosophy - DPhil, Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, AI