Celebrating the Data Specialist of the Year Finalists

Jun 16

Data Specialist of the Year Finalists 2025

We’re thrilled to present the finalists for Data Specialist of the Year. Each nominee has shown outstanding expertise in turning raw data into actionable insight, driving smarter decisions and measurable impact for their organisations and clients. Below you’ll find the shortlisted data leaders and the contributions that earned them a place on this year’s list.

Harriet Mathie - Yellow Pebbles

About:
Harriet is a data strategist-meets-content marketer. She produces research reports, surveys, and whitepapers that pair rigorous analysis with compelling storytelling. Her track record spans government consulting, university programmes, grassroots tech projects, and SaaS scale-ups. In 2024 she launched scalable research services to give smaller, often women-led businesses the same data-driven clout usually reserved for big brands – driven by her belief that insight should amplify every valuable idea, no matter the company’s size.

Reason for Shortlisting:
Harriet is shortlisted for Data Specialist of the Year because she turns under-the-radar expertise into industry-leading authority through insight-driven content. In the past 12 months she’s delivered strategy and implementation for major clients such as the University of Leeds, Learn Direct and SaaS scale-up Trickle; she led the research strand at the Super-Fast Authority Think Tank, and is piloting insight services now adopted by start-ups including an AI-led coaching app.

Zoe Mitchell - Paragon DCX

About:
Working mainly in the Apteco suite, Zoe interrogates data, defines target segments, and designs multi-step contact flows that turn insight into profit. Her career spans multiple sectors, giving her an excellent understanding of clients, customers and their needs, and she’s trained colleagues too, to wield the same tools so they can replicate the impact themselves. From rigorous test-and-learn cycles to bottom-line results, Zoe loves to see how using data effectively can make a real difference to the business, as well as the customer experience.

Reason for Shortlisting:
Zoe secures her shortlist spot by treating data as a workhorse for tangible results, put simply, her role involves making data work hard to achieve real results. Understanding the importance of collaboration, she immerses herself in each client’s top priorities to make sure she builds tailored customer journeys. Valued as an extension of every client team, Zoe seamlessly bridges the gap between technical data/IT teams and often less technical marketers, translating technical complexity, and proves how precise audience targeting outperforms volume-driven tactics.

Lucia Dello - Dello Insights

About:
Armed with several degrees, Lucia brings 25 years of analytics experience to the e-commerce world, having began her career at major banks and finance houses, building statistical lending models, policy-impact assessments, and monitoring reports in SAS and SQL. In 2021 she founded Dello Insights and built a platform that converts e-commerce sales channel data into profit-driving intelligence. Zoe also offers a hands-on consultancy service for e-commerce brands that lack in-house data expertise, translating numbers into clear, growth-focused decisions.

Reason for Shortlisting:
Over the past year Lucia has propelled herself into the front rank of e-commerce data specialists by executing a four-pronged thought leadership drive. First, her whitepaper contribution to a collaboration on digital transformation reached 500,000+ readers. Second, she commissioned and produced report distilled from 21 expert interviews (7 hours of footage) that translates 2024 data breakthroughs into 2025 profit levers. Third, a behind-the-scenes video plus daily LinkedIn tips are driving her engagements and impressions up expontentially. Finally, she has turned the research into a content flywheel. Launching, producing and marketing this programme demonstrates the initiative, data rigour and industry impact that underpin her shortlist for this award.

Alexandra Mercz - Synterra Asia

About:
Alexandra is a risk and compliance leader, cybersecurity and data privacy strategist who has run global ISO-aligned programmes for multinational banks and tech firms. She steers clients through complex regulations while enabling secure digital growth. Named in Singapore’s 100 Women in Tech and and a Women in Security Forum Power 100 honoree, she speaks at CISO, BCG and Google events and mentors under-represented professionals pro bono.

Reason for Shortlisting:
Alexandra earns her shortlist spot by coupling 25 years of data-privacy, cyber-risk and compliance leadership with an unrelenting drive to widen the talent pipeline for women. A passionate DEI&B advocate, Alexandra launched the (ISC)² Singapore mentorship scheme – raising female participation from 0 to 45% in a year – and co-leads ISC2’s “50-by-50” drive to make the cyber workforce 50% women by 2050. By blending hands-on technical impact with large scale inclusion initiatives, Alexandra is changing both how organisations safeguard data and who gets to lead that work.

The Digital Women Awards are proud to celebrate these extraordinary individuals.