Spotlight on Women in Data – A story of innovation, resilience and real-world impact

On 26th June 2025, Women in Banking and Finance’s Women in Tech Network returned with a powerful in-person event hosted by Close Brothers, shining a light on the women shaping the future of data and AI in financial services.

Set against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving tech landscape, the evening brought together a diverse line-up of speakers who shared not only their technical expertise, but the personal stories, challenges, and motivations that have shaped their journeys.

WIBF Women in Tech Network leads, Elly McLoughlin and Bhawana Haritwal welcomed everyone and Elly spoke about WIBF, the vision and the mission as well as the benefits of membership. 

We heard from four brilliant women who are leading in AI, analytics, research, strategy, and more. They’re not just collecting or interpreting data – they’re changing the way we think about what’s possible with it.

Their stories were technical. They were personal. And they were powerful.

We heard from Gareth Johnson and Plamena Solakova from Close Brothers, who talked about diversity and inclusion initiatives at Close Brothers and what it’s like to work there.

We then heard from Rebeca Albornoz, Data Platform Product Owner at Close Brothers Asset Finance, whose story set the tone for the evening. Reflecting on her path from Venezuela to senior roles in UK financial services, Rebeca explored what it means to lead through change. Her talk offered a rare combination of practical career advice and heartfelt reflection – on resilience, identity, and the importance of purpose. As she described her work transforming data platforms and regulatory reporting systems.

From there, we heard from Tong Zhang, Senior Actuarial Analyst at Legal & General, who gave us a window into the actuarial profession -often overlooked in conversations about tech. Tong unpacked how actuaries are using data science and automation to shape the future of pensions and long-term financial security. Her reflections on transferable skills and sustainable innovation highlighted how tech transformation is a team sport, requiring voices from every corner of financial services.

Next came Zoe Higgins, Data Analytics Manager at Santander, who took us behind the numbers to explore the human side of data. With a unique background in both data science and HR analytics, Zoe posed a striking question: Are women in tech truly valued – or just counted? Her talk invited us to look beyond representation and into the realities of inclusion, sharing her own experiences with imposter syndrome and the power of being seen. It was a deeply thoughtful exploration of how data can both expose and transform culture.

Closing the session was Valeria Cortez, Lead Data Scientist at Monzo Bank, who delivered a fascinating deep dive into the interplay between supervised machine learning models and large language models (LLMs). Focused on the role of AI in financial crime prevention, Valeria explained how LLMs can help improve the accuracy of labelled data, acting as a quality control layers and used as assistive tools that enhance human efforts. Valeria’s talk made complex concepts accessible and reminded us that the future of data science is as much about trust and accountability as it is about innovation.

Throughout the evening, a common thread emerged: The future of data is not just about models and metrics — it’s about meaning. And women bring that meaning to the forefront. It’s a tool for change, a mirror for culture, and a platform for progress when wielded with purpose and care. 

Thank you to Close Brothers for hosting, and to Rebeca, Tong, Zoe, and Valeria for sharing your time, your expertise, and your passion. From thought-provoking discussions to inspiring personal stories (of leadership, innovation, and resilience). You’ve each reminded us why we’re here: to learn, to grow, and to shape a better, more inclusive future in data and technology.

To our audience: thank you for showing up with curiosity and openness.

This event was a celebration not just of women in data, but of the power of storytelling to inspire the next generation of leaders in tech. 

Thank you to the team at Close Brothers who worked with Elly McLoughlin and Bhawana Haritwal to bring us to such a great event. 

We’d like to welcome members to join the Women in Tech network, you can do so here.