I have worked in IT in and around databases my entire career. From analysing weather reports from around the world, through designing and building insurance and financial systems, to investigating the health data from thousands of people helping the developing world, I am passionate about how data can be transformed into information. I love nothing better than to challenge a preconception - does the data really support that?Having worked at all levels of data driven IT solutions, from the underlying data design, the application layer, the user interface, and market positioning, I have wide experience of the first problem - getting the data out in a way that it can be used. Then follows the fun part - using my statistical qualifications to tease out the patterns, the story behind the numbers. As a former manager once said to me, 'data is our friend'.Away from the statistics you can find me on the welcome team at my local church, or deep in a forest marshalling on a stage rally. When I need a break I love to read and am slowly making my way through the Hugo awards winners in chronological order.