Chris Brownlie

Senior Consultant, Analytics

Senior leadership of the Management Decision Analytics (MDA) team, acting as technical expert in R and R shiny.

Enterprise data-driven applications

• Developing large, commercial web applications for a variety of customers.
• Building knowledge of ShinyProxy, Docker and Azure cloud deployment processes.
• Acting as technical expert across data-driven application projects, from development to deployment.

Mentoring

• Helping to develop skills across the MDA team and wider firm.
• Delivering training to colleagues in R and Shiny.
• Spreading knowledge and information from the wider world of R and Shiny.

Technical leadership

• Presenting as a technical expert at conferences such as Shiny in Production.
• Point of call for technical questions and problems requiring quick resolution.
• Developing processes and best practices for R and Shiny development across the firm.

Senior Data Scientist

Working in the Education & Skills Funding Agency, specialising in R and R Shiny, developing complex code-based funding models and forecasting methods. Developed expertise in RStudio Connect.

Financial reporting:

• Identified an overly complex Excel spreadsheet being used to track expenditure within the Data Science division.
• Developed an R shiny app and SQL Server database backend to replace.
• Saved 2-3 days of work per month spent updating and allowed more advanced reporting/analytics.

Academies budget:

• Forecasting expenditure on all academies in the country.
• Developed an R package which contained all documentation and various models.
• Saved a week or more of work each month and accurately forecasts ~£25bn of funding.

Counter Fraud:

• Development of machine learning processes to identify fraud in the Apprenticeships sector.
• Used both R (tidymodels) and Python (sklearn) to explore best methods for detection.
• Production dashboard in use by investigations colleagues to identify potentially fraudulent activity.

Data Scientist

Working in the Education & Skills Funding Agency, as part of the Analysis & Modelling team. Developed expertise in R Shiny, text analysis and financial forecasting.

Admin reporting:

• Multiple Excel spreadsheets sent out across the agency to finance colleagues to fill in their forecasts for the year.
• Developed an R shiny app and SQL Server database backend to replace and reduce room for errors.
• Final app in use by ~30+ people for several days each month, reduced errors and improved the process.

dfeCRAN:

• Developed internal R package repository to allow colleagues to share sensitive R packages.
• Used by several R package developers in the department to share their work
• Additional shiny app to allow submission of packages and automated rmarkdown to notify via email when submissions were made.

Writer & Editor

Writing blogs about data science projects, for various online publications such as Towards Data Science, Level Up Coding, Noteworthy and The Startup. Created my own publication to host my articles - Data Slice - which currently has over 600 followers.

Junior Data Scientist

Working in the Academies team, providing financial forecasting for £18bn worth of funding. Developed expertise in R, PowerBI and PowerQuery.

Junior Data Engineer

Working in the Data Engineering team, managing and manipulating a large Data Warehouse. Developed expertise in SQL, database management and data warehousing.

MSc Data Science (Distinction)

Securing sponsorship from my employer, studying part time for two years alongside full-time work. Developed knowledge of Big Data techniques, data mining and statistical analysis. Dissertation focussing on Deep Learning, specifically biologically plausible neural networks without backpropagation of error. Graduated with Distinction.

BSc Economics

Studied Economics with a focus on mathematical economics and econometrics. Studied set theory and advanced algebra as well as development, international trade and behavioural economics. Campus Ambassador for the Economics and Financial Society. Member of the Mens Rugby Union Team.

A Levels

Studied Maths (A*), Further Maths (A) and Economics (A*). Deputy Head Boy and Clubs & Societies Prefect. Player of the Year, Rugby First XV.