The winner of the IIBA UK Business Analyst of the Year Award 2023 has been announced. Pip Hall, BA at Telent Technology Services Ltd, satisfied all of this year’s criteria: dealing with ambiguity, demonstrating excellence and thinking differently. Pip was presented with the award at the IRM UK BA Conference Europe by Conference Keynote Speaker, David McCandless.
The judges were impressed with Pip's enthusiasm: "Pip is a committed and passionate Business Analyst who is changing the way the organisation thinks, applying the "Pip Lens" to deliver transformation."
On receiving the award, our new BA of the Year said: “I'm astounded! It's amazing to do something for the profession.”
Congratulations Pip!
There was an unprecedented number of entries to the award this year, from high-achieving business analysts working on a variety of projects across a wide range of industry sectors. It is an achievement in itself to reach the shortlist. For details of our eight very worthy finalists, and the judges' comments on their considerable achievements, please see below.
Pip Hall (Telent)
Pip is a Business Analyst working with Telent Technology Services. Having changed career within the transport sector, Pip uses the insights gained from her extensive customer service experience to inform her business analysis activities. She prides herself on advancing continuous improvement and challenging the assumptions that deter individuals and organisations from embracing change.
Judges' comments: "Pip is a committed and passionate Business Analyst who is changing the way the organisation thinks, applying the "Pip Lens" to deliver transformation."
Paul Haywood (Jet 2)
Paul is a Business Analyst working at Jet2 and counts innovative thinking as his business analysis superpower. He also applies this skill to assessing how business analysis can embrace the future and how accessibility to the BA role might be increased. Paul recently launched NXTGN, an organisation focused on developing business analysis tools and cultivating a thriving community of innovation within the business analysis discipline.
Judges' comments: "A Senior Business Analyst, Paul is a pioneer in the field of AI, looking at ways in which the profession can leverage the technology in the future."
Paromita Majumder (Close Brothers)
Paromita is an experienced Lead Business Analyst currently working at Close Brothers. She has demonstrated her skills when delivering effective business analysis on a range of complex projects over a 15-year period. Paromita prides herself on possessing a mix of professional business analysis skills and extensive domain knowledge within the financial services sector.
Judges' comments: "Paromita is a Lead Business Analyst who uses a wide range of BA techniques to create clarity from confusion to deliver complex financial projects under tight deadlines."
Amber Meston (Lloyds Banking Group)
Amber is a Lead Business Analyst at Lloyds Banking Group. She has extensive experience of working within IT and wider business change projects at Lloyds. She has applied her business analysis skills to a diverse range of initiatives, which have included projects involving colleague and customer change, Cyber Security, and Identity and Access Management change
Judges' comments: "Amber is a data driven Lead Business Analyst who trailblazes a forensic and holistic approach that puts customers' needs at the heart of the solution."
Brittany Peacock (Evri)
Brittany has worked at Evri for three years. Joining as a graduate, she progressed to a Senior Business Analyst role after working on many challenging and complex projects. Recently, she has focused on raising wider awareness of business analysis by joining community groups and speaking to students about life as a BA. Her goal is to improve understanding of the BA role and the opportunities it presents to those entering the world of work.
Judges' comments: "A meteoric journey to Senior Business Analyst is due in no small part to Brittany's skill in building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and delivering results under pressure."
Nicola Pinkney (Evri)
Nicola is currently working as an Enterprise Business Analyst at Evri. She enjoys attempting work outside her comfort zone whenever possible and tries to learn something new every day. Beyond her day-to-day role, Nicola volunteers with the YBA group to help other Young Business Analysts to develop their careers. She continues to develop her business analysis knowledge through both formal and informal learning and networking opportunities.
Judges' comments: "Nicola is an enthusiastic Enterprise Business Analyst who is clearly passionate about supporting others and promoting the business analysis profession at every opportunity."
Simon Platt (Whitbread)
Simon is a Principal Business Analyst at Whitbread, with 16 years’ experience in helping deliver change initiatives of all sizes and levels of complexity. Simon has worked across several sectors including financial services, transportation and hospitality. Away from the workplace, Simon is a keen endurance challenge enthusiast and a passionate advocate for neurodiversity awareness and acceptance.
Judges' comments: "Simon is a Principal Business Analyst who loves improving his business knowledge by ‘going on safari’ and continually stretching his comfort zone to grow in the profession."
Rebecca Stevenson (Capco)
Rebecca is a Business Analyst working for Capco. From her teenage years as an alligator handler in Texas to her university career as a marine biologist, Rebecca has a life-long interest in learning about the world and in making connections. She credits her flexible mindset to her history of working in varied environments, which has enabled her to develop a strong ability to listen to her clients and fully understand their needs.
Judges' comments: "Rebecca is a Senior Consultant who applies her creativity with an agile mindset to steer a successful course through significant regulatory uncertainty."
For reaching the shortlist, and in recognition of the excellence of their work, the finalists have been awarded free entry to the IRM UK BA Conference Europe 2023.
Each finalist will be interviewed by a panel of three judges on 1st September 2023. The name of the new IIBA UK Business Analyst of the Year will be announced live at the BA Conference Europe this September.
Promoting the BA Profession
As 2022 winner Fae Marcano said in her winner’s interview:
“The Business Analyst of the Year (BAOTY) award is a fantastic platform to celebrate our profession. This recognition provides BAs from across a diverse range of industries, sectors, backgrounds and experience with an opportunity for self-reflection on the stellar role they play in co-creating and driving value in their organisations, as well as highlighting how they are contributing to their immediate BA Community.”
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