Yasmine Ammar
Newcastle Upon Tyne
Summary
From my first MS-DOS computer in the 1990s to today's AI driven world, technology has shaped my journey and across the years, I have remained passionate about change and innovation. I collaborate cross-functionally to define and extract meaningful KPIs and metrics that monitor success and inform strategic decision-making. In crossfunctional teams, I excel at translating complex data into actionable insights that align with and propel organisational strategy. I combine a user-centred approach with robust analytical skills to enhance product delivery in agile teams and I shape the forward-thinking vision required to navigate the complexities of the digital age.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Data Consultant
Opencast
Hoult Yard, Newcastle Upon Tyne
06.2023 - Current
- Strategically delivered data-driven solutions aligned with leadership vision for a portfolio of clients in the civil sector (currently working for HMRC)
- Restructured and joined complex data for analysis through data cleaning and fuzzy matching techniques using Python
- Translated complex data insights into actionable recommendations for various stakeholders
- Provided guidance to senior management on data management and privacy and security risks
- Worked for multimillion pound projects as part of a scrum-based team to drive the digital transformation of the welfare system through the product life cycle
- Extracted data insights through SQL and Python advanced querying techniques
- Defined/Monitored/measured Key Performance Indicators and metrics across the Product, User-Centred Design and User Research teams
- Increased digital uptake by 25% through querying multi-service Google Analytics datasets
- Revealed bottlenecks/loops for users to reach key stages through process mining /mapping the user journey and streamlined the user journey by 20%
- Produced unified dashboards with various BI tools
- Led green software data insights for the award-winning Carbon Hackathon 2024 solution
- Joined the working group providing expert input on Artificial Intelligence policy development
- Supported the development of internal training for data engineering and Databricks
Digital Performance Analyst
Health Digital, Government Digital Services
Department For Work And Pensions
09.2022 - 06.2023
- Built advanced SQL queries in BigQuery and connected tables to Lookers Studio and PowerBI for interactive dashboards
- Worked in Databricks to integrate, clean and prepare data, collaborating closely with data engineers
- Used process mining techniques to detect patterns in large quantities of Google Analytics page event logs through R package
- Provided insights about bottlenecks and loops in services to guide design decisions
Senior Scientific Officer
Government Operational Research Services
Working Aging Modelling. Department For Work And Pensions
06.2019 - 09.2022
- Led development and enhancement of the PENFORM model, a dynamic microsimulation tool for forecasting financial outflows
- Integrated new policy scenarios and improved model accuracy, supporting critical decision-making processes for long-term planning
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure model outputs aligned with evolving policy requirements
- Replatformed large forecasting model (INFORM) from Excel to Anylogic, a Java-based simulation platform
- Improved model efficiency, scalability, and user interface, enabling user scenario testing
- Trained team members on the new platform, ensuring smooth transition and adoption
Operational research analyst
Department for Work and Pensions
05.2015 - 06.2019
- Used a static microsimulation model (Policy Simulation Model or PSM) to conduct in-depth analyses of poverty trends and policy impacts
- Prepared high-level reports for ministerial parliamentary briefings, translating complex data into actionable insights
- Responded to Parliamentary Questions (PQs) and Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, ensuring accuracy and clarity in public communications
- Collaborated with policy teams to design and evaluate interventions, using model simulations to predict outcomes and inform decision-making processes
- Applied machine learning techniques, particularly clustering algorithms, to enhance fraud detection capabilities through Python and scikit-learn
- Collaborated with operational teams to integrate model outputs into existing fraud prevention frameworks
- Designed and implemented statistical sampling methodologies for customer-based research across various policy initiatives
- Provided consultation to research teams, enhancing the robustness of policy evaluation studies
- Used advanced data analysis tools including SAS and R for complex statistical modelling and data manipulation
- Engaged with senior stakeholders, translating technical results into actionable policy recommendations
- Coordinated the research analyst network, for knowledge sharing within the department
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Mechanical Engineering, Newcastle University
01.2010 - 05.2015
- Developed a mathematical models for microscale particle interaction in turbulent flows
- Led multidisciplinary research across three EPSRC-funded projects, focusing on sustainability, population dynamics, and microorganism ecosystems
- Disseminated research findings through presentations at international conferences and high-impact journal publications
- Coordinated multi-institutional research consortiums, facilitating knowledge exchange and driving collaborative innovation
- Mentored and supervised 7 master's students in sustainable engineering and statistical modelling
- Delivered lectures on advanced engineering concepts and research methodologies
- Secured funding from the European Commission, advancing research within the Severe Accident Research Network and fostering international collaboration
- Integrated into a multinational team of software engineers to develop a mathematical algorithm for particle agglomeration in turbulent flows in EDF's open-source Code_Saturne CFD software
- Designed and executed MATLAB simulations with interdisciplinary teams
Education
PhD - Computational Fluid Dynamics
Newcastle University
Newcastle Upon Tyne, U.K.01.2009
Master in Science (MSc) - Energy Engineering - Top Mark
Polytech' Marseille
Marseille, France01.2004
Skills
- R / Python / SQL programming
- Power BI / Looker Studio skills
- Data cleaning (Pandas)
- Data storytelling
- Time series analysis
- Machine learning
- Data governance
- Statistical modeling
- Predictive analytics
- Software Development Life Cycle
- Databricks
- Splunk
- VS Code
- BigQuery
- SAS
- Data Simulation
- AnyLogic
Websites
Languages
French: Native
English: Fluent
Spanish: Conversational
Timeline
Data Consultant
Opencast
06.2023 - Current
Digital Performance Analyst
Health Digital, Government Digital Services
09.2022 - 06.2023
Senior Scientific Officer
Government Operational Research Services
06.2019 - 09.2022
Operational research analyst
Department for Work and Pensions
05.2015 - 06.2019
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Mechanical Engineering, Newcastle University
01.2010 - 05.2015
PhD - Computational Fluid Dynamics
Newcastle University
Master in Science (MSc) - Energy Engineering - Top Mark
Polytech' Marseille