'Turning Data into Direction': A Conversation with Oli, Head of Data at UrbanChain

When it comes to data, Oli lights up. As UrbanChain’s Head of Data, he’s responsible for shaping and implementing the company’s data strategy, leading a team of engineers and analysts, and making sure that every number tells a story and helps push the business forward.

That passion isn’t abstract. At home in Cornwall, Oli has installed solar panels, a battery, heat pump, and is tracking his return on investment down to half-hourly data points. He jokes that he was matching energy usage long before he joined UrbanChain. But he also knows this opportunity came from privilege and that’s why

UrbanChain’s mission resonates so deeply.

Oli’s journey began in telecoms, working across fixed-line, mobile, and the UK’s first 3G network. After a nine-month overland trip from Land’s End to Australia with his wife, he joined British Gas during the early rollout of smart meters.

From there, he moved to the French consultancy firm - CGI and then to DCC (Data Communications Company), where he spent seven years honing his skills. He helped design the UK’s national smart meter solution, then went on to set up and lead DCC’s Data Science and Analytics function which grew from a handful of meters, to millions, with billions of messages processed every month.

One of his proudest moments was seeing those first smart meters installed and working, knowing he had been part of the project since its design.

At UrbanChain, Oli’s remit goes beyond “just data.” From strategy and design to capturing, storing, and analysing information across finance, operations, metering, and more. Data is a thread that runs through every part of the UrbanChain business and Oli has helped make that happen.

In his first year at UrbanChain, Oli:

• Defined and launched the company’s Data Strategy, bringing it to life with fun analogies like turning a chaotic pizza kitchen into a world-class restaurant
• Led the company’s first automated billing launch, a critical step in supporting growth and laying the groundwork for audits and enabling analytics-ready data
• Established the Data Champions Forum with representatives from across the business, giving every function a voice in shaping how data is used and shared
• Introduced weekly data quality KPIs, jointly owned with our Operations Team, ensuring accuracy and accountability across the business
• Began planning Data Surgeries, open sessions where anyone in UrbanChain can bring a data query or insight to explore together

It’s not just about governance or numbers on a screen. It’s about building a culture where data is everyone’s responsibility and everyone’s opportunity.

Oli describes his leadership style as a constant learning process. He’s motivated by inspiring people to find joy in data, but he knows true success requires the whole business to buy into the strategy.

He keeps his team motivated by making sure they see both the small wins and the big picture, likening each challenge to solving a crossword or a jigsaw puzzle. Daily conversations, whether face-to-face, through Teams or other digital channels, keep everyone aligned, supported, and engaged.

That approach hasn’t gone unnoticed by his team.

Eli, a Data Engineer, says: “Oli has a wealth of industry knowledge which has been an enormous help in getting to grips with the energy industry. He is a great manager — people-focused, and he knows when to offer support and when to let you crack on.”

Charlie, a Senior Data Engineer who joined UrbanChain 3 months ago, adds: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. He gives me the time and resources to do things properly, rather than just patch over cracks. He’s very receptive to new approaches, as long as they can be justified. Despite being a Head-of, he still gets stuck in with the grunt work, doing R scripts and dashboards. He’s also been very understanding about some things going on in my personal life — he recognises that there’s more to life than work, and that a happy and looked-after team is a high-performing team.”

Outside of work, Oli is rarely sitting still. He plays pickleball three to four times a week, and lives with his wife, two daughters, and a food-loving rescue labrador named Lara. Mornings often start with a long walk on the Cornish moors or beaches at 7am sharp – come rain or shine.

When he’s not walking or playing sport, you’ll find him tuning into Test Match Special on Radio 4. During lockdown, he found joy in reliving classic five-day cricket tests in his garden.

A far cry from his most adventurous stories like his trip from Land’s End to Australia in a Land Rover Defender with his wife. The nine-month journey wound through Europe, Central Asia, Iran, Pakistan and India before they shipped the car to Sydney – where they discovered they had picked up an “unexpected hitchhiker: their first daughter, Sydney.”

One memory which stands out above all: travelling through Kyrgyzstan, a country Oli describes as breathtakingly beautiful. 

Oli is clear about what excites him most: the chance for UrbanChain to disrupt the energy market.

As UrbanChain grows, Oli sees his role evolving from deep involvement in the detail to shaping strategy and creating future leaders within the data team.