Fast-growing Newcastle-based technology company Opencast has appointed a vastly experienced new head of architecture.
Ciara Conway joins Opencast from Aviva, where she was group chief architect. She has also held senior IT roles at major banks and financial services companies such as Natwest, Lloyds, CYBG and insurance giant Aviva. On top of that, Conway has even worked for the European Space Agency (ESA).
Prior to her packed IT career, Conway studied linguistics at the University of Glasgow. She then traveled to France, Spain and Italy where she taught English before being offered a role in an Italian internet start-up: “I’d always had a fascination with tech – my dad worked at BT so there were always computers and computer magazines around the house. I remember getting Computer Weekly and doing the programming exercise, which I really enjoyed,” Conway explained.
“But back in the 90s, tech education in school wasn’t good. I spent a year programming traffic lights – it was so dull, and I just couldn’t see how it could possibly translate into a job. So I studied languages which I hoped would get me traveling and were a passion of mine.”
Despite the roundabout route, Conway discovered she loved working in tech and programming at the new start-up, so returned home to Scotland to complete a Master’s Degree in IT at the University of Paisley.
Armed with her new qualification, she returned to Italy where she found work as a web production manager and head of editorial at the European Space Agency. She returned home two years later, working at Aegon and other major financial services companies and global banks before being appointed group chief architect at Aviva.
Conway added: “I’ve been really impressed with Opencast’s commitment to diversity and its promotion of women in tech. Its something I’m passionate about – I remember interviewing 87 people for a role at one of the banks I was working at and only three were women. This has to change.
“I’ll be working hard to make our architectural team as diverse as possible, including in management positions. I know Opencast shares my ambition to change that here, as well as encouraging and promoting women in the tech sector more widely.”
Conway will lead an architecture team of around 20 at Opencast, which specialises in designing, building and running user-centred digital and technology solutions. Its work for the government, including its biggest clients HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), develops services that support critical national infrastructure and help millions of citizens through tax, benefit and support services.
Founded in 2012, the company has grown quickly to become one of the North East’s most successful technology businesses, last year employing its 400th team member. Last year it earned a Newsweek accolade as the region’s Most Loved Workplace, as well as being in the UK’s top 20.
The company opened new city hubs last year, including the one in Glasgow where Ciara will be based.
Lee Foster, Opencast’s chief technology officer, said: “Ciara’s knowledge and experience of leading architecture teams, driving technology strategy and delivering transformation initiatives for large organisations will be invaluable in helping us to shape our architecture practice and service offering, diversify our client base, and expand the variety of work we can offer our people.”
