Lead Data Scientist · AI Strategist

Turning Complex Data
into Strategic Decisions

Fifteen years building AI-driven solutions across financial services — from GenAI workforce analytics to AML detection, causal inference, and C-suite strategy.

contact@zhiyanwang.org iamzhiyan@gmail.com LinkedIn United Kingdom
Get in Touch View Experience
15+
Years Experience
Financial services & AI
1
International Patent
WIPO PCT WO 2013/164632
30%
Sales Insight Uplift
NLP client engagement, HSBC
5%
AML False Positive Reduction
ML profiling, Nationwide
Dr. Zhiyan Wang
About

Data Scientist,
AI Practitioner,
Strategic Advisor

Personal Statement

A highly motivated data scientist with fifteen years of experience specialising in strategic data insights, rapid experimentation, and AI-driven solutions across financial services. Proven track record of leading data-driven initiatives that improve performance metrics, mentoring teams, and driving end-to-end ML lifecycle management.

Expertise spans advanced analytics and generative AI applications, with demonstrated success in translating complex data insights into actionable business strategies through compelling visualisations and storytelling.

Core Capabilities
Generative AI People Analytics Causal Inference NLP Machine Learning Statistical Modelling Azure OpenAI R · Python C-Suite Storytelling AML Analytics Workforce Strategy Behavioural Profiling
Experience

Fifteen years of progressive impact

Apr 2023 — Present
HSBC
Human Resources
London, UK
Lead Data Scientist — Workforce Strategy & Insight

Leveraging data to drive strategic workforce decisions, leading AI projects in human capital analytics, and developing scalable machine learning frameworks with high transparency.

  • Developed advanced performance analytics for workforce optimisation, including evidence-based frameworks with GenAI that enhanced team and management performance.
  • Led experimental projects designing methodologies for hypothesis validation and innovation acceleration, enabling faster project delivery and enhanced decision-making.
  • Undertook extensive wellbeing analysis examining relationships between employee satisfaction, annual leave, and sickness patterns to identify key workforce wellbeing drivers.
Mar 2021 — Dec 2022
HSBC
Global Banking & Markets
London, UK
Senior Data Scientist — Financial Markets AI

Led research and development of AI solutions for financial markets, with a focus on innovative machine learning applications in trading and client intelligence.

  • Improved client engagement through advanced NLP analysis of communications and trading patterns — increased sales insight pickup rate by 30%.
  • Developed behavioural analytics models to forecast client needs and churn risk, supporting targeted retention campaigns that enhanced client lifetime value.
  • Deployed real-time analytics dashboards providing actionable insights to over 200 sales professionals via integrated platform solutions.
Jan 2019 — Feb 2021
Nationwide Building Society
The Analytics Hub
Swindon, UK
Senior Data Scientist — AML & Customer Analytics

Applied advanced analytics to improve customer experience while minimising financial crime risk.

  • Developed behavioural profiling algorithms using unsupervised ML combining real-time transaction data with historical patterns — over 30% reduction in false positive rates.
  • Built end-to-end customer segmentation models supporting AML teams, ensuring regulatory compliance and significantly reducing alert rates.
  • Improved screening capabilities by optimising Actimize processes with fuzzy matching algorithms, increasing PEP/sanctions detection accuracy.
Earlier Career
Multiple Organisations
UK
Previous Roles
  • Assistant Manager — Global Risk Analytics Regulatory Compliance · HSBC UK
  • Algorithm Engineer · AccuNostics Ltd, UK — co-invented international biosensor patent
Education

Academic foundations in engineering & business

MBA
Executive MBA
Cranfield University, UK
Strategic leadership & business management
Doctorate
PhD — Signal Processing & Biosensors
University of the West of England, UK
EPSRC-funded, Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
Masters
MSc Digital Communication
University of Bath, UK
Signal processing & communications engineering
Research & Publications

Peer-reviewed work & intellectual property

International Patent
WIPO PCT WO 2013/164632 A1 · Published 7 November 2013
Electrochemical Impedance Measurement System for Biosensor Applications

Wang, Z., McNeilage, A., Steele, D. — A novel system applying non-linear signal processing to electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for cellular toxicity monitoring and biosensor diagnostics.

2012
Conference Paper
Wang, Z.Y., Kiely, J., Luxton, R. Non-linear data analysis of impedance spectroscopy as applied to cellular toxicity systems. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Modelling, Identification and Control.
2009
IEEE Conference Paper
Wang, Z.Y., Kiely, J., Luxton, R., Zhu, Q. Hilbert Huang Transform impedance measurement data for cellular toxicity monitoring. Proceedings of the 2009 IEEE International Conference on Networking, Sensing and Control, pp. 767–772.
2008
Conference Paper
Wang, Z.Y., Kiely, J., Luxton, R., Nibouche, M. Impedimetric discrimination of cell types by using spectrogram analysis. Proceedings of the 14th Annual Conference of Chinese Automation and Computing Society.

Open to New Opportunities

Interested in senior data science, AI transformation, or people analytics leadership roles in consulting and financial services. Let's talk.

Get in Touch contact@zhiyanwang.org