I am currently working for the Met Office as an Enterprise and Data Architect within the Enterprise Design team. In this role, I am working alongside a Triad colleague, supporting the Data Delivery Programme.
Being an Enterprise and Data Architect
I’m responsible for translating the business strategy into business change and technical delivery. It’s an exciting role. We get to create and own the enterprise architecture blueprints and roadmaps across business, data and technology perspectives. In this way, we are guiding the organisation to make appropriate business, technology and data decisions by recommending reuse, sustainability and scalability, to achieve value for money and reduce risk.
I began my career as a database developer and data engineer, developing applications and data warehousing solutions for large banks and building societies. I was always more interested in design than in build, so transitioning into Data Architecture was a natural fit.
As a Data Architect, I take a strategic view when designing architectures. This has served me well as I transitioned into an enterprise architecture role.
Creating a target architecture
The Met Office has a clear set of strategic objectives. My role is to help ensure that the right technology decisions are made to help deliver this strategy, with a clear roadmap, deliverables and metrics in which to validate success.
In this way, we can help create a target architecture across technology, information, people, processes, and environmental data. This includes weather observations, forecasts, and climate models.
Helping organisations grow
What I love about my role is that its goal is to ultimately help organisations do what they’ve said they’ll do. We make sure there’s a clear link between projects, programmes, and the organisation’s overall goals, and we help build a shared understanding of how every initiative contributes to that bigger picture. That’s what I enjoy most — seeing the business truly understand the technology choices we’ve made.
I’m continuously learning on the job
I’m like a sponge. I am continuously learning on the job, soaking up knowledge from colleagues, academic literature, and blogs. Anything that I come across. Take the Met Office, for example. I knew very little about the science behind the weather and climate change. After 12+ months, I now know enough to support some of the key initiatives within the organisation. That’s the fun part of consulting. You get to apply your expertise within an organisation that can teach you so much. It’s very rewarding.
I’m never alone!
I feel really supported by my Triad colleagues. Everyone is incredibly willing to give up their time to support others in developing their knowledge or skills. It is just part of the culture. And because people are so willing to help me, I am just as keen to ensure that they feel supported too. It’s a win-win.
If you’re starting out as an Enterprise Architect…
My advice to anyone at the beginning of their career would be to start small. Don’t try to change the world overnight. Learn as you go. And evolve through the results you deliver and the experience you receive. I have learned that there is no such thing as a silly question – in fact, these are often the questions that as a consultant, you are able to ask, because everyone expects you to learn quickly about your client. They expect you to poke around a bit! But, ironically, it’s the silly questions that can often provide the most invaluable insight. And stay curious. You’ll be amazed by how much you can grow.
If you have a question for Kelvin or the Triad team, please get in touch.
