An unlikely beginning to a career in technology, Rachel started off as a musician, playing cello and piano. She then became a fundraiser at the classical music venue, Wigmore Hall, successfully growing membership, individual giving and legacy income. She became hooked by the strategic possibilities of data for fundraising, growing the usage of the internal database and its reporting functions, researching audience groups, and improving tracking of supporter relationships.
Fascinated by data and people and ever eager to learn, Rachel then headed to Birkbeck to study Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology gaining her MSc in 2015. Her masters project explored new techniques for analysing MRI brain imaging data.
But her heart never left the non-profit sector and she now brings creativity and science together at Parkinson’s UK. She has been building the Supporter Insight methodology and team from scratch, first under a Fundraising remit and now with cross departmental reach. The team uses data to answer questions about audiences and income, to improve processes and provide robust evidence for business decisions. She is driving the culture change towards data-driven decision-making across the organisation, bringing strategic and operational levels together to share and collaborate. Rachel loves using her insightful approach to data, analysis, and people in order to make a difference in an organisation making a difference to the lives of people with Parkinson’s.
