Description

I am a strategic and commercially minded Principal Data Solutions Architect with over eight years of experience delivering secure, scalable, and cost-optimised data platforms across cloud ecosystems including Azure, AWS, Databricks, and Google Cloud. My strength lies in identifying architectural and operational inefficiencies and transforming them into actionable, future-ready solutions that drive measurable business value.

Throughout my career, I have led complex data initiatives across diverse industries, architecting modern platforms that embed robust governance, enable analytics at scale, and align closely with both technical requirements and business strategy. I specialise in bridging the gap between vision and execution, combining deep technical expertise with an understanding of organisational dynamics, stakeholder needs, and compliance obligations.

Currently focused on advancing enterprise AI adoption, I am developing capabilities in GenAI architecture, LLM deployment, and responsible AI governance. I am known for my ability to navigate complexity, interrogate challenges at their root, and deliver solutions that are both technically sound and strategically aligned—an approach that consistently distinguishes me in fast-paced and high-stakes environments.

Languages

Croatian
Native or bilingual
Serbian
Fluent
English
Fluent
Spanish
Conversational

Workplace preferences

Remote only

Primarily works remotely

FDM
Business Intelligence Consultant
September 2018 - January 2019 (4 months)
Glasgow, UK
Completed intensive technical training program in business intelligence and data analytics fundamentals
Developed foundational skills in SQL, data visualization tools, and BI reporting methodologies
Participated in client-readiness training covering stakeholder engagement and business requirements gathering
Prepared for deployment to client sites through hands-on projects and case study analysis
Built expertise in data modeling concepts and dashboard design principles
Gained exposure to various BI platforms and tools used across different industry sectors
HSBC
Data Analyst / BI Developer
January 2019 - March 2021 (2 years and 2 months)
Edinburgh, UK
Employed as a part of the Wholesale Market & Credit Risk Transformation team working on a big data solution in Google Cloud Environment and On Prem. Some of my responsibilities include:
• Investigation of new structured and unstructured data sources, building, designing and managing ETL pipelines to ensure creation of end-to-end reports for regulatory and management purposes using multiple tools such as Python, SQL, Tableau, Hadoop, Big Query, Hive, Unix, VBA, GIT, JIRA,Spark etc.
• Designing, building, monitoring, and managing large scale batch/streaming data-processing products.
• Liaising with Stakeholders and Executive teams to gather requirements, present demos and project updates to global teams.
• Administering Google Cloud stream On Prem (which I built entirely) which is used for transfer and manipulation of the data from in-house Servers into the Cloud, this includes all sorts of security checks and levels to prevent uncovering of sensitive information.
• Administering an in-house Validation Engine (which I built entirely) which is used to validate all our data in our data model for data quality issues that would take days, if not weeks, to allocate. The Engine has enabled us to reach many critical regulatory deadlines that would have been impossible otherwise.
Dufrain/Deloitte
Lead Data Engineer / Data Architect / Senior Data Consultant
CONSULTING AND AUDITS
March 2021 - May 2024 (3 years and 2 months)
Edinburgh, UK
Internal Leadership:

Coaching Data Consultants/Analysts and supporting recruitment through interviews and candidate assessment
Leading Data Engineering and Cloud Migration engagements using Python, Spark, SQL, AWS (CloudWatch, Lambda, EC2, ECS, EKS, Identity management), Azure (Function Apps, Synapse, Data Factory, SQL, VMs, Key Vaults, Entra ID, Databricks)
Architecting Azure infrastructure with security/compliance policies (VNets, subnets, private endpoints, VNet peering, Load balancers)
Leading 8 Data engineers for ARC project across multiple clients (Atlanta Financial, Ardonagh Group, Succession Wealth) accelerating reporting solutions in Azure, AWS, GCP
Supporting cloud architecture design for Fintech start-ups, financial institutions, asset management firms
Developing organizational Data Strategy aligned with business objectives and stakeholder collaboration for data governance

Client Engagements (M&G, Evelyn Partners):

Leading 5 backend/frontend engineers implementing Surveillance Grid Platform for asset management firms to detect anomalies and misconduct
Producing solution designs, policies, standards, roadmaps and vision statements
Requirements gathering across Aladdin, Cash/FX Manager, Bloomberg with data quality checks
Managing conflicts, risks, and stakeholder relations across FI, LL, EQ, DMG, Cash and FX dealing desks
Designing ML predictive models (random forest classification) reducing manual work for dealers/asset managers in exception handling
Implementing Data Warehouse solutions and comprehensive data platforms across cloud providers
Demonstrating industry-standard data modelling practices using recognized tools for standardized, efficient architecture