This month we’re celebrating an incredible milestone, Danielle has been with Answer Digital for 11 years.

Danielle is a total Answer success story. She joined as one of the very first graduates from our Answer Academy, starting her career as a full stack Java engineer. Since then, she’s climbed the ladder to Principal Technical Consultant, taking on some of our most complex programmes while mentoring and coaching others to follow in her footsteps.

Today, Danielle is leading the National Document Repository (NDR) project, an ambitious NHS-wide programme designed to replace fragmented, paper-based document handling with a single, secure, digital repository. The NDR will remove duplication, reduce clinical risks, and give healthcare professionals quick access to the information they need, when they need it. The project has already made a real impact and has been shortlisted at the HSJ Awards, recognising its importance for improving national efficiency and patient safety.

Describe your job in three words

Strategic. Ever-changing. Fast-paced.
No two days are the same, I’m constantly switching between technical detail, programme-level strategy, and people-focused leadership.

Tell us about your journey at Answer

I joined Answer straight out of university as part of the first ever Academy cohort. Those early days gave me a solid grounding in engineering, but also instilled Answer’s “learn by doing” ethos that’s still at the heart of how I work.

Over the last 11 years, I’ve worked across finance, retail, and health, with projects that have taken me as far as New Zealand, Australia, Poland, and India. Each role gave me new skills and perspectives, from building enterprise systems to working with global delivery teams.

Climbing through different roles, I’ve moved from developer to Principal Technical Consultant. Now, I focus on programme-level architecture and account management in the health sector, where I get to influence how large-scale transformation projects are delivered and how we grow lasting partnerships with clients.

What career milestone are you most proud of?

Leading the National Document Repository project is a huge career highlight. It’s rare to work on something that has both a national footprint and such a direct link to patient outcomes. Seeing it recognised at the HSJ Awards makes me incredibly proud of both the team and the impact we’re making.

What’s the best thing about working with your team?

Our “badges at the door” ethos. We work as one team, regardless of role or title, and that creates a safe, fun environment where people feel empowered to contribute and grow.

We now have a 30+ strong team working on the NDR, and the collaboration is second to none. One team member recently told me: “This is the healthiest team I’ve ever worked on.” That, to me, sums up what Answer is all about — delivering at pace without sacrificing wellbeing or mutual respect.

Most unusual job before Answer?

Counting screws into bags for flatpack furniture, I think it gave me an early appreciation for detail and quality control!

Favourite place you’ve travelled to?

Australia. Visiting family made it special, but it also gave me a chance for a true digital detox thanks to the time difference. It reminded me how important balance is, something I still try to carry into my work and home life.

Fun fact?

I once featured in a TV commercial. And no, I won’t be sharing the link!

How do you spend your spare time?

As both a parent and foster carer, life is busy, but wonderfully so. Any spare time we get is usually spent outdoors, exploring as a family. Whether it’s hiking, parks, or weekends away, being outside gives us all a reset.

If you could swap jobs for a day, who would it be with?

A sleep study participant, honestly, a day of scheduled naps sounds like bliss!

Your biggest goal for 2025?

Finding the perfect work/life balance. It’s easy to get caught up in big, high-pressure projects, so I’m making sure I also carve out space for family and personal time alongside the work I love.

Danielle, congratulations on 11 years of growth, leadership, and success. From Academy graduate to Principal Consultant leading a nationally recognised NHS programme, your journey is an inspiration to the whole Answer team.

In our recent wave of external feedback, Danielle was praised by a client:
"Danielle is highly approachable, very articulate in areas of high complexity to non SME and willing to both challenge and be challenged. She has a range of skills that could be cited however I would particularly highlight her ability to communicate complex concepts, deep technical understanding and skills and an innate ability to prioritise work packages".