Kristian Higgins
Verified Expert in Engineering
Data Scientist and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Developer
Kristian is a data scientist with a valuable combination of AI expertise, an actuarial degree, and experience as a risk analyst at HSBC. His career has evolved from financial risk to IoT, and he is pursuing a PhD in AI research. Kristian's current focus is on NLP and audio anomaly detection, which will likely expand into computer vision anomaly detection. He thrives on variety in his work and brings exceptional value to complex AI projects in finance, insurance, IoT, and other domains.
Portfolio
Experience
Availability
Preferred Environment
Python, Amazon Web Services (AWS), SQL, Docker, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI), GPT, Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPT), Natural Language Processing (NLP), Computer Vision, Big Data, Data Science
The most amazing...
...product I've developed enabled insurers to build, test, and validate configurable behavioral IoT risk models using statistics and serverless AWS services.
Work Experience
Senior Data Scientist
Podchaser
- Developed an app for NLP search that connects media buyers' briefs to podcast topics.
- Worked on uncertainty modeling in parameter estimation using Bayesian modeling.
- Set a data science standard, best practice, and tooling, including an internal Python package.
Data Scientist
IMS | Insurance & Mobility Solutions
- Improved telematics driver safety and ROI by developing telematics products that are transparent and actionable for drivers.
- Built ML solutions capable of terabyte-scale: engineered features, experimented with model architectures, and developed model outcomes with custom evaluation metrics that suited stakeholder expectations.
- Advised on risk management frameworks for insurance policies to fairly dismiss drivers and improve the cost-to-income ratio.
- Built a configurable, highly-scalable, cloud-based platform for serverless AI inference. It allowed customers to deploy their own models using ONNX and PMML formats. Introduced a JSON-based standard framework.
- Developed internal packages and containerized solutions for data science. These included tools to understand containerized road networks using open-source data from the UK and the US.
Data Science Consultant
Jaywing
- Performed IFRS 9 regulatory capital adequacy modeling for financial services, including model monitoring, management information, financial forecasting, and model review.
- Built machine learning models for marketing attribution to measure the marginal contribution, and therefore, ROI, of a marketing touchpoint in the sales lifecycle.
- Developed computer vision image classifiers to support marketing operations, using PyTorch for the POC and TensorFlow for production.
- Consulted and worked onsite with clients to gather requirements, present results, develop relationships, and uncover new opportunities to support them.
Risk Analyst
HSBC
- Performed Basel model analysis and built, implemented, and tested a CRD IV exposure model for various portfolios with stakeholder engagement and management.
- Served as the lead analyst for the first IFRS 9 model implementation and automation on SAS Data Integration Studio.
- Provided technical consulting for data, access, and environmental issues in the analytics department.
- Consulted on data extraction and provisioning to internal analytics teams and external credit bureaus.
Experience
Behavioral Scoring
Vehicle Classification for Marketing
Skills
Languages
Python, SQL, SAS
Paradigms
Data Science, DevOps
Platforms
Jupyter Notebook, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Docker
Other
Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Statistics, Consulting, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Risk Models, Sensor Data, GPT, Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPT), Computer Vision, Big Data, Actuarial, Attribution Modeling, Churn Analysis, Regulatory Management, Credit Risk, IFRS 9, Generalized Linear Model (GLM), Dimensionality Reduction, Geospatial Analytics, Internet of Things (IoT), Signal Processing, Machine Learning Operations (MLOps), Telematics, Financial Services, Financial Forecasting, Proof of Concept (POC), Business Development, Financial Risk Management, Risk Management, Basel, Stakeholder Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Technical Consulting, Data Extraction, AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, Neural Networks, Classification, Transformers
Storage
PostgreSQL, JSON, Elasticsearch
Industry Expertise
Insurance
Libraries/APIs
PyTorch, TensorFlow, Occlusion Culling
Tools
Git, Terraform, SAS 9.3, SAS Data Integration (DI) Studio, AWS IAM
Education
Progress Toward PhD in Data Science
The University of Essex - Essex, England, UK
Undergraduate Degree in Actuarial Science
Kingston University - London, England, UK
Certifications
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
AWS
SAS Certification
SAS Manchester
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