Leadership Spotlight on Siobhan McCafferty: Shaping the Talent Capabil

Back Posted on: 24 February 2026

Introduction

As Alchemy grows as part of NTT DATA’s global insurance practice, our people remain central to everything we do. With extensive experience in HR and people leadership, Siobhan McCafferty - Chief People Officer, understands how culture and capability shape long-term performance. She ensures that growth does not dilute what made Alchemy successful in the first place.

She leads the people strategy that shapes how we attract, develop and retain the talent that drives innovation and client impact, building a scalable, inclusive and high-performance organisation. For Siobhan, this is about depth, consistency and building careers that last. Her focus is to protect what works, strengthen it, and scale it carefully while preserving a culture grounded in transparency, respect, and inclusion - values recognised when she was named ISC Group’s Most Impactful Member of the Gender ERG in 2025.

Derry/Londonderry as the Global Centre of Excellence

From our headquarters in Derry/Londonderry, Alchemy serves as a Global Centre of Excellence, supporting insurers through large-scale transformation programmes.

For Siobhan, Derry/Londonderry is more than a location. It is the foundation of the model. "We built something here that works," she explains. "The responsibility now is to carry that forward without lowering the bar."

Within NTT DATA’s global delivery model, Derry/Londonderry sets the benchmark. As Siobhan explains, “our role is to protect what works, strengthen it and make sure it can be delivered with the same quality and consistency wherever our clients need us.”

That means protecting and deepening Alchemy’s Guidewire and Global Specialty Markets (GSM) expertise while applying the same approach internationally. Our delivery model, including our academy-led training framework, is now being extended across centres in India, Mexico, and beyond, maintaining standards while supporting clients closer to their regions.

Growing Talent to Strengthen Capability

For Siobhan, capability isn’t about headcount; it’s about how well people are developed. 'Scale has its place,' she says, 'but quality always comes first."

At the centre of this approach is Alchemy’s Talent Engine. This model has shaped how we develop our people from the beginning. It brings together Guidewire certification pathways, formal insurance learning, consultancy training, behavioural development and mentoring into one structure. Everyone develops against defined standards before stepping into client work.

Graduates move through a structured training programme that blends technical knowledge, insurance understanding and consultancy skills. Experienced hires work within the same framework, progressing through Guidewire certification levels and staying up to date with platform developments to keep their expertise current.

Scaling Alchemy's Talent Engine

As Alchemy expands into new regions, the same model is being carried forward, with Derry/Londonderry remaining the knowledge and training hub that supports talent across NTT DATA’s insurance regions and anchors standards internationally.

For Siobhan, scaling does not mean changing what works. It means strengthening it. That includes continuing to upskill existing talent, so expertise grows from within, and reinforcing the Alchemy Mentorship Programme to support early career development, mid-level progression and knowledge sharing across Guidewire, GSM and NTT DATA teams.

As she says, it is about “setting people up for success”, pairing individuals with experienced mentors who guide them through real client situations and build confidence alongside technical depth.

With sustainable hiring and clear development routes, this creates a strong pipeline for future delivery and leadership. It is the same approach now being applied internationally, ensuring the capability built in Derry/Londonderry can be delivered consistently across other centres.

Community and Talent Sustainability

For Siobhan, building long-term talent capability starts in the community.

She has developed Alchemy’s STEM Early Careers Programme, designed to give young people early exposure to technology careers, particularly young girls and underrepresented groups. As part of this programme, she leads the partnership with St. Mary’s College in Derry/Londonderry, creating practical ways for students to see what a career in technology looks like. Through office visits, career talks and the Buddy Up Programme, students gain exposure to roles in insurance technology in real-world working environments.

Siobhan has expanded relationships with schools across the North West of Ireland to strengthen early pipelines and increased collaboration with Ulster University, Queen’s University Belfast, Atlantic Technological University and North West Regional College to support placements, graduate opportunities and clear routes into the business.

Through Women@Alchemy, she has encouraged greater employee involvement in mentoring and school outreach so students can see relatable role models and hear real career stories.

As Alchemy continues to grow globally, Siobhan’s priorities remain steady.

Her focus is on building capability the right way, developing people with intent and ensuring standards remain high as the organisation scales.

Through structured training, mentoring and long-term community investment, she continues to shape the capability that will support Alchemy’s next stage of growth — with Derry/Londonderry at its core and regional delivery centres built on the same foundations.