Put data behind every decision

Butterfly Data is pleased to announce the appointment of Colin Evans as Strategic Advisor and Non-Executive Director. The appointment brings decades of senior technology and national security leadership experience to the board, as Butterfly Data continues to scale its data and analytics capabilities for government clients.

Colin is a highly experienced technology industry leader with a career spanning more than three decades. Since the early 1990s, he has focused on the international defence and security markets, specialising in building leading-edge technology solutions to address a range of emerging threats. He achieved his first executive leadership position at national security technology specialist Detica Group plc, before going on to hold COO and CEO roles at two further LSE-listed security technology businesses, as well as a non-executive director role at a private equity backed cyber security consultancy.

Colin currently provides strategic growth advice to a portfolio of companies spanning cyber-threat intelligence, secure cloud networking, fintech consultancy and aviation risk intelligence, where he holds both investor and non-executive director positions. His appointment to Butterfly Data adds another high-growth, data-driven organisation to that portfolio.

Speaking about his new role, Colin Evans said:

Having worked with Sara and Rob Boltman previously, I am delighted to have joined Butterfly as a strategic advisor / non-executive director at this exciting point in the company’s growth.

By delivering valuable insights from national scale data eco-systems, Butterfly empowers its government clients to make important decisions with confidence. With the ever-growing importance of data and AI, I am confident Butterfly will continue on its very successful journey.

- Colin Evans, Strategic Advisor and Non-Executive Director, Butterfly Data

The appointment of Colin Evans underlines Butterfly Data’s commitment to bringing the very best strategic expertise alongside its technical innovation. As demand for trusted, insight-driven data solutions in the public sector continues to grow, his experience navigating complex, high-stakes technology environments will be a significant asset to the leadership team.

View our full team here.

In celebration of International Women’s Day 2026, we are proud to share our support for GM4Women2028 and their continued work to advance gender equality across Greater Manchester.

Butterfly Data has made a £2,000 contribution to GM4Women2028, alongside offering specialist data gathering and insight support for the 2026 Pankhurst-Fawcett Scorecard. This combined financial and in-kind support will strengthen the Scorecard’s evidence base by improving data collection, analysis and insight into where gender inequalities persist and for whom, as the campaign enters its crucial final years.

As a values-led data consultancy and certified B-Corp, we believe that high-quality, ethical data is essential for meaningful change. This belief underpins both our work and our commitment to using our expertise for social good.

A shared commitment

Helen Pankhurst CBE, Convenor of GM4Women2028, said:

“We’re very grateful to Butterfly Data for both their generous donation and their commitment to supporting our ongoing data work. Strong, trustworthy evidence is essential if we are to measure progress honestly and push for meaningful change. As we approach the final stretch of GM4Women2028’s decade-long initiative, running from 2018 to 2028, this support can ensure our Scorecard remains a powerful tool for accountability and action.”

From Butterfly Data, co-founder and director Sara Boltman added:

“Our mission is to empower organisations to use data responsibly and in ways that create real human impact. As a B-Corp dedicated to inclusivity and social value, we believe robust evidence is crucial to advancing equality. We’re pleased to assist GM4Women2028 with our dual offering of a monetary donation and data expertise to elevate the Scorecard’s ability to highlight inequalities and drive progress that makes a difference.”

Coinciding with International Women’s Day, this support reflects our commitment to celebrating progress while acknowledging the ongoing work needed to achieve gender equality - and the vital role that trustworthy data plays in that journey.

Butterfly Data's principal IT consultant, Henry Newman-Burke, and data scientist, Maja Strawinska will be presenting at the Public Sector Connect Data and AI Summit 2026, sharing expert insight on governing data migration across large-scale public sector programmes.

No surprises on moving day: Governing data migration at scale

In their session, “No surprises on moving day: Governing data migration at scale,” Henry and Maja use the familiar analogy of moving house to explore how organisations can successfully manage complex data migrations - particularly when upgrading to smarter, AI-enabled platforms.

Just like a house move, successful migration requires:

• Clear planning and decision-making
• Knowing what data to keep and what to retire
• Accurate labelling through strong metadata and classification
• Solid foundations for future AI capabilities
• Robust governance to prevent disruption

For public sector organisations modernising legacy systems, the risks of poor migration are significant, from compliance issues to service disruption. Strong governance ensures data is not only moved safely, but structured and prepared to power the next generation of digital services.

Supporting AI-ready public services

Together, Henry and Maja will highlight how governance-led data migration reduces risk, protects compliance and enables trustworthy AI adoption across government.

The Public Sector Connect Data and AI Summit 2026 brings together leaders shaping the future of public services. Butterfly Data’s session will provide practical insight for those planning cloud transitions, system upgrades or AI implementation to ensure there are truly no surprises on moving day.