Harnessing AI, driving digital innovation and empowering change – a female force to be reckoned with

With 23 years of experience in tech, including the last 11 at E.ON, Claire Whitmore has built an impressive career driving innovation and transformation in the industry. Her career trajectory is a testament to embracing challenges, seizing opportunities, and continuously redefining boundaries in the ever-evolving landscape of digital technology and sustainability.

“When I first joined in 2013 as a Senior Business Analyst, I never imagined the opportunities ahead,” Claire recalls. Today, she leads a team driving E.ON’s most forward-thinking initiatives, from AI-first strategies, to improving our colleagues experience, ensuring we meet our governance and regulatory requirements.  

From the outset, Claire demonstrated a remarkable ability to navigate the complex relationships between day-to-day business needs and future technological solutions. Her journey at E.ON has seen her transition from business analysis to digital technology and technology-focused roles, eventually leading her into the realm of enterprise architecture.

Today, Claire oversees a team responsible for some of E.ON’s most forward-thinking projects. “No two days are the same for me,” she says. “It sounds clichéd, but I couldn’t tell you what I typically do. That’s what I love – there’s always something new. I’d get bored otherwise.” This ever-changing landscape is exactly what keeps Claire passionate and engaged, ensuring her work remains as vibrant as the technologies she champions.

At the core of Claire’s mission is the commitment to keep E.ON safe, efficient, and ahead of the curve. “Our work makes processes simpler, data smarter, and operations more automated.

“That means freeing up our colleagues so they can do more meaningful work that really matters – supporting customers and driving the energy transition.”

One of the most exciting aspects of Claire’s role is leading the ‘Emerging Technology’ team. “We explore how AI, drones, and other innovative tools can transform our work,” she explains. Drones, for example, could help pinpoint where insulation or EV charging points are most needed on houses or public buildings – with the aerial imagery scanning wider areas that would otherwise take hours or even days in a manual process.

AI plays a central role, too. As a sponsor of E.ON’s ‘AI First’ mission, Claire drives the adoption of artificial intelligence to improve both operations and customer experience – an opportunity but also a challenge.

“One concern for the increased use of AI, is the amount of data it requires -  and creates,” she notes. “We need to be conscious that we are trying to use less energy, not drain more. It’s something we have to be mindful of as we aim to reduce our carbon footprint.”

To illustrate her point, Claire humorously compares data centres to teenagers, something she knows a lot about having two of her own at home. “They’re always hungry, they use a lot of power, they drink more than they should, and they’re never exactly where you want them to be!”

And the numbers back her up. Every time a user interacts with an AI tool like ChatGPT, it triggers an energy-intensive process at a data centre. While impressive, Claire emphasises the importance of balancing AI advancements with sustainable energy practices.

Beyond the digital realm, Claire’s work bridges into partnerships, including our Strategic Energy Partnership with Coventry City Council. Data, says Claire, is the “golden thread” in helping cities to implement impactful green energy solutions, whether it is meeting demand for public EV charging points or identifying homes suitable for solar panels or heat pumps.

“The partnerships we have with cities, particularly with Coventry, are great examples of where we can – and have been – using technology to develop impactful, meaningful energy solutions to help the city and its people.”

In Coventry, Claire envisions leveraging drone technology combined with government data on fuel poverty (ECO4) to deliver precise information about energy efficiency. “It would be great to use the drone imagery, combined with this data, to give customers accurate information about their house — how it’s performing in terms of energy efficiency, and whether their properties are suitable for insulation, solar panels, etc.

Looking to the future, Claire envisions a world where AI is seamlessly integrated into everyday applications. “More native AI,” she says, “and by that, I mean AI will live inside applications without many of us even realising it. Rather than using automated creative functions such as ChatGPT as a separate application, for example, it’ll be seamlessly integrated into the apps and tools we’re already using.”

Claire also foresees an expanded use of extended reality (XR), virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) within E.ON: “We’re already using it at our Net Zero Training Academy, but I imagine it’ll become a fundamental part of our training procedures.” These technologies offer immersive training experiences that can significantly enhance learning and development within the company.

Another frontier Claire is excited about is quantum computing. Although it sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, Claire assures us it’s more accessible than its name suggests. “We’ve already partnered with major tech firms and we’re working on huge developments in the quantum computing space across the E.ON Group,” she explains. “In its simplest form, it makes real-world applications a lot quicker, but it could revolutionise the energy industry by enabling unprecedented levels of efficiency and connectivity.”

Beyond technology, Claire is deeply passionate about nurturing the next generation of talent. As a sponsor of E.ON’s Digital Technology Early Talent Programme and Digital Technology Network, she plays a pivotal role in encouraging young professionals, particularly women, to pursue careers in tech and sustainability. “We need a green, tech-savvy workforce for the future.”

Claire’s journey has not been without its challenges, especially as a woman in a predominantly male industry – but she stands firm in her belief in gender equality. “As the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg said, ‘Women belong in all places where decisions are being made’.” Her advocacy for women in tech is not just about breaking barriers but also about inspiring others to follow in her footsteps.

Claire Whitmore’s journey is a shining example of how technology, innovation, and tenacity can illuminate the path to a greener, smarter future.