Hi there!đ
I'm Lorraine Sanares. I'm a data science student, educator, and someone who likes to build cool projects. Curious about my work?
Let's get started!
About
It all began with a simple dashboard.
In 2022, as a Year 12 student, I built a Tableau dashboard visualising COVID border restrictions. It was just a school project, but something clicked. I was drawn to the process of transforming raw data into compelling visual stories. That project sparked my curiosity in data.
For the past two years, I've been studying data science at The University of Melbourne, learning how to extract insights from complex datasets and communicate them in ways that drive impact. Now, as a third-year student, I've realised that I love the dynamic nature of problem-solvingâcombining technical expertise with storytelling to support the bigger picture through data.
But learning data science hasn't been smooth sailing. Like many STEM students, I struggled to bridge the gap between theory and practiceâspending hours on formula proofs and debugging algorithms, unsure of the practical applications to real-world challenges.
However, through hands-on projects and an internship, my pathway became clear: to become an adaptable data scientist who is equally skilled in computer science, mathematics, and business expertise.
A unicorn.
What drives me
I dedicate my time to continuous learning and upskillingâexploring frameworks and technologies beyond coursework. I want to want to deepen my expertise and apply knowledge in real-world contextsâwhether through hands-on projects, certifications, or self-driven exploration.
Pursuing a future where I have agency to express my authentic self in my work; finding that perfect blend between what I love, what I'm good at, what the world needs, and what I can be paid for - my ikigai.
Shared knowledge is the foundation of growth, innovation, and collective success - I've had a long-time passion for teaching, therefore I try my best to pass on what I learn through writing, workshops, or everyday conversation. I aim to foster curiosity and inspire others to push their own boundaries, as I do mine.
Work Experience
Nov. 2024 - Dec. 2024
- Designed and implemented an event-driven data pipeline on AWS implementing EventBridge, Lambda, Airflow, and S3, automating data ingestion, orchestration, and storage.
- Implemented key pipeline components using Python, PySpark, Airflow, and AWS, managing event-triggered and scheduled processing, orchestrating tasks via Airflow DAGs, configuring security settings, and storing processed outputs in S3 for downstream use.
- Coordinated with team members and internal stakeholders to refine data processing strategies, improving workflow efficiency.
- Liaised with senior team members and external stakeholders, presenting insights through PowerPoint reports on Microsoft Teams, ensuring alignment on project objectives.
- Developed a client-facing pack utilizing Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel, integrating stakeholder feedback and expediting key project deliverables.
- Documented and refined data ingestion processes using Microsoft Word, ensuring clear procedural guidelines for the team.
Jun. 2022 - Present
- Taught 40 piano lessons annually to a primary school-aged student, advancing music theory and technique.
- Developed weekly lesson plans aligned with AMEB classical coursework and adapted teaching methods to maintain high engagement and motivation.
- Prepared student for recitals and AMEB exams, whilst maintaining regular communication with parent to manage expectations and outcomes.
Feb. 2021 - Present
- Entered, organised, and maintained student performance data in Excel, utilising formulas and functions to track progress, generate reports, and identify learning trends to support individualised learning plans.
- Tutored students in math and reading, providing constructive feedback to enhance academic performance.
- Managed administrative tasks and reception duties, ensuring smooth business operations.
- Responded to parent inquiries regarding student homework, providing clarifications and progress updates.
Mar. 2022 - Oct. 2022
- Provided personalised math tutoring to a Year 7 student, enhancing their understanding and engagement with math concepts through customized lesson plans.
- Motivated the student by using creative and engaging teaching methods, fostering a positive attitude toward math.
- Monitored the student's progress in collaboration with their math teacher, successfully improving their grades by at least 2% in each school assessment.
Tech Stack
On top of building my proficiency in programming languages for analytics (i.e Python and R), I also like to dabble in UX/UI design, web development, data engineering and cloud computing.
Libraries
- Scikit-Learn
- Pandas
- NumPy
Projects
This website you're on now is something I coded from scratch! But here are other projects I've done:
Running Dashboard
Involved analysing my health and running statistics to optimise my training for the Nike 10km Run this October. Inspired by the Strava app, I incorporated a linear regression model to predict my running performance on race day.
Bookstore Analysis
A data-driven analysis of sales trends, customer insights, and inventory management in bookstores. A Unimelb coursework assignment, I collaborated with two other group members to analyze data from an online bookstore. We applied unsupervised machine learning models to extract insights from customer and book attributes, to aid the company on which new books to purchase for their store.
Travel Dashboard
A travel insights dashboard to plan trips, track expenses, and explore destinations efficiently. My very first data analysis project, completed during VCE Data Analytics in 2022, is where I first developed a fascination with data and visualisation. The project involved analysing a country's attributes post-pandemic to help travellers plan their holiday destinations.
Why Data Science?
Iâm sure youâve heard the quote: âJack of all trades master of noneâ. But rarely do we hear the second half that goes â... though oftentimes better than a master of one.â A data scientist is a jack of all trades; which is the reason why I chose this career.
I have always been a life-long learner that loves up-skilling, and data science allows me to merge the things a learn from different domains. There is a name we give to a data scientist who is equally skilled in all three areas of software engineering, mathematics and communication - We call them Unicorns.
The past two years of university has been in the pursuit of becoming a unicorn, though I understand that this is a difficult task. However, I am always up for a good challenge.
I believe generalists are the driving force behind innovation, bridging disciplines, fostering creativity, and driving meaningful change.
More Cool Stuff
I love learning and teaching. My role as Education Director for WIT Unimelb allows me to combine the two passions - creating impactful learning experiences for students whilst learning from industry professionals.
Check out some of the workshops I run!
Get in touch
What's next? If you have a question or are interested in collaborating, I'd love to connect! Let's work together to make industry education more accessible and impactful.