Bio

I’m an experienced business leader across multiple geographies, with a strong emphasis on risk management, regulation, setting a strategic direction, delivering change and a passion for diversity and inclusion. The last 10 years have been in senior leadership roles across public and private sector both in an executive and non executive capacity. I’ve devised and delivered strategies to enhance sales performance, risk management and governance and control processes, working in high pressure environments with multiple stakeholders across the industry and leading highly motivated teams in times of change. The majority of my work has been in and around Payments, Banking and Fintech, which gives me an ecosystem view that connects vision and strategy to transformation and execution focussing on the topics are dominating the financial services space. At the FCA, I set up the first Payments Department, delivering the supervision strategy for payments as well as being the accountable executive for the delivery of PSD2. I am now setting up the FCA’s Early and High Growth Oversight (or Scalebox) function. The first of its kind which is a response to the Kalifa review into U.K. Fintech. I also sat on the SteerCo for the establishment of the Centre for Finance Innovation and Technology (a key Kalifa review recommendation) which is now launched. My time at the FCA included a secondment to Pay.UK as Chief Payments Officer running the U.K. interbank payments operations during that period. In recent roles at RBS, I delivered operational exit of products, services and markets as part of the bank’s cost reduction and simplification strategy. My experience includes design and build of bank partnership arrangements; I am experienced in dealing with budgets of £100m+ and have a strong cost focus. With a passion for diversity, I always play a leading role in positive yet challenging conversations and driving change. I have built and led diverse teams, ensuring provision of tools and training, particularly in rapidly changing markets and regulatory environments. Engaging with, and influencing executive teams as well as external parties and regulators, has featured throughout my career. A big part of my early education was in Syria, I then lived and worked in Europe and Australia, with teams and clients in various geographical locations across numerous cultures. Outside my corporate roles, I’ve brought my business skills to bear in Board and other roles with not-for-profit organisations including charity and school governor posts.