Rachel Waggott

Q. Tell everyone a little bit about yourself and your role at Innovate Finance

A. I joined Innovate Finance as Head of Regulatory Affairs in mid-October. I sit within the Policy team, and my role is to lead on regulatory engagement and advocacy in the UK and internationally. In amplifying the voices of our members and the wider FinTech ecosystem, one of my aims is to ensure the UK's regulatory regime remains world leading, striking the appropriate balance between enabling innovation and consumer protection.

Prior to Innovate Finance, I worked for seven years in the legal and banking sectors with a focus on financial services regulation.

Q. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time away from work?

A. Too many things to list, and it changes a lot! Four things that I most enjoy and do consistently:

• I love travelling and it helps me maintain my proficiency in other languages.
• As international travel is not really on the cards for me at the moment, reading is my main form of escapism. I will happily read most kinds of fiction and non-fiction, which often leads me down the rabbit hole on certain topics (currently Cartier jewellery from the Art Deco period. Very envious of anyone who manages to visit the exhibition at Le Musée des Arts Décoratifs.)
• Some form of movement for my mental and physical wellbeing, ideally in nature (I grew up surrounded by green spaces in Scotland). As I'm coming back from injury, yoga is my main form of movement.
• Some form of voluntary work: I have been fortunate to work with amazing people and organisations over the years on a pro bono basis. I'm currently Associate Trustee on the Board of a multi-academy school trust based in East London.

Q. What are some of your favourite things about working in FinTech?

A. There is a real commitment to using tech 'for good' to solve problems and build better products and services for consumers. It's also an incredibly vibrant and inclusive community. From a regulatory policy perspective, it is exciting to shape and inform regulators and other policy makers' thinking on the inchoate frameworks around digital currencies and AI.

Q. You can invite any 3 people to your dinner party. Who do you choose?

A. Lucia Pica, Noor Inayat Khan, and Elizabeth I.