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10 fintech influencers you should follow to further your career

29 May 2019

It’s an exciting time to work in the world of finance, but who are the major influencers you should get to know to further your fintech career?

The world of finance that we once knew has changed. Financial institutions must adapt to become fintech companies, and traditional banks must evolve to compete with the challenger banks of the world.

But fintech is far from a new industry, and there are plenty of thought leaders, experts and influencers who have been talking about the future of finance for a long time.

It has never been a better time to consider a career in fintech, but if you want to stand out in this competitive industry you need to stay abreast of the latest movements and trends.

One of the best ways to stay informed about the world of fintech is to follow those thought leaders online. Want to know where to start? We’ve got you covered.

Tim Hynes (@AIBIreland)

As AIB’s CIO, Tim Hynes has become a major voice in the fintech space. Under his IT leadership, AIB became the first Irish financial institution to launch industry-standard open application programming interfaces (APIs). Hynes also has 30 years’ experience working in both regional and global roles at notable blue-chip organisations.

Sharon Walsh (@Fidelity)

Sharon Walsh is Fidelity Investments Ireland’s vice-president of technology management and part of the Fidelity Brokerage Technology division, which supports multiple products including a financial risk platform. Walsh is a strong advocate for women and earlier this year she won the Digital Woman Award at the ITAG Awards.

Andy O’Sullivan (@LeMarquisOfAndy)

Andy is part of the Incubator at Liberty IT, an innovation lab, and is passionate about the future of technology. An experienced engineer and innovator, O’Sullivan has previously been part of the innovation team at AIB and lectures in app development. He is also a member of Tech For Good Dublin.

Liz Lumley (@LizLum)

Liz Lumley is a global specialist commentator on fintech, with more than 20 years working in the sector. An internationally recognised speaker in the world of fintech, Lumley has contributed to a number of well-known podcasts and is currently the director of the content and fintech ecosystem at VC Innovations.

Spiros Margaris (@SpirosMargaris)

Spiros Margaris has been ranked the number one global fintech influencer and number two global insurtech influencer by Onalytica. He regularly examines how AI and machine learning can impact the the financial industry. Margaris is also a senior adviser to the Fintech Forum and has previous experience in banking and hedge fund money management.

Anna Scally (@annascally_kpmg)

KPMG Ireland’s Anna Scally is a fintech leader, international tax partner, and head of the company’s technology and media practice, and centre of excellence for innovative start-ups. Scally advises many Irish and international fintech companies, as well as early-stage start-ups. She is also the founding director of the Fintech & Payments Association of Ireland.

Peter Oakes (@Oakeslaw)

Peter Oakes founded Fintech Ireland in 2014 to give a unique identity to the promotion and facilitation of the fintech scene in Ireland. Oakes is a non-executive director of TransferMate and Susquehanna International Group, and is also an international speaker and commentator on regulatory risk and fintech.

Theodora Lau (@psb_dc)

Theodora Lau is the founder of Unconventional Ventures, which focuses on developing and growing an ecosystem of financial institutions, corporations, start-ups, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and accelerators. Lau has a keen interest in women and minority founders. She has been ranked number two in the top fintech influencers by Onalytica.

Paul Byrne (@CurrencyFair)

As the CEO of CurrencyFair, Paul Byrne is a major player in the fintech space. Last year, the Irish money transfer company revealed a major expansion into the Asian market as part of a €20m investment drive. As well as being appointed CEO in 2016, Byrne is also a mentor for virtual incubator FasterCapital.

Melinda Roylett (@roylett)

Melinda Roylett has been leading the European business at credit card processing firm Square for almost a year. Her previous financial experience includes a number of years at Lloyds Bank and a near 10-year stint in PayPal, first as head of business solutions and then as the head of small and medium business. Roylett is also an investor in a number of start-ups.

Jenny Darmody
By Jenny Darmody

Jenny Darmody became the editor of Silicon Republic in 2023, having worked as the deputy editor since February 2020. When she’s not writing about the science and tech industry, she’s writing short stories and attempting novels. She continuously buys more books than she can read in a lifetime and pretty stationery is her kryptonite. She also believes seagulls to be the root of all evil and her baking is the stuff of legends.

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