Biography

Dr. Ruth Wandhöfer is a trailblazer at the intersection of finance, technology, cybersecurity, regulation, and digital identity. With a career spanning over 23 years, she has been instrumental in shaping the future of global finance and building the foundations of the digital economy.

As a renowned keynote speaker, author, and thought leader, Ruth is recognised worldwide for her expertise in payments, banking, financial markets and digital innovation. She is a passionate advocate for new business models and technologies that drive the evolution of our financial and regulatory ecosystems.

After more than a decade in senior leadership roles at Citi, Ruth transitioned in 2018 into a multifaceted portfolio career. She serves as an independent Non-Executive Director across banks, stock exchanges, and FinTechs, while also actively supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs as an angel and venture capital investor. Currently, she sits on the board of Permanent TSB Bank in Ireland and is Head of European Markets at Blackwired, a cutting-edge cybersecurity innovator.

Beyond the boardroom, Ruth is a Visiting Professor at Bayes Business School (formerly CASS), where she earned her PhD. She teaches and advises on Fintech in Banking & Finance, Digital Money, Payments, and Financial Market Infrastructures, and delivers executive training on the future of value in an era of technological change. She is also deeply involved in advising the Bank of England on the Digital £ Initiative.

Her past leadership roles include Chair of the UK Payment Systems Regulator Panel, as well as board positions at the London Stock Exchange Group, Gresham Technologies, Digital Identity Net, and Aquis Exchange Group. She continues to advise leading institutions such as the City of London Corporation, the British Standards Institution and the European Third Party Provider Association (ETPPA).

She is also the author of three influential books:

EU Payments Integration (2010)
Transaction Banking and the Impact of Regulatory Change (2014)
Redecentralisation: Building the Digital Financial Ecosystem (2023)

Balancing her high-profile career with raising two children, Ruth is a strong voice for work-life balance, single parents, and women entrepreneurs – continuing to inspire future leaders while driving forward the transformation of finance in the digital age.

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