Welcome to New Financial

New Financial is a think tank launched in 2014 that believes capital markets can and should be a force for economic and social good. We believe Europe needs bigger and better capital markets – and that this presents a huge opportunity for the industry and its customers to embrace change and rethink how capital markets work. New Financial has three main aims:

To make the positive case for bigger capital markets. We believe capital markets can play a vital role in driving prosperity across Europe – and that Europe needs capital markets more than ever.

To make the case for better capital markets. We believe that by embracing change the industry can make capital markets work better for customers and restore trust with policymakers and the wider public.

To cut across vested sector interests and encourage more collaboration. We believe the best way to achieve real change is for different market participants to work together to address common challenges.

We work with market participants from different sectors across the industry – investors, issuers, banks, and policymakers – to help change the quality and direction of the debate on the future of capital markets through a managed programme of research and private events around four main themes: making a better case for capital markets, the impact of Brexit, rebuilding trust, and driving diversity. New Financial is a social enterprise that reinvests at least half of any profits that it makes in its core purpose of promoting bigger and better capital markets.

What does New Financial do?

At the heart of New Financial is a managed programme of around 30 private dinners, briefings and workshops a year at its premises in Marylebone, at which senior executives from market users and participants can engage with each other in a discreet and neutral environment. We are not a lobby group, and we do not exist to defend the status quo or to defend the interests of any particular constituency within the capital markets. Instead, we see ourselves as a constructively critical friend to the industry, and aim to provide our members with practical and relevant insights into the challenges facing their business and the wider industry.

The founder and managing director of New Financial is William Wright, the former editor and a member of the founding team at Financial News, a specialist publication for the capital markets that is now part of the Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones. William was editor of Financial News between 2003 and 2011, and on his watch Financial News established itself as one of the most widely-read and respected publications for the investment banking and asset management industries. He played an active role in the sale of Financial News to the Wall Street journal in 2007. Before joining Financial News at its launch in 1996 he worked for the internal consulting group at a large UK bank.  He was educated at Oxford, London, and INSEAD.

Yasmine Chinwala OBE, a partner at New Financial, oversees our work on diversity and sustainable business practices. Before joining New Financial she worked at Financial News in New York and London, where she managed all of the publication’s features and special reports, including the successful ‘FN100 Women in finance’ series of reports and events. Yasmine studied at the London School of Economics, and received an OBE for services to the HM Treasury Women in Finance Charter in the Queen’s birthday honours list in October 2020.

Maximilian Bierbaum joined New Financial in July 2022 as head of research and manages the delivery of our research programme. Before joining New Financial he worked at the City of London Corporation, where his research evaluated the UK‘s business environment for financial and professional services, and at pan-European economic consulting firm Oxera. He studied sociology at the University of Hamburg and has a masters in urban research and design from Hamburg’s HafenCity University.

Sheenam Singhal joined New Financial in October 2021 as a research analyst and focuses on data, research, and analytics. She pursued economics from University of Delhi and completed her master’s in international political economy from King’s College London.

Christopher Breen joined New Financial in February 2022 as a research analyst and focuses on ESG. Before joining New Financial, he worked at the Global Business Coalition for Education and International Crisis Group. He studied political science and Slavic languages & literatures at the University of Chicago and has a masters in international relations from King’s College London and a masters in data analytics from Queen Mary University of London.

Maja Bijelic joined New Financial in April 2017 as events and admin co-ordinator. Before joining New Financial she worked at the Office of HRH Crown Prince Alexander II of Yugoslavia, in independent schools, and in publishing. Maja studied international business at the International Management University in Belgrade, and has a MBA in strategic management from the Lincoln University, Oakland – California.

Edwina Dowling joined New Financial in April 2018 as head of marketing and business development. Her previous roles include strategic, commercial, marketing and events responsibility. She has a BA in psychology and media from Swinburne University and a Graduate Certificate in event management from Victoria University. She has successfully delivered projects for clients such as JLT, Legal & General, Sky, BAFTA and F1 in Australia, the Middle East and the UK.

Jagan Deehan joined New Financial in November 2021 as a Data entry analyst responsible for maintaining the company CRM as well as coordinating and analysing data for marketing and events. Before joining the team, he studied environmental management at the University of South Africa and was involved in a marine conservation project where he developed a deep interest in transforming data into valuable insights.

Nikki Macmillan joined New Financial in March 2023 as Events manager to manage the delivery of both our capital markets and diversity programme. Before joining New Financial she was head of events at the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) and prior to that, she was instrumental in the introduction of the events programme at the think tank, Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF). She studied History at Goldsmiths University. 

Jenny Barrow joined New Financial in July 2018 as senior diversity and inclusion adviser and has been working in the field of diversity and inclusion for over ten years. Previously, Jenny was head of corporate responsibility for the Financial Conduct Authority where she developed and implemented the regulator’s diversity and inclusion strategy. Jenny also spearheaded the diversity and inclusion function at the global law firm Baker & McKenzie. Jenny was educated at the University of Kent, Canterbury, and is a member of St. George’s House Society of Leadership Fellows.

Veryan Dexter joined New Financial in August 2021 as strategic communications adviser, bringing over 20 years’ experience in communications, policy and research strategy representing clients across the media, education and non-profit sectors. Previously Veryan was Board Director at Braben overseeing the corporate communications client portfolio including BBC Worldwide, Bauer Media and Disney. Veryan Dexter was educated at the University of Warwick.

New Financial received seed financing from a senior banker and its founders in 2014 to fund its launch. We are funded by institutional members who share our commitment to bigger and better capital markets. Membership is by invitation only and provides full access to the events and publications programme at New Financial. For more information on becoming a member, contact us by email or call +44 (0)203 743 8266.

Who should join New Financial?

• You believe healthy and well-functioning capital markets play a critical role in driving prosperity and helping to solve longer term economic challenges.
• You want to play an active role in refocusing capital markets that work better for the benefit of all end users and market participants.
• You value regular engagement and frank discussion with the most senior individuals from different sectors of the capital markets, in a safe and private environment.