Bryan Zhang

Bryan Zhang
Education	University of Cambridge, University of Oxford
Occupation(s)	FinTech expert and non-executive director
Known for	FinTech and regulatory innovation

Bryan Zheng Zhang is a prominent academic and financial technology expert who is co-founder and the executive director of the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, and co-founder of Financial Innovation for Impact. He is also a non-executive director of the UK Financial Conduct Authority since 2024, sitting on its Board Risk Committee and Audit Committee. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Zhang has led and co-authored over 50 regional and global fintech market and regulatory reports. ^{[4] [5] [6]} His commentary has appeared in articles from a number of media outlets, ^{[7] [8]} including the BBC, ^[9] the Financial Times, ^[10] and City A.M.. ^[11]

He is a member of the Bank of England's CBDC Engagement Forum, ^[12] the OECD's Steering Group on SME & Entrepreneurship Finance, International Monetary Fund's FAS Advisory Group, the Innovation Panel of the Dubai International Financial Centre, ^[13] and a member of the Bretton Woods Committee. ^[14] Additionally, he co-chairs the Future of Global FinTech initiative in partnership with the World Economic Forum. ^{[15] [16]} Bryan served as a final round judge for Bank for International Settlements and Reserve Bank of India's G20 TechSprint on cross-border payments in 2023. ^{[17] [18]}

In 2022, he was appointed by the Payment Systems Regulator and the Financial Conduct Authority as the Independent Chair of a Strategic Working Group to help shape the future development of Open Banking in the United Kingdom ^{[19] [20] [21]}

Bryan's academic background includes training in Economic Geography and Public Policy at the University of Cambridge and at the University of Oxford. ^[22] He is an Associate of the Senior Common Room (ASCR) at King's College, Cambridge and a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Alternative Finance, a double anonymised hybrid journal that addresses the technological evolution of the financial sector and its impacts. ^[23] Bryan also worked as an executive for Oxfam in international development and served on its governance body Oxfam Association for two consecutive terms between 2006 - 2012. ^{[24] [25]}

References

1. Financial Conduct Authority, (2024), New appointment to Financial Conduct Authority board announced, https://www.fca.org.uk/news/news-stories/new-appointment-financial-conduct-authority-board-announced
2. HM Treasury and Bim Afolami MP,(2024), New appointment to Financial Conduct Authority board announced, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-appointment-to-financial-conduct-authority-board-announced
3. Financial Conduct Authority, Retrieved 22/12/2024, FCA Board, https://www.fca.org.uk/about/who-we-are/fca-board
4. Financial Innovation for Impact, (2023), Bryan Zhang, https://fii.international/bryan-zhang
5. Google Scholar, Retrieved 22/12/2024, Bryan Zheng Zhang, https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=tGWrr_EAAAAJ&hl=en
6. John Beirne, James Villafuerte and Bryan Zhang (eds.),(2023), Fintech and COVID-19: Impacts, Challenges, and Policy Priorities for Asia, Journal of Asian Economic Integration, Volume 5, Issue 1, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/26316846221150992
7. Finextra, (2024), Davos 2024: AI most relevant for fintech development until 2029, https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/43558/davos-2024-ai-most-relevant-for-fintech-development-until-2029
8. Liz Lumley, 2024, Can fintech fulfil its promise if we are still asking if it will last?, The Banker, https://www.thebanker.com/Can-fintech-fulfil-its-promise-if-we-are-still-asking-if-it-will-last-1706084891
9. Kevin Peachey, (2017), Money changing - Everything we knew about money is up for grabs. So will we end up smiling?, BBC, The Disruptors, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/The_disruptors_money_changing
10. Aime Williams, (2016), FCA asks University of Cambridge to help it understand P2P, Financial Times, https://www.ft.com/content/d5635e3a-8642-11e6-8897-2359a58ac7a5?accessToken=zwAGKdxAhjx4kdPVY146hkIR5tOIlyNZpYrHpQ.MEUCIQC5FEkVxZnJzB6nSTNAhf6UaWOCOd6zQd7kPHqvvy0FlAIgGq_OBhMyfk8UEXlnWkC4HtAGOjM9u_CzPQkRzLqwhXE&sharetype=gift&token=43b88317-464b-43b5-bebe-526dadc9f112
11. Harriet Green, (2016), How China is pioneering alternative finance and P2P lending – an analysis of the first ever Asia-Pacific industry report, City A.M., https://www.cityam.com/alternative-finance-how-china-is-pioneering-p2p-lending-an-analysis-of-the-first-ever-asia-pacific-industry-report/
12. Bank of England, (2021), Membership of CBDC Engagement and Technology Forums, https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/news/2021/september/membership-of-cbdc-engagement-and-technology-forums
13. Innovate Finance, Retrieved 22/12/2024, Bryan Zhang, https://www.innovatefinance.com/profiles/bryan-zhang/
14. The Bretton Woods Committee, (2023), Bryan Zhang, https://www.brettonwoods.org/article/bryan-zhang
15. Innovate Finance, Retrieved 22/12/2024, Bryan Zhang, https://www.innovatefinance.com/profiles/bryan-zhang/
16. World Economic Forum, Retrieved 22/12/2024, The Future of Global Fintech,https://www.weforum.org/centres/centre-for-financial-and-monetary-systems/projects/the-future-of-global-fintech/
17. BIS, retrieved 12/01/2025, "Bryan Zheng Zhang", https://www.bis.org/press/p230904.htm
18. BIS, https://www.bis.org/innovation_hub/2023_g20_techsprint.pdf
19. Payment Systems Regulator, (2022), Bryan Zhang appointed Chair of Strategic Working Group for Open Banking, https://www.psr.org.uk/news-and-updates/latest-news/news/bryan-zhang-appointed-chair-of-strategic-working-group-for-open-banking/
20. Financial Conduct Authority, (2022), 'FCA and PSR, Joint Regulatory Oversight Committee co-chairs, appoint Bryan Zhang as Strategic Working Group Chair', https://www.fca.org.uk/news/news-stories/fca-and-psr-joint-regulatory-oversight-committee-co-chairs-appoint-bryan-zhang-strategic-working
21. Scottish Financial News, (2022), Bryan Zhang appointed independent chair of strategic working group, https://www.scottishfinancialnews.com/articles/bryan-zhang-appointed-independent-chair-of-strategic-working-group
22. Centre for Science and Policy, Retrieved 22/12/2024, Bryan Zheng Zhang, https://www.csap.cam.ac.uk/network/bryan-zheng-zhang/
23. Sage, Retrieved 12/01/2025, "Bryan Zheng Zhang", https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/journal-of-alternative-finance/journal203798#editorial-board
24. Oxfam, Retrieved 12/01/2025, "Bryan Zheng Zhang", https://www.oxfam.org.uk/documents/96/Annual_Report_2007.pdf
25. Oxfam, Retrieved 12/01/2025, "Bryan Zheng Zhang", https://www.oxfam.org.uk/documents/101/Annual_Report_2012.pdf