Professor Meryem Duygun recognised in Women in Fintech Powerlist

The annual Innovate Finance Women in Fintech Powerlist highlights over 200 of the most influential women in financial services and fintech globally.

The ninth edition of this prestigious list, published on 6 March 2025, includes Professor Meryem Duygun, Aviva Chair in Risk and Insurance at Nottingham University Business School, in the Industry and Knowledge Champions category.

An expert panel of independent judges chose the Powerlist

Expertise in sustainable finance and fintech

This is the fourth time Professor Duygun has been featured in the Powerlist for her international work in sustainable finance and fintech. Her research focuses on financial inclusion, literacy, and poverty, particularly in China, Brazil, and India. Meryem’s work highlights the evolving nature of financial accessibility and its broader socio-economic impacts. In 2021, she was awarded the Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences in recognition of her contributions.

Professor Duygun is the founder and co-director of INFINITY, the Inclusive Financial Technology Innovation Hub at the University of Nottingham, and the President of the IFABS-International Finance and Banking Society. She has also consistently been named among the top 30 most influential women in Islamic business and finance and is a regular consultant for the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

Meryem said:

“I am deeply honoured to be featured on the Innovate Finance Women in Fintech Powerlist alongside so many inspiring leaders driving change in the industry. A sincere thank you to Innovate Finance and the judges for this recognition, which reflects the important work we are doing at the INFINITY Hub at the University of Nottingham.”

Her research work has been funded by the British Academy, UKRI, Research England and supported by the Bank of England, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), and Experian.

KPMG UK hosted a launch on Thursday 13 March event to celebrate this year’s Powerlist.

Further information

Read more in the Women in Fintech Powerlist 2024

Find out more about Meryem’s research in her recent blog: Financial inclusion, literacy and poverty in Brazil – Professor Meryem Duygun