The Payments Association Appoints Renuka Rawlins as Director of Policy to Drive Regulatory Strategy

Quick Summary

The Payments Association has appointed Renuka Rawlins as Director of Policy & Government Affairs to lead regulatory strategy and industry advocacy. Rawlins, formerly of Revolut and Yaspa, will bridge the gap between fintech innovation and government policy to ensure the UK payments sector remains competitive during digital transformation.

How does Renuka Rawlins strengthen The Payments Association’s policy influence?

The appointment of Renuka Rawlins brings a unique blend of public sector insight and private sector agility to the trade body. By leveraging her background as a Senior Policy Advisor at the Ministry of Justice and her experience at Barclays, Rawlins is positioned to navigate complex regulatory frameworks that impact the entire financial ecosystem. Her primary focus will be ensuring that payments innovation continues to thrive without being stifled by outdated legislation.

• Extensive Government Experience: Former Inquiry Manager for the House of Commons and lead at the Department for Education.
• Fintech Expertise: Proven track record at high-growth firms including Revolut and Yaspa.
• Strategic Advocacy: Leading engagement with the FCA, Bank of England, and HM Treasury.

What specific expertise does Rawlins bring from the fintech and banking sectors?

Rawlins transitions into this role with deep commercial experience, having served as Head of Policy & Public Affairs at Yaspa and Government Affairs Manager at Revolut. This first-hand knowledge of hyper-growth fintech challenges allows The Payments Association to better represent the needs of disruptive players alongside traditional institutions. Her tenure at Barclays as Assistant Vice-President further solidifies her understanding of tier-one banking requirements, ensuring a balanced approach to regulatory strategy.

"Renuka is exactly the person we need to continue the policy drive we have seen from The Payments Association in recently years. Her combination of parliamentary insight, fintech knowledge and banking experience makes her uniquely qualified to advocate for our members. As regulatory frameworks evolve, Renuka’s leadership will be invaluable to ensure our industry’s voice remains central in guiding Europe payments future. Having gained policy experience from working directly with many of our member organisations, she possesses first-hand experience and keen insight into how members can extract the most value from policy initiatives." said Emma Banymandhub, CEO of The Payments Association.

How will this appointment impact the future of UK payments regulation?

With the UK and Europe facing a pivotal era of financial transformation, Rawlins will lead the association's eight stakeholder working groups, including Open Banking and Digital Currencies. Her leadership aims to synchronize payments innovation with government expectations, fostering a collaborative environment for the association's diverse membership. The focus remains on empowering the sector through connections that shape an industry working for all participants.

"It’s an exciting time to be joining The Payments Association. Payments innovation is moving fast and our regulatory frameworks need to keep pace without stifling the sector. Having worked across Government, within tier-one banking, and on the frontline of hyper-growth fintech, I look forward to tackling this challenge from the trade body side with a policy lens. The Payments Association has played a major role in defining the future of finance in recent years and I’m delighted to be part of continuing that effort. Another reason I was so excited to join The Payments Association is that I was hired while pregnant. In a female-led organisation, my pregnancy was simply seen as a fact of life, not a factor in my appointment. Pregnancy says nothing about a person's ambition, capability or leadership potential. The fact that this still feels noteworthy elsewhere shows how much further we still have to go." said Renuka Rawlins, newly appointed Director of Policy & Government Affairs.

FF NEWS TAKE:

This is a significant win for The Payments Association. By securing a regulatory strategy expert with both Revolut and civil service pedigree, the association is signaling its intent to be the primary bridge between fintech innovation and Westminster. Rawlins’ appointment, particularly the progressive nature of her hiring, reflects a modernizing trade body that is ready to move the needle on both policy and industry culture.