Jo Ann Barefoot

Jo Ann Barefoot is a global leader in fintech and regulation, CEO of the Alliance for Innovative Regulation, and a recognised advocate for innovation, inclusion and financial transformation.

Jo Ann Barefoot is an internationally recognised leader in financial innovation and regulation. She is the CEO and Co-founder of the Alliance for Innovative Regulation (AIR), an organisation at the forefront of modernising financial regulation through technology. She also hosts Barefoot Innovation, a global podcast exploring the future of finance and regulation, and is Senior Fellow Emerita at Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Business & Government.

Jo Ann’s distinguished career spans senior roles in government, consulting and advisory. She served as Deputy Comptroller of the Currency, was a partner at KPMG, Co-Chairman of Treliant Risk Advisors, and worked on the U.S. Senate Banking Committee. This breadth of experience has given her a unique perspective on how innovation can transform both financial services and regulatory systems.

Her impact has been widely recognised. In 2023, American Banker named her one of the Most Influential Women in Fintech, while Innovate Finance included her on its Women in Fintech Powerlist for the second consecutive year. She was named Fintech Woman of the Year by Finovate in 2021, selected for the Forbes 50 Over 50 list, and honoured with induction into the Fintech Hall of Fame.

A passionate advocate for financial inclusion and consumer protection, Jo Ann has previously served on the CFPB’s Consumer Advisory Board and chaired the board of the Financial Health Network. Today, through AIR and her global platform, she continues to help shape a more innovative, inclusive and resilient financial ecosystem.