Baroness Swinburne

Baroness Swinburne was born Jacqueline Kay Jones on 8 June 1967 in Aberystwyth, Wales. She earned a BSc degree in biochemistry and microbiology in 1988 and a PhD degree in medical research in 1991 from King's College London, followed by an MBA degree in 1994 from the University of Surrey. Prior to her career as an MEP, she worked in investment banking. In 1999, she resigned from Deutsche Bank after experiencing sexual discrimination.

From 2009 to 2019, Swinburne served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Wales, representing the Conservative Party. As a leading EU legislator serving as Vice Chair of the Economics and Monetary Affairs Committee, she shaped EU and global financial services legislation. She is an active voice in the financial markets and has led special projects on financial regulation including Fintech (Kalifa Review), UK competitiveness (CMIT) and capital market infrastructure (FCA advisory committee) as well as ESG issues.

Career History

• Chair of the ABI (appointed April 2025)
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing and Communities (1 March 2024 – 5 July 2024)
• Baroness-in-Waiting Government Whip (2 June 2023 – 29 February 2024)
• Vice Chair of Financial Services at KPMG UK (2019-2023)
• Member of the European Parliament for Wales (14 July 2009 – 1 July 2019)

What Baroness Swinburne could bring to her role as Chair of the ABI: Drawing on two decades of expertise in financial services regulation, EU legislative frameworks, and C-suite advisory work at KPMG, Baroness Swinburne brings deep technical knowledge of banking, capital markets, and regulatory reform. Her experience navigating complex financial legislation post-financial crisis, combined with her advocacy for sound regulatory frameworks and commitment to transparency and accountability in finance, positions her to provide strategic leadership for the insurance and long-term savings sector during a period of evolving regulatory demands.