The two new hires will strengthen Finance Watch’s expertise in insurance, capital markets, asset management and sustainable finance, responding to needs arising out of current and upcoming EU policy agenda priorities. This includes next year’s review of the prudential framework for insurance firms (Solvency II) and the ongoing development of the EU’s Renewed Sustainable Finance Strategy as an integral part of the European Green Deal.
Aleksandra Palinska is a seasoned professional with ten years of experience in strategic EU public affairs. Her expertise covers sustainable finance, corporate governance, asset management and capital markets regulation. Before joining Finance Watch, she worked for EFAMA, EuropeanIssuers and BetterFinance, which represent the interests of asset managers, publicly-listed companies and individual investors, respectively.
Aleksandra Palinska, Senior Research and Advocacy Officer at Finance Watch, said:
“I am very much looking forward to working at Finance Watch, the most prominent voice of civil society in Europe on financial issues. With my understanding of the financial industry, the challenges and expectations of the buy and sell side, and how capital markets work, I wish to contribute to making finance become truly sustainable.”
Peter Norwood has worked on EU financial services policy for more than 12 years, including as a Seconded National Expert at the European Commission and as a policy officer at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the UK financial services regulator. Throughout his career, Peter Norwood has worked on a wide variety of different EU financial services policy issues, including insurance, capital markets issues, sustainable finance, financial inclusion and financial stability.
Peter Norwood, Senior Research and Advocacy Officer at Finance Watch, said:
“I am delighted to bring to Finance Watch my experience in financial services and regulation. The mission of making finance serve society is of paramount importance and it is a pleasure to be joining an organisation with such knowhow and experience of this topic.”
Benoît Lallemand, Secretary General of Finance Watch, said:
“I am very pleased to see Aleksandra Palinska and Peter Norwood join our research and advocacy team. Their combined expertise on capital markets, asset management, insurance and sustainable finance will contribute to maintaining and strengthening our reputation of excellence in delivering public interest technical advocacy.
“Both hires will support us in key areas of our work in the coming months and years. Developing an ambitious EU’s sustainable finance strategy is key if we want to hardwire sustainability in the financial system. We will also be watching closely the next phase of the Capital Markets Union. In terms of financial stability, enhancing the overall macro prudential framework for insurance firms, including by integrating climate risk, is as essential as it is for the banking sector.”
ENDS
For further information or interview requests, please contact Finance Watch’s Head of Communications and Networks, Charlotte Geiger, at charlotte.geiger@finance-watch.org or at 0032/(0)474 33 10 31.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Finance Watch is a European, not-for-profit association of civil society Members, dedicated to making finance work for the good of society. It works for a financial system that allocates capital to productive use through fair and open markets, in a transparent and sustainable manner, in line with society’s needs and without exploiting or endangering society at large.
Finance Watch Members are supported by a professional full-time secretariat recruited mainly from the financial and policy sectors, with strong communications and stakeholder engagement capacities, to conduct advocacy and provide technical know-how and coordination for our civil society network.
For more information about the Finance Watch’s latest activities, governance and funding, please refer to the 2019 Annual report which was published in July 2020.
