Brotherhood of St Laurence lunchtime research seminar - Overview of financial inclusion in the UK.

Elaine Kempson is an internationally known and respected authority on consumer financial issues, with over 25 years' experience conducting research into various aspects of personal financial services, including banking, saving and investment, insurance, credit, mortgages and pensions. Although much of her work looks at the consumer perspective, she has also undertaken research into financial services provision and advice services for consumers.  Elaine is particularly known for her research into financial inclusion, over-indebtedness and financial capability, including the provision of financial education.

Elaine was appointed as the first independent reviewer of the UK Banking Codes in 2002 and was reappointed to review the Codes again in 2004.  She was also appointed, with Sharon Collard, to undertake the first independent assessment of the Financial Ombudsman Service. She is currently acting as a consultant to the World Bank and OECD on financial capability.  Elaine is a member of the Social Security Advisory Committee, the HM Treasury Financial Inclusion Taskforce and the BERR Advisory Group on Over-indebtedness. In December 2007 she was appointed to the Financial Ombudsman Service board as a non-executive director. Until recently she was also a non-executive director of the Banking Code Standards Board.  In 2007 Elaine was awarded a CBE for services to the Financial Services Industry.  Elaine is a visiting academic hosted by the School of Economics, Finance and Marketing, RMIT University.