Shanika Amarasekara MBE is the CEO of the FLA.

Shanika brings deep experience in supporting economic development and innovation across the financial services landscape. She served most recently as Chief Impact Officer at the British Business Bank, where she oversaw policy, strategy, economics, sustainability and public affairs. Prior to that, she was the General Counsel, playing a key role in the design and implementation of national finance schemes during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Her earlier career includes senior legal and advisory roles at the International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation, where she worked on cross-border Islamic finance structures, the Royal Bank of Scotland and at Allen & Overy. She has also worked on projects related to fintech regulation, green finance, and financial inclusion at both domestic and international levels.