FinTech Wales Chair Sarah Williams-Gardener Awarded Honorary Fellowship by Cardiff and Vale College
10 October, 2025
Cardiff and Vale College has awarded an Honorary Fellowship to Sarah Williams-Gardener, Chair of FinTech Wales and a founding member of Starling Bank, in recognition of her exceptional contributions to financial innovation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive skills development across Wales.
The Fellowship reflects Wales’ deep commitment to recognising and rewarding ambition, talent, and the power of lifelong learning. Sarah’s career journey — from helping build one of the UK’s most successful digital banks to leading Wales’ thriving fintech ecosystem — exemplifies the nation’s belief in unlocking potential through skills and opportunity.
Sarah spent 17 years at IBM, most recently as Government Affairs Director, working with government departments on commercial and innovation projects. She was a founding member of Starling Bank, one of the UK’s pioneering challenger banks, and has since held senior roles including Interim CEO at Hope for Children and leading consumer insights and product design during the early-stage development of Fair4All Finance.
As Chair of FinTech Wales, Sarah has been a driving force behind the organisation’s mission to empower the fintech and financial services community in Wales. Her leadership has fostered an ethos of collaboration between industry, education, and government — helping the sector to grow, diversify, and thrive. Under her guidance, FinTech Wales has partnered closely with Cardiff and Vale College (CAVC) to deliver innovative skills programmes such as the Coding Academy that open doors for people of all ages and backgrounds to enter the sector and progress in their careers.
In her acceptance speech, Sarah shared a personal reflection on her unconventional path into finance and technology:
“This girl, whose highest qualification at school was in needlework, never imagined she’d one day help to build a bank… That is why I say to every student, every learner: believe in yourself, because belief is where the magic begins.”
Sarah’s career is a testament to the strength of the Welsh fintech sector and the ecosystem supporting it — one that brings together education, industry, and innovation to create meaningful economic impact.
“My vision is for Wales to be known globally as a place where fintech thrives, not just because of technology, but because of its people,” she added. “This Fellowship recognises the progress we’ve made in Wales; building an ecosystem where learners gain the qualifications to succeed, employers gain the talent they need, and together we raise aspirations.”
Principal of Cardiff and Vale College, Sharon James-Evans, praised Sarah’s inspirational leadership and commitment to Wales’ skills agenda:
“Sarah’s journey is a powerful example of what can be achieved with belief, resilience, and a commitment to continuous learning. Her impact on the fintech sector and her dedication to inclusive growth make her an exceptional role model for our learners. We are incredibly proud to recognise her achievements with this Honorary Fellowship.”