Kirsten Wegner, CEO
Kirsten Wegner is the Chief Executive Officer of the Modern Markets Initiative (MMI), a non-profit education and advocacy group for innovation in today’s financial markets. Kirsten is a lawyer, speaker, and podcast host on financial technology and the markets, with a particular emphasis on how technology can democratize access to the markets for retail investors. She is also a prolific author of opinion commentary on the markets, with published pieces in the Financial Times, The Hill, Insider, Morning Consult and RealClearMarkets.
As MMI’s chief executive, Kirsten has testified before Congress on “Robots on Wall Street” before the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services Task Force on Artificial Intelligence. She is a frequent speaker at industry and university conferences, including the Milken Global Conference and Princeton Fintech and Quant Conference, on market automation and the role of innovation in saving investors money. Kirsten co-hosts a podcast,CryptoStudyHall, on social justice and the future of money.
Before joining MMI, Kirsten served as Director, Government Relations for the International Securities Exchange, where she built the Washington office of the first all-electronic options exchange from the ground up. She previously worked as an attorney at a global law firm advising exchanges, brokers, startups, automated traders, and a variety of financial institutions on financial regulation and legislative policy. Kirsten holds a J.D. degree from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. degree from Columbia University. Her Twitter handle is @KirstenWegner.
MMI Advisory Board
The MMI Advisory Board is a community of change-makers who share a common goal: advancing secure savings and investment through innovation. The Advisory Board meets regularly to tackle industry issues and discuss creative solutions for ensuring that we maintain the Best Markets Ever.
Topics the Advisory Board is addressing in the coming year include:
- recognizing the key role that technology plays in advancing savings;
- technological solutions for democratizing access to investment
- helping pension funds to innovate, and highlighting innovative pension funds
- promoting women in technology, innovation and investing
- showcasing the competitiveness of US innovators and their role creating the Best Markets Ever
Advisory Board Members
Lita Frazier-Brannan
Lita Frazier-Brannan is Vice President, Government Relations at Cboe Global Markets, Inc. In this role, Frazier-Brannan serves as Cboe’s sole Washington, D.C.-based associate, managing the company’s government relations and representing Cboe on Capitol Hill. She engages with members of the House of Representatives and the Senate on both sides of the aisle, educating them and their staff about Cboe’s business. Frazier-Brannan is crucial in communicating Cboe’s positions on various issues facing the financial industry and advocating for the industry as a whole. Frazier-Brannan boasts more than 30 years of experience representing the derivatives industry on Capitol Hill. Before joining Cboe, she headed the Washington office of CME Group and spent 14 years in various roles for CME, including helping coordinate activities in Washington for its political action committee (PAC). Frazier-Brannan holds a Bachelor of Arts from George Washington University. She is married with one child. Her passion includes being an American Kennel Club Licensed Conformation Dog Judge.
Maryam Cope
Ms. Cope leads government advocacy in technology and e-commerce policy issues, including managing public policy, regulatory, and legislative affairs relating to innovation, technology, and competition issues. Previously, Cope served as professional staff for the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, where she focused on global internet policy, cybersecurity, emerging technologies, and telecommunications.
Vinoda Basnayake
Mr. Basnayake is known for his work on behalf of small business owners and promoting opportunities for young entrepreneurs through his civic involvement on the Small and Local Business Opportunity Commission. In addition, he has been recognized as one of the "the most influential Washingtonians under 40."
Jeannine Markoe Raymond
Ms. Raymond coordinates numerous policy efforts regarding state and local retirement issues, and frequently speaks and writes on federal legislative and regulatory matters, as well as state retirement system policies and trends.
Dr. Jim Angel
Professor Angel specializes in the structure and regulation of financial markets around the world and has testified before Congress about issues relating to the design of financial markets.
Jameeel Johnson
Mr. Johnson works out of NASDAQ Washington, D.C. office and has been with the company since January 2008. The DC Office of Government Relations interacts with the U.S. Congress, Treasury and the SEC, in order to communicate the policy concerns of NASDAQ.
Hope Jarkowski
Ms. Jarkowski conducts educational outreach on financial services issues, drawing upon her public sector experience as an attorney at the SEC and the Senate Banking Committee.
Hank Kim
Mr. Kim directs the day-to-day operation of the largest public pension trade association in the United States. He is known for his thought leadership in advancing secure retirement savings for public pension fund participants, for advocating for the benefits of defined benefit pension plans, and for being a voice of the savings community.
Anthony Masso
Mr. Masso is the President and Co-Founder of Succession Systems, a technology company focused on global Market Access Compliance solutions. Before devoting his work to Succession, Anthony worked as an attorney in NYC, served as General Counsel to a proprietary trading firm and a start-up colocation and infra-structure company. He has worked in the broker/dealer space for the past 20 years with a special emphasis on market access issues, technology and compliance.
Bailey Childers
Ms. Childers leads national and state efforts to advance retirement security for working Americans. A thought leader on pensions and retirement policy, she has been published regularly in The Hill, Huffington Post, Medium, and outlets like CNBC and CNN Money.
Chris Mohr
Mr. Mohr spearheads public advocacy on intellectual property issues and works closely with technology industries.