Marlene Shiels OBE

CEO, Capital Credit Union

Marlene Shiels, Chief Executive, is one of the founder members of her credit union, which was established in 1989.

CCU over 30,000 members; it is managing £45m of savings on behalf of its members. Capital serves people from all walks of life across the East Coast of Scotland.

Marlene’s professional goal is to ensure a fair financial system, especially for those with fewer financial choices. She is passionate about ensuring that everyone who needs a helping hand to improve their financial resilience and wellbeing has the opportunity to do so.

CCU is one of the most innovative Credit Unions in the United Kingdom, particularly for those with fewer financial choices. This resulted in Marlene receiving an OBE from the late Queen Elizabeth for services to financial inclusion.

Marlene has served on numerous Boards and Foundations, most recently she was Chair of the Financial Conduct Authority Smaller Business Panel, and Chair of the Money and Pensions Service Nation of Savers Challenge Group. She is an advisor on financial inclusion to her Her Royal Highness Queen Camilla. She is currently on the Board of the Money and Pensions Service and also serves on the Board of the African Co-operative Development Foundation.

Marlene has represented Great Britain on the Board of the World Council of Credit Unions and the Board of the Chartered Banker Institute. She is a co-facilitator, with Lois Kitsch, on the European Development Education Programme.