Witad Awards 2026: WatersTechnology Woman of the Year—Annabel Harrison, LSEG

What is your position within your firm?
Annabel Harrison, LSEG: Head of Agent Services, Post Trade Solutions at LSEG.

How long have you been in the financial services industry?
Harrison: This is my 15th year. I have been in financial services since my placement year when I was still at university.

How did you get into the industry? Was it a conscious decision or did you “fall” into it?
Harrison: It was a very conscious decision. My parents are both musicians, and while their careers were inspiring, seeing the constant practice and unpredictability made me want something a little different. I switched from music A-level to economics A-level just days before the new term, then went on to study management sciences at university. I joined LCH (now part of LSEG) at 19 on a placement year, knowing almost nothing about clearing (I even misheard “forex clearing” as “forest clearing” at first!). That opportunity turned into a full-time role after graduation, and I’ve been here ever since.

What does your day-to-day role entail?
Harrison: I oversee the running of TradeAgent and SwapAgent and the development of Agent Services in Post Trade Solutions. There is no business as usual (BAU) day to day, which I love. I run the business and client steering committees, lead senior buy- and sell-side relationships, and drive “hearts-and-minds” adoption, securing budgets, engineering resources and onboarding across firms. I also oversee delivery cadence and network growth, coordinating with teams as we integrate assets across Post Trade Solutions. I’m lucky enough to work with an amazing team of people who play a pivotal role in delivering our strategy and momentum. Every day is different, always filled with many different topics and I have to be adept at switching gears quickly and regularly.

What single project/piece of work are you most proud of during your career in the industry to date?
Harrison: Building TradeAgent from the ground up and leading TradeAgent from its first trade in December 2024, rapid network expansion and BAU activity across major buy- and sell-side firms, evidence that the market wants competition and innovation.

What are you currently working on and what makes it significant in the context of your position?
Harrison: Scaling TradeAgent’s workflows and onboarding additional members—while connecting Post Trade Solutions assets to deliver greater efficiencies such as improved settlement and funding processes and broader industry cost savings—remains a major focus for us. This integration is a core part of what differentiates us and continues to fuel our momentum following the investment from 11 major banks in Post Trade Solutions. I also work closely with colleagues who are driving expansion across SwapAgent and further product development within both SwapAgent and Post Trade Solutions. The growth of these businesses is a key strategic priority for LSEG, and it’s been exciting to play an active role across so many interconnected areas.

Lead with trust, flexibility, and fairness, be human and deliver. When you respect people’s lives and empower them, performance follows

To what extent were you helped during your career by a mentor/role model within the business?
Harrison: I’ve been significantly supported by mentors and role models within the business. Early leaders “threw” me opportunities and were always there to “catch” me—an approach I now try to pay forward. I champion flexibility, trust and progression, creating space for junior talent to lead complex member implementations and build industry credibility. I remain in regular contact with many of my early senior leaders; I was incredibly fortunate to have such exceptional guidance from day one and still rely on their insight.

To what extent does your firm have a formalized framework that seeks to identify and promote talented women and ensure they have every opportunity to realize their ambitions and contribute to the business?
Harrison: We are very lucky at LSEG that we have a number of programs that foster talent throughout the various career stages. These include “future leader” programs where our top talent who are typically individuals four to five years into their career are nominated to join; career shadowing, which is for the next group where they can shadow a more senior leader (I was one of the senior leaders who was shadowed by a wonderful woman last year); and a sponsorship program for our directors who are looking for the next promotion. I was lucky enough to be paired with an incredible senior woman last year as my sponsor—this was also the year I was promoted! We also work closely with the Women in Financial Markets (WIFM) and have opportunities to join their various programs. I was also lucky enough to be on the WIFM Rising Stars program.

What was the greatest obstacle you had to overcome during your career in the industry to date?
Harrison: Launching TradeAgent has been a huge challenge—an enjoyable one, but still a challenge. Building a new financial markets infrastructure (FMI) from the ground up, creating a network from scratch, and driving industry consensus has taken constant communication, alignment, and commitment. I’ve genuinely loved the experience, but it has undoubtedly been the biggest, but most rewarding, challenge of my career so far.

What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned so far during your career?
Harrison: Lead with trust, flexibility, and fairness, be human and deliver. When you respect people’s lives and empower them, performance follows. That ethos has helped build a high‑performing team that runs at high‑profile initiatives without compromising on values.

What would you advise women just entering the industry?
Harrison: Be yourself. Don’t try to fit into someone else’s mold—take the time to understand who you are, trust in that, and believe in your own way of doing things. You’ll always do your best work when you’re true to yourself.

What does this award mean to you?
Harrison: I’m incredibly honored to receive this award. It’s truly a testament to my team and the people I’m fortunate enough to work with. I hope that recognition like this helps show junior women that you can be yourself and still achieve success.