In conversation with...  Lindsay Gustafsson

What was your journey to your role today, would you say it’s been a typical career path?

I don’t think there is a typical career path but mine certainly wasn’t directly into financial services. I trained as a secondary school Maths teacher and spent the first 8 years of my career teaching 11–18 year olds.

After leaving teaching I joined HSBC as a credit risk analyst and never looked back. Since then, I have worked across Retail Banking and Consumer Finance in both permanent and consultancy roles.

I joined Novuna in 2020 as Head of Risk and have more recently taken on the roles of Special Advisor to The National Emergencies Trust and Non Exec Director at Leeds Credit Union.

If you weren’t working in credit and financial services, what would you be doing?

I would probably still be teaching but ideally (in my wildest dreams & money no object) I would be a handbag collector.

What is something that not many people know about you?

It would have been that I was a Secondary school Maths teacher but as I have already divulges that, I’ll have to go with my handbags have their own room!

What is the most significant challenge facing the credit/ financial services industry today?

The conflict between demonstrating responsible lending and ensuring financial inclusion with regulation the FOS and CMCs.

Which session or theme at Credit Week are you most looking forward to, and why?

I am really looking forward to Ross Chambers’ session on Neurodiversity in Inclusion

What trend or development are you excited about in the credit/ FS sector?

How AI can be used to combat the ever-evolving use of AI in fraud, i.e. using AI to fight AI

What do you hope to take away from Credit Week 2026?

A wider understanding of the challenges the industry is facing in the future and how we overcome them. I am also interested to hear from the FCA and FOS.

What advice would you give to someone who’s starting their career in the industry?

Take every opportunity as a way to learn and develop. Never say no, just because you think you can’t do it!

Lindsay will be speaking on Vulnerability at Credit Week - see the full agenda here! Or Book now!