Somerville Alumna Named UK’s Most Influential Black Person

Somerville College is thrilled to share that its alumna and honorary fellow Afua Kyei (2000, MChem), has been named the UK’s most influential Black person.

The top spot in the 2026 Powerlist was awarded to Afua in recognition of her work as chief financial officer for the Bank of England, where she holds direct responsibility for the financial governance of the Bank’s £1 trillion balance sheet.

The Powerlist recognises the most powerful people of African, African Caribbean, and African American heritage in the UK, and this year marks its 20^th anniversary. Other names on the Powerlist alongside Afua’s include the former footballer, broadcaster and campaigner Ian Wright, the make-up artist and founder of Pat McGrath Labs, Dame Pat McGrath and the actor, filmmaker and philanthropist Idris Elba.

Afua, who was recruited by the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in his former role as the governor of the Bank of England, said topping the list was “incredibly humbling”.

Afua was appointed Chief Financial Officer, Executive Director of the Bank of England aged 36 in 2019, making her the first Black senior executive in the Bank’s 329-year history. Her tenure so far has seen the Bank handle unprecedented challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the September 2022 mini-budget, and the ongoing inflation and cost-of-living crises.

“I know that there are lots of women who think that they need to choose between work and having a family”

– AFUA KYEI

Education and diversity have been abiding themes for Afua throughout her life. Afua’s parents, whom she cites as her biggest role models, moved to the UK from Ghana to go to university at 18. Afua followed in her parents’ footsteps, albeit at a younger age, when she matriculated a year early to read Chemistry at Somerville.

Of her student days, Afua said, “I loved my time at Somerville. It played such an instrumental role in my career and I made lifelong friends.” It was at Somerville that Afua met her future husband, Robert, with whom she has four children.

Finding a balance between a high-profile career and motherhood is another one of Afua’s priorities for diversity in the workplace. She told the BBC: “Growing up, I didn’t see so many women in big leadership roles who had families, and I know that there are lots of women who think that they need to choose between work and having a family.”

It was Afua’s parents’ example of juggling work and home that inspired her to believe she could have a high-profile career while being a mum.

Now Afua wants to inspire more young people to consider banking as a career. She serves as the Bank of England’s co-executive sponsor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and is using her platform to open doors to the next generation.

Speaking to the BBC, she said “You don’t need to be a mathematician, you don’t need to be an accountant and you don’t need to be an economist. What we’re looking for is fresh perspectives and we want the best people.”

Afua celebrated her Powerlist accolade at a gala dinner on the evening of Friday 31st October, taking the opportunity to thank her family, childhood friends and husband Robert, who is also a Somervillian, in her speech. Afua was also invited by Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor, David Lammy to celebrate in the State Room at 10 Downing Street earlier this week, and she subsequently joined Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper and David Lammy to celebrate in the Locarno Room at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Our warmest congratulations to Afua on this remarkable achievement!