Heather Xiao

Founder and CEO
Horizon Zero Limited

I’m the Founder & CEO of Horizon Zero, a research and advisory partner helping UK and international policymakers, businesses, and entrepreneurs strategise and connect across the Open Banking, Open Finance, and Smart Data ecosystems. We support the creation of customer outcome – focused products, partnerships, and infrastructure.

Previously, I served as Product & Operations Director at Open Banking Limited (OBL) and was a member of its Executive Committee. I led OBL’s product management, trust framework, participant support, and business development. I also represented OBL in the UK Open Banking Future Entity Working Group in 2023, contributing to the next phase of the UK’s open banking strategy, contributed to Smart Data Council, and chaired the UK Open Banking Participants Forum.

I’m passionate about enabling secure, scalable, cross-sector data sharing to transform personal and business lives. Over the past decade, I’ve led open data initiatives in financial services, aviation, and consulting, building ecosystems across jurisdictions and regulatory environments. Earlier in my career, I helped global organisations define digital strategy, architect data ecosystems, and design operating models to drive transformation at scale.

At Horizon Zero, we’re currently developing a Smart Data Research Framework to help ecosystem stakeholders shape infrastructure and services that create value for customers and unlock new business models. Our recent work GlowTrack, a cross-sector prototype identifying heating vulnerability, was named a finalist in the DBT Smart Data Challenge Prize 2025.

Alongside my executive work, I advise policymakers and boards on translating open data sharing ethics, trust and inclusion into real-world infrastructure. I’m also an Honorary Research Fellow at Warwick Business School and a proud member of the Cranfield 100 Women to Watch, well positioned for non-executive roles and board appointments, including FTSE 350 companies.

Open to being contacted by event organisers and journalists with relevant speaking or media opportunities.

Open to speaking at public events or conferences.

Open to giving media commentary or being quoted publicly.

Geographic Focus Areas