Kara Kennedy is Co-Head of Kinexys, J.P. Morgan’s industry-leading blockchain business unit, with direct responsibility for the Kinexys Digital Assets and Kinexys Labs teams. Kara previously served as Head of Digital Asset Product for J.P. Morgan’s Securities Services, where she led extension of the custody network to include internal and external blockchain platforms. Kara has over 15 years’ experience in financial services and has been focussed on digital assets for the past 7 years. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan in 2021, she led digital asset product management as part of the Global Custody team at BNY Mellon, following 5 years leading product innovation in the Depositary Receipts business.  Her background also includes product management experience in exchange traded products, unit trusts and secondary market trading.  Kara holds a Masters degree in politics from the University of Edinburgh and is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Securities & Investment.