The WFE's Women Leaders 2025 - Emma Quinn, President, Cboe Australia at Cboe Global Markets

Name: Emma Quinn

Job title: President Cboe Australia

Organisation:  Cboe Global Markets

1. Brief description of nominee’s role and job. 

Emma Quinn is President, Cboe Australia at Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe). She is responsible for defining and executing the company’s strategy and increasing adoption of its products and services. 

2. Short bio (career highlights, education, interests/hobbies). 

A proven leader with significant experience in global capital markets, Quinn is responsible for defining and executing the company’s strategy and increasing adoption of its products and services.  

In 2023, Quinn joined Cboe from AllianceBernstein, where she was Global Co-Head of Equity Trading. Previously, she served as head of Asia-Pacific Trading, head of Asia-Pacific Fixed Income and Australia Equities Trading and head of Trading for Australia and New Zealand for the firm. Prior to joining AllianceBernstein in 2001, she worked as an equity trader at AMP Henderson Global Investors.  

Quinn is currently a Director and Chairperson of FIX Protocol Limited and FIX Protocol Trading Limited boards, as well as a member of Chief Executive Women in Australia. She was previously an advisory board member of Quorum 15; a member of the Markets Advisory Panel for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission; a member of Asia Trader Forum; and a member of various Asia Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association committees.  

Quinn holds a Bachelor of Business in Finance and Business Law from the University of Technology, Sydney.  

A passionate advocate for diversity, gender equality and inclusion, Quinn frequently presents at industry events highlighting the benefits of DEI to culture, morale, performance and productivity within financial markets. In 2021, Quinn was recognised for leading the first buy-side trading desk globally to achieve 50-50 gender equality.  

Outside of her professional endeavours, Quinn is an active committee member of the Gladesville Ravens Sports Club, the only female football club in the state not to be affiliated or reliant on a related male team. The club boasts having one of the largest numbers of female teams in Australia. 

3. What were your professional highlights and challenges of 2024? 

Professionally, 2024 was a record-breaking year for Cboe Australia in equities. We achieved significant growth in continuous market share through close customer engagement and product innovation. By Q3 2024, our market share had increased by over 16 percent year-on-year to 20.8 percent, a 2.9 percent improvement compared to Q3 2023. By November, we had set ten monthly market-share records. 

Our Listings business also had a stellar year, with a 32 percent year-on-year increase in new ETFs and the addition of new issuers. In February, Cboe Australia listed new ETFs from iShares by BlackRock, making it the first global asset manager to list its iShares ETFs on all of Cboe's listings exchanges in the US, Canada, Australia, the UK and the European Union. 

We were also proud to partner with Women in ETFs to host (and be a panellist) at their Australian International Women’s Day event for the first time, marking the first time in ten years that the annual industry event was hosted by someone other than the incumbent.  

Additionally, I had the honour of speaking on diversity and inclusion at several conferences throughout the year for Women in ETFs, FTSE Russell and AIRIA. 

It was also reported to the Cboe Australia board that the ratio of hiring male/female candidates has decreased since the last quarter, with 50 percent of all hires in the past 12 months being female (down from 55 percent in June). However, the percentage of female hires is the highest it has been since the acquisition during the last quarter. This is a significant achievement, for truly driving change.  

Finally, I was admitted as a member of Chief Executive Women (CEW), the pre-eminent organisation representing Australia's most senior women leaders from the corporate, public service, academic and not-for-profit sectors. 

4. Tell us about a few of your key achievements throughout your career? 

Achieved global recognition winning several industry awards including:  

• 2022 Best Global Buy Side Desk Markets Media Markets Choice Awards 
• 2021 Best Global Buy Side Desk Markets Media Markets Choice Awards 
• 2019 Best Global Buy Side Desk Markets Media Markets Choice Awards 
• 2018 Excellence in Equity Trading Women in Finance Awards - New York 

Throughout the course of Quinn’s career, she has served on a number of influential boards and committees that have created positive change within financial markets:  

• Current: Director and Chairperson of FIX Protocol Limited board 
• 2022 - 2023 – Member, Sustainable Trading 
• 2016 - 2023 - Member, Market Consultation Panel Australian Securities and Investment Commission 
• 2016 - 2023 - Equities Sub Committee ASIFMA 
• 2016 - 2023 - Stock Connect Steering Committee ASIFMA 
• 2016 – 2023 - China Working Group ASIFMA 
• 2016 – 2023 - Dealing Commissions Working Group ASIFMA 
• 2011 - 2023 - Advisory Board Member Quorum15 
• 2011 – 2023 - Member Asia Trader Forum 
• 2011 - 2015 - APAC Regional Co-Chair FIX Trading Community 
• 2009 - 2011 - Co-chair Australia Working Group 

Quinn has consistently demonstrated her commitment to bettering the industry and building high performance, diverse teams, seen throughout her 20-plus year tenure at AllianceBernstein, and now at Cboe Australia. 

5. What and who inspires, and has inspired, you to achieve your professional success? 

My inspiration professionally has always been Cathie Armour, a former decade-long Commissioner of the Australian regulator ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission). She has always held herself and others to the highest standards. We were fortunate enough to appoint Cathie to Cboe Australia’s Board last year, and I continue to be inspired by her on a regular basis as we work toward our common goal of building trusted markets and improving investor outcomes within the Australian market.  

From a personal perspective, former New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, is an inspiration. The way she has taken her own approach to handling international affairs, under pressure and on the world stage, with aplomb. She demonstrated that you can lead with vulnerability. 

6. How have you overcome setbacks, and what advice would you give to others dealing with setbacks? 

Self-reflection and acceptance are important, but it’s also important to know how to move on, and to allow yourself to do so. As women we tend to take the blame or be harder on ourselves.   

I’ve learned to surround myself with the right people, who will provide fair feedback and help me get back up and moving forward. Whether that be at the office, in my professional network, friendships or at home, being attuned to genuine and authentic people, and building a support network around that is key.  

7. What advice do you have for other women who aspire to be in leadership positions? What is the biggest takeaway you want to leave with the reader? 

I often see or hear of women who have fallen victim to “Tiara Syndrome,” a term coined by Carol Frohlinger and Deborah Kolb and used by Sheryl Sandberg in her book Lean In. Tiara Syndrome is the concept that women often think their hard work will  be rewarded automatically. If they just keep their heads down, work hard and tick all the right boxes “on paper” success will come to them. It won’t. You need to advocate for yourself, because ticking boxes does not translate into opportunities. You need to pursue them and then stand up for yourself. In the quest for equality, I think women view modesty as a key attribute to assimilate, but that is actually to their detriment. Don’t shy away from asking for opportunities to lead. Perseverance is key.