1 - 3 June 2026
Cape Town, South Africa
Swift Connect Africa
Overview
Thank you. Merci. Shukran.
Thank you to everyone - delegates, speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors - who helped to make Swift Connect Africa so inspiring.
Take a look at some of the highlights from the event.
Programme
Programme
Monday 01 Jun
01:30 PM - 02:10 PM Cape Town
Verve
Swift Payment Scheme: Rulebooks and Governance That Turn Fragmented Rails into Trusted Networks
Better technology alone has never been enough. Across Africa, payment corridors exist but trust between participants is inconsistent, compliance obligations fragment at every border, and the cost of building and maintaining bilateral arrangements falls on each institution individually. This panel examines how shared rulebooks and governance frameworks change that equation — creating the accountability structures, common standards, and regulatory alignment that allow fragmented rails to function as a single trusted network at scale.
Speakers
Yele Okeremi
CEO, Precise Financial Systems Ltd
Yele Okeremi
CEO, Precise Financial Systems Ltd
Yele Okeremi, the founding and incumbent Chief Executive Officer of Precise Financial Systems Ltd. He holds a Doctor of Business Administration degree from the Swiss Business School, Zurich, Switzerland having previously obtained a Master of Applied Business Research from the same institution. He also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science (With Economics) from the Obafemi Awolowo University.
He is an alumnus of Wits Business School, Johannesburg South Africa, where he completed NEPAD African Leadership Program, INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France where he completed the International Directors Program and also Harvard Business School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA where he completed the Owner President Management Program.
Prior to PFS, he had a successful professional career at Inlaks Computers before he proceeded to Industrial Bank Limited (Merchant Bankers) as a Programmer/Analyst. He was the Chief Information Officer of Industrial Bank as at the time he left for Ventura Savings and Loans Limited as the Head, Systems and Logistics department. He held this position until 1994 when he founded PFS with Philip Ayeni, a Chartered Accountant.
As a leading icon in software development in Nigeria, Okeremi is also a member of the Presidential Initiative for developing the software industry in Nigeria and has previously served on the board of the Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). He is a Past President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON).
As a technology startup advocate supporting the promotion and funding of indigenous entrepreneurs, twice, he served as the chairman of the Local Organizing Committee [LOC] for Demo Africa in 2014 and 2015. Demo Africa is an initiative of the United States Department of State and Lions@frica to promote innovation in the technology field globally and connecting startup companies with investors.
Dr. Okeremi is an adjunct Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the NIBS University, Accra, Ghana. He is a Director of Uniswitch Nigeria, as well as Petroprism Limited He is the Vice Chairman of the Board of Colton Group Nigeria. He is the incumbent Chairman of the Board of Arit of Africa Limited having served as a non- executive director of the company for many years.
He is an alumnus of Wits Business School, Johannesburg South Africa, where he completed NEPAD African Leadership Program, INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France where he completed the International Directors Program and also Harvard Business School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA where he completed the Owner President Management Program.
Prior to PFS, he had a successful professional career at Inlaks Computers before he proceeded to Industrial Bank Limited (Merchant Bankers) as a Programmer/Analyst. He was the Chief Information Officer of Industrial Bank as at the time he left for Ventura Savings and Loans Limited as the Head, Systems and Logistics department. He held this position until 1994 when he founded PFS with Philip Ayeni, a Chartered Accountant.
As a leading icon in software development in Nigeria, Okeremi is also a member of the Presidential Initiative for developing the software industry in Nigeria and has previously served on the board of the Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). He is a Past President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON).
As a technology startup advocate supporting the promotion and funding of indigenous entrepreneurs, twice, he served as the chairman of the Local Organizing Committee [LOC] for Demo Africa in 2014 and 2015. Demo Africa is an initiative of the United States Department of State and Lions@frica to promote innovation in the technology field globally and connecting startup companies with investors.
Dr. Okeremi is an adjunct Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the NIBS University, Accra, Ghana. He is a Director of Uniswitch Nigeria, as well as Petroprism Limited He is the Vice Chairman of the Board of Colton Group Nigeria. He is the incumbent Chairman of the Board of Arit of Africa Limited having served as a non- executive director of the company for many years.
Tamara Timothy
Group Treasury - Governance, Risk and Controls, ABSA
Tamara Timothy
Group Treasury - Governance, Risk and Controls, ABSA
Tamara Timothy is a seasoned Director within Group Treasury’s Governance, Risk and Compliance function at Absa Bank Limited. She brings over two decades of experience at the intersection of financial markets evolution, prudential regulation, risk governance, and digital transformation.
A recognised specialist in complex regulatory frameworks, including Basel IV, BCBS 239, and FRTB, Tamara has played a pivotal role in repositioning compliance from a procedural requirement to a strategic enabler of sustainable value creation. Her work has strengthened control environments, enhanced regulatory transparency, and embedded a culture of accountability across Treasury and Finance functions.
Her career spans South Africa, broader Africa, and international markets, with global exposure through secondments in Mauritius and Singapore. This breadth of experience enables her to bring a nuanced, globally informed perspective to the evolving challenges of modern banking, particularly in navigating regulatory change, market transformation, and cross-border risk dynamics.
Tamara has been instrumental in advancing fintech partnerships, leading due diligence on development finance institutions, and shaping strategic corporate collaborations. She is known for her ability to translate complex risk and regulatory requirements into practical, forward-looking governance frameworks that support innovation while maintaining robust risk discipline.
A strategic thinker and change leader, she is deeply committed to evolving corporate risk management practices across Africa. Her passion for continuous learning, innovation, and tangible impact underpins her leadership approach and drives her focus on building resilient, future-fit organisations.
Off the execution and on the ground role, Tamara is dedicated to broadening representation and influence within financial markets. As an active alumnus leader of the International Women’s Forum of South Africa (IWFSA), she champions inclusive growth, mentorship, and the advancement of women in finance, actively shaping the next generation of diverse leaders in the industry.
A recognised specialist in complex regulatory frameworks, including Basel IV, BCBS 239, and FRTB, Tamara has played a pivotal role in repositioning compliance from a procedural requirement to a strategic enabler of sustainable value creation. Her work has strengthened control environments, enhanced regulatory transparency, and embedded a culture of accountability across Treasury and Finance functions.
Her career spans South Africa, broader Africa, and international markets, with global exposure through secondments in Mauritius and Singapore. This breadth of experience enables her to bring a nuanced, globally informed perspective to the evolving challenges of modern banking, particularly in navigating regulatory change, market transformation, and cross-border risk dynamics.
Tamara has been instrumental in advancing fintech partnerships, leading due diligence on development finance institutions, and shaping strategic corporate collaborations. She is known for her ability to translate complex risk and regulatory requirements into practical, forward-looking governance frameworks that support innovation while maintaining robust risk discipline.
A strategic thinker and change leader, she is deeply committed to evolving corporate risk management practices across Africa. Her passion for continuous learning, innovation, and tangible impact underpins her leadership approach and drives her focus on building resilient, future-fit organisations.
Off the execution and on the ground role, Tamara is dedicated to broadening representation and influence within financial markets. As an active alumnus leader of the International Women’s Forum of South Africa (IWFSA), she champions inclusive growth, mentorship, and the advancement of women in finance, actively shaping the next generation of diverse leaders in the industry.
Christian Bwakira
Group Chief Commercial Officer, Onafriq
Christian Bwakira
Group Chief Commercial Officer, Onafriq
Christian Bwakira is a global fintech leader and digital payments executive whose 20+ year career spans the full payments value chain, from card issuance and POS acquiring to cross-border payment, and fintech ecosystem development across the Middle East & Africa.
As Group Chief Commercial Officer at Onafriq, Africa's leading cross-border payment infrastructure platform interconnecting over one billion mobile wallets, 500 million bank accounts, 2,000 cross-border payment corridors, across 44 countries. Christian leads strategic partnerships with major global schemes, pan-African banks, fintechs, and MNOs. He previously held senior leadership roles at Visa, Mastercard, and Ingenico Group, where he spearheaded digital payment ecosystems, drove public-private partnerships with central banks and governments, and delivered sustained P&L growth across 70+ MEA markets.
As Group Chief Commercial Officer at Onafriq, Africa's leading cross-border payment infrastructure platform interconnecting over one billion mobile wallets, 500 million bank accounts, 2,000 cross-border payment corridors, across 44 countries. Christian leads strategic partnerships with major global schemes, pan-African banks, fintechs, and MNOs. He previously held senior leadership roles at Visa, Mastercard, and Ingenico Group, where he spearheaded digital payment ecosystems, drove public-private partnerships with central banks and governments, and delivered sustained P&L growth across 70+ MEA markets.
Muuka Madubeko
Assistant Director, Payment Systems Development and Operation, Bank of Zambia
Muuka Madubeko
Assistant Director, Payment Systems Development and Operation, Bank of Zambia
02:10 PM - 02:50 PM Cape Town
Verve
Payment Experience in Practice: Delivering the G20 Cross‑Border Targets
A deep dive into the $100 billion trade finance gap. We examine how "De-risking" is being replaced by "Re-linking." The session explores how new correspondent models, local‑currency liquidity, and stronger regional players are helping close Africa’s trade finance gap while reducing reliance on the US dollar. Using real market examples, it highlights what’s changing, what’s working, and why this shift is creating renewed momentum for African trade and cross‑border payments.
Speakers
Sachin Shah
Executive Head - Payments and Receivables, Standard Bank
Sachin Shah
Executive Head - Payments and Receivables, Standard Bank
Sachin is a visionary leader, with over 25 years of experience transforming the financial services landscape across Africa. As the Head, Payments and Receivables for the Standard Bank Group, he oversees one of the largest product portfolios within the bank.
His leadership spans the full spectrum of payments solutions – from wallets and cards to remittances and collections – anchored in a deep understanding of the continent’s evolving digital economy and navigating a complex network of business and regulatory environments.
Throughout his career, Sachin has consistently driven innovation and was instrumental in securing the bank’s recognition as the Best Bank for Cash Management in Africa. Sachin’s entrepreneurial mindset has been central to his impact. He has pioneered and partnered in bold ventures across multiple client ecosystems. He co-created new platforms using first-principles thinking and emerging technologies, reflecting his ability to blend corporate scale with start-up agility.
With extensive leadership experience in Africa including Executive roles in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa, Sachin brings a pan-African perspective to his work. He has launched market-leading propositions, led turnaround strategies and championed inclusive growth through digitisation and financial inclusion. His unique blend of strategic foresight, commercial acumen and people-first leadership continues to shape the future of payments across the continent.
His leadership spans the full spectrum of payments solutions – from wallets and cards to remittances and collections – anchored in a deep understanding of the continent’s evolving digital economy and navigating a complex network of business and regulatory environments.
Throughout his career, Sachin has consistently driven innovation and was instrumental in securing the bank’s recognition as the Best Bank for Cash Management in Africa. Sachin’s entrepreneurial mindset has been central to his impact. He has pioneered and partnered in bold ventures across multiple client ecosystems. He co-created new platforms using first-principles thinking and emerging technologies, reflecting his ability to blend corporate scale with start-up agility.
With extensive leadership experience in Africa including Executive roles in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa, Sachin brings a pan-African perspective to his work. He has launched market-leading propositions, led turnaround strategies and championed inclusive growth through digitisation and financial inclusion. His unique blend of strategic foresight, commercial acumen and people-first leadership continues to shape the future of payments across the continent.
Michaella Allen
Senior Associate, Genesis Analytics
Michaella Allen
Senior Associate, Genesis Analytics
Michaella Allen is a Senior Consultant at Genesis Analytics with nearly a decade of experience in consulting and implementation in innovative and inclusive digital finance, specialising in payments digitalisation, cross-border payment systems, and regulatory frameworks across Africa and the Middle East. She leads the Research and Policy workstreams within the Payments and Digital Financial Services service line, where she works across initiatives spanning regional RTGS and instant payment infrastructure, Open Banking and mobile money ecosystems, and cross-border payment strategy evaluations. Prior to this, she served as Director of Product at DreamStart Labs, a social impact fintech, where she led the design, deployment and delivery of digital savings and credit products serving informal savings groups across Africa, South East Asia, and Latin America. Over her career, Michaella has advised central banks, financial regulators, international development partners, and private sector players across 15+ countries — including Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, Jordan, Eswatini, and Mozambique — on Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) policy and diagnostics, KYC and eKYC innovation, open finance feasibility, national payment system strategy, remittance corridor research, and agent network development.
Adrien Sicoli
Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer, Dixio
Adrien Sicoli
Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer, Dixio
With a strong interest in the financial landscape, Adrien Sicoli began his career in Europe in the consulting field, specializing in payments and cash management for corporates and financial institutions. Alongside three highly qualified SWIFT technical and business experts, he identified a critical market gap - the need for an actor capable of enabling access to the SWIFT network in a simple, secure and future-proof way, fully aligned with SWIFT's strategic vision.
Five years on, DiXiO is proud to be an official SWIFT complementor, empowering over 250 institutions across the globe - with a strong presence in Africa. DiXiO has since consolidated its leadership in enabling SWIFT solutions and services, while also going beyond by giving its clients access to additional payment networks - enabling significantly faster cross-border payments, reduced costs, and access to multiple currencies.
Adrien Sicoli now serves as Co-founder & Chief Growth Officer at DiXiO.
Five years on, DiXiO is proud to be an official SWIFT complementor, empowering over 250 institutions across the globe - with a strong presence in Africa. DiXiO has since consolidated its leadership in enabling SWIFT solutions and services, while also going beyond by giving its clients access to additional payment networks - enabling significantly faster cross-border payments, reduced costs, and access to multiple currencies.
Adrien Sicoli now serves as Co-founder & Chief Growth Officer at DiXiO.
Josephat Mutepfa
Deputy Director - National payment Systems, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
Josephat Mutepfa
Deputy Director - National payment Systems, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
02:50 PM - 03:30 PM Cape Town
Verve / Room 8&9
Coffee break
Your opportunity to meet the Swift experts and connect with your peers.
03:30 PM - 05:00 PM Cape Town
Verve
ISO 20022 after migration: the next 3-year roadmap for financial institutions - workshop
- Roadmap 15 minutes
- SR2026 Release
- Structured/hybrid address
- Data Quality (Challenges, workarounds and recommendation)
Speakers
Sean Mouton
Chief Technology Manager, ABSA
Sean Mouton
Chief Technology Manager, ABSA
Sean Mouton has been in the payments industry for the last 30+ years. I chair several local and international payment and ISO committees.
I represent South Africa on the following structures.
PMPG
ISO T68 Global committee
CPMI PIE 3 working group
CBPR+
I represent South Africa on the following structures.
PMPG
ISO T68 Global committee
CPMI PIE 3 working group
CBPR+
05:15 PM - 06:45 PM Cape Town
Foyer
Networking Cocktail Reception
Sponsored by Dixio
Tuesday 02 Jun
08:00 AM - 09:00 AM Cape Town
Exhibition Area
Morning coffee, networking for exhibitors and registration
Your opportunity to network and register
09:00 AM - 09:45 AM Cape Town
Hall A&B
Keynote address by Deputy Governor Rashad Cassim and Fireside chat
A formal opening, this session highlights Cape Town’s position as a premier global hub for Financial Integration. It sets a tone of confidence, celebrating the region’s regulatory milestones and its role in hosting the first post-G20 presidency dialogue on African financial sovereignty.
Speakers
Rashad Cassim
Deputy Governor, South African Reserve Bank
Rashad Cassim
Deputy Governor, South African Reserve Bank
Dr Rashad Cassim is the Deputy Governor and an MPC member of the South African Reserve Bank since 2019. He is responsible for the Financial Markets, International Economic Relations and Policy, National Payment System and Legal Servies departments.
He has also served as the Head of the SARB’s Economic Research and Statistics Department and Chief Economist from March 2011 until July 2019. Before joining the SARB, he was the Deputy Director-General at Stats SA responsible for economic statistics. From 2003 until 2006 he was a professor and Head of the School of Economics and Business Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand. Before this he was the head of Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies and held various research positions at the University of Cape Town.
He has also served as the Head of the SARB’s Economic Research and Statistics Department and Chief Economist from March 2011 until July 2019. Before joining the SARB, he was the Deputy Director-General at Stats SA responsible for economic statistics. From 2003 until 2006 he was a professor and Head of the School of Economics and Business Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand. Before this he was the head of Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies and held various research positions at the University of Cape Town.
09:45 AM - 10:45 AM Cape Town
Hall A&B
Next generation Payment Networks: Payment schemes & Scaling Interoperability in a Multi‑Rail World
Scheme participating banks to discuss: as payments increasingly flow across multiple domestic, regional, and cross‑border rails, scheme‑based approaches play a critical role in reducing fragmentation by applying common rules, standards, and participation frameworks across otherwise disconnected systems. This session highlights why strong African bank participation and voice are essential to the success of global payment initiatives—ensuring interoperability solutions reflect real market realities and scale effectively across diverse African corridors.
Speakers
Rahul Bhargava
Chief Operations Officer, Contour Network
Rahul Bhargava
Chief Operations Officer, Contour Network
Rahul Bhargava is a globally recognized business leader with over 24 years of experience driving innovation and collaboration in the financial services and payments industry. His expertise lies in successfully helping both public and private sector organisations globally in navigating the complex landscape of next generation payments, trade digitisation and banking systems. As a global strategy leader, business owner and community lead, Rahul has spearheaded key initiatives at SWIFT, the World Bank Group, WEF, Accenture, FIS, RBS, ICICI Bank, AI 2030, EPAA and other prominent organizations with global impact.
He has additionally taken up a pivotal role recently as Interim COO of Contour Network, seeking to innovate and digitise across the transaction value chain, integrating, standardising and integrating upstream trade finance all the way to end payment settlements, retaining optionality for traditional and emerging payment methods, providing full flexibility for different size corporates and banks, and ability to seamlessly scale up from domestic to regional and global coverage.
Rahul currently leads a multifaceted global advisory portfolio, partnering and advising public sector entities, financial market infrastructures, web3 leaders including Layer 1 blockchains, trade digitisation platforms, banks, fintechs, and paytechs, offering strategic direction as they navigate the complexities of digital transformation in payments, trade, wider financial services and emerging technologies. This includes providing subject matter expertise to World Bank and IFCs technical assistance programs, closely aligned with the G20's agenda for solving impactful market-specific development challenges, a case in point being Rahul’s support to World Banks ongoing derisking mitigation program in the Pacific Islands over the last two years.
Rahul is a recognized global thought leader, actively shaping the future of finance through leading public-private dialogue, publishing thought leadership, driving collaboration and public policy advocacy via global think tanks. He is a regular speaker and moderator across global industry forums, including Sibos, Money 20/20, Central Bank Payments Conference, Global Payment Summit, Digital Currency Conference, BAFT, The Asian Banker, World Bank Global Payments Week, Token2049-Stablecoin Summit, Global Fintech Festival (India), various GFTN Forums including the Singapore Fintech Festival.
He has additionally taken up a pivotal role recently as Interim COO of Contour Network, seeking to innovate and digitise across the transaction value chain, integrating, standardising and integrating upstream trade finance all the way to end payment settlements, retaining optionality for traditional and emerging payment methods, providing full flexibility for different size corporates and banks, and ability to seamlessly scale up from domestic to regional and global coverage.
Rahul currently leads a multifaceted global advisory portfolio, partnering and advising public sector entities, financial market infrastructures, web3 leaders including Layer 1 blockchains, trade digitisation platforms, banks, fintechs, and paytechs, offering strategic direction as they navigate the complexities of digital transformation in payments, trade, wider financial services and emerging technologies. This includes providing subject matter expertise to World Bank and IFCs technical assistance programs, closely aligned with the G20's agenda for solving impactful market-specific development challenges, a case in point being Rahul’s support to World Banks ongoing derisking mitigation program in the Pacific Islands over the last two years.
Rahul is a recognized global thought leader, actively shaping the future of finance through leading public-private dialogue, publishing thought leadership, driving collaboration and public policy advocacy via global think tanks. He is a regular speaker and moderator across global industry forums, including Sibos, Money 20/20, Central Bank Payments Conference, Global Payment Summit, Digital Currency Conference, BAFT, The Asian Banker, World Bank Global Payments Week, Token2049-Stablecoin Summit, Global Fintech Festival (India), various GFTN Forums including the Singapore Fintech Festival.
Richard Porter
CEO, Forex
Richard Porter
CEO, Forex
Richard Porter is CEO of the Foreign Exchange Product House at First National Bank (FNB), where he leads the strategy, development and delivery of the bank’s FX proposition across FNB and Rand Merchant Bank. With deep experience spanning retail, commercial, corporate and institutional client segments, Richard works closely with product, technology, operations and risk teams to strengthen the end-to-end cross-border payments and FX journey. His focus includes improving interoperability, resilience and client experience across payment rails and ensuring that innovation is delivered within robust financial crime, sanctions and regulatory controls. Richard joined FNB in 2013 after building a Global Markets career that included roles at Crédit Agricole in structured product sales and as an assistant treasurer. Earlier, he spent more than a decade at Nedbank, where he headed the options trading team. Richard is a contributor to industry initiatives and engagements on market structure, liquidity and the evolving role of banks in enabling efficient, transparent international trade and payments.
Tumubweinee Twinemanzi
Executive Director National Payment Systems, Bank of Uganda
Tumubweinee Twinemanzi
Executive Director National Payment Systems, Bank of Uganda
Tumubweinee Twinemanzi aka “Twine” has a PhD & Msc Economics, and a MS in Management & Administrative Sciences all from the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). He has training in: Quantitative Competition Analysis from the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics, and in Utility Regulation and Strategy from the University of Florida at Gainesville. He has also Mathematics for Economists and Advanced Macroeconomics.
With over 20 years of combined experience in Retail Banking, Telecommunications regulation, Digital Finance policy, and in structured finance for greenfield infrastructure projects in Uganda. For six years, he served as the Executive Director Supervision at the central Bank of Uganda before taking on the role to operationalize a new Directorate for the regulation and oversight of Payment systems in Uganda. Prior to joining the central Bank, he served as the Director Industry Affairs and Content Development at the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), the regulator for the telecommunications, broadcasting and postal sub-sectors in Uganda; where among others he was pivotal in the establishment of an inter-agency collaboration framework on mobile money between the central bank of Uganda (BOU) and the UCC.
He has been a facilitator, panelist and presenter at numerous workshops, seminars and industry events on varied subjects including but not limited to: Mobile Money & Digital Payments, Responsible Finance, Block Chain Technology, Open Banking, Inclusive and Instant Payment Systems among others. In addition, he has represented the central Bank on Uganda’s National AML Taskforce, the National Taskforce for Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies, Financial Sector Stability Forum, and currently chairs the Anti-Fraud Consortium for the financial sector that coordinates response and management of fraud in the financial sector.
Dr Twinemanzi is currently a Trustee and was a past Hon Chairman and Hon Secretary of Entebbe Club, the oldest Golf Club in East Africa established in 1901.
With over 20 years of combined experience in Retail Banking, Telecommunications regulation, Digital Finance policy, and in structured finance for greenfield infrastructure projects in Uganda. For six years, he served as the Executive Director Supervision at the central Bank of Uganda before taking on the role to operationalize a new Directorate for the regulation and oversight of Payment systems in Uganda. Prior to joining the central Bank, he served as the Director Industry Affairs and Content Development at the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), the regulator for the telecommunications, broadcasting and postal sub-sectors in Uganda; where among others he was pivotal in the establishment of an inter-agency collaboration framework on mobile money between the central bank of Uganda (BOU) and the UCC.
He has been a facilitator, panelist and presenter at numerous workshops, seminars and industry events on varied subjects including but not limited to: Mobile Money & Digital Payments, Responsible Finance, Block Chain Technology, Open Banking, Inclusive and Instant Payment Systems among others. In addition, he has represented the central Bank on Uganda’s National AML Taskforce, the National Taskforce for Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies, Financial Sector Stability Forum, and currently chairs the Anti-Fraud Consortium for the financial sector that coordinates response and management of fraud in the financial sector.
Dr Twinemanzi is currently a Trustee and was a past Hon Chairman and Hon Secretary of Entebbe Club, the oldest Golf Club in East Africa established in 1901.
Jean Jacques Kajuga
Chief Operating Officer, R Switch
Jean Jacques Kajuga
Chief Operating Officer, R Switch
Jean Jacques’s dedication to financial inclusion, along with his deep insights into Digital Financial Services (DFS), has positioned him as a respected voice in the industry. He is committed to building a future where digital payments empower everyone, transcending borders, enhancing remittance flows, and fueling economic growth throughout Rwanda and beyond.
Jean Jacques Kajuga stands at the forefront of Rwanda’s digital payment revolution as the
Chief Operations Officer at RSwitch Rwanda, a
pivotal player in the country's journey towards a cashless economy. With an impressive track
record in Payment Service Operations and an
extensive knowledge of the Fintech and Banking sectors, Jean Jacques blends visionary strategy with hands-on expertise in digital payments, remittances, cross-border interoperability, and financial inclusion.
Over the years, he has become a trusted leader in the payments space, championing innovation and driving initiatives that break down barriers to financial access. Jean Jacques is known for his skillful navigation of complex financial ecosystems, delivering solutions that resonate with today’s fast-paced, digitally savvy consumer. His strategic leadership at RSwitch is advancing the financial services landscape, where digital transformation meets real-world impact, connecting communities and businesses alike to the benefits of seamless, instant payments.
Jean Jacques Kajuga stands at the forefront of Rwanda’s digital payment revolution as the
Chief Operations Officer at RSwitch Rwanda, a
pivotal player in the country's journey towards a cashless economy. With an impressive track
record in Payment Service Operations and an
extensive knowledge of the Fintech and Banking sectors, Jean Jacques blends visionary strategy with hands-on expertise in digital payments, remittances, cross-border interoperability, and financial inclusion.
Over the years, he has become a trusted leader in the payments space, championing innovation and driving initiatives that break down barriers to financial access. Jean Jacques is known for his skillful navigation of complex financial ecosystems, delivering solutions that resonate with today’s fast-paced, digitally savvy consumer. His strategic leadership at RSwitch is advancing the financial services landscape, where digital transformation meets real-world impact, connecting communities and businesses alike to the benefits of seamless, instant payments.
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM Cape Town
Exhibition Area
Coffee break
Your opportunity to meet the Swift experts and connect with your peers.
11:15 AM - 12:00 PM Cape Town
Hall A&B
The Future of Remittances in Africa: Collaboration Across Borders or Competition for Cross-Border Payments?
This session explores the shifting dynamics in Africa’s remittance market, examining whether traditional players (banks, money transfer operators) and emerging fintechs (digital wallets, mobile money) will continue to compete or collaborate. Key topics include cross-border collaborations, the role of mobile wallets in financial inclusion, the impact of regulatory frameworks, and the role of innovations like blockchain in reshaping the remittance landscape. The session aims to uncover how strategic collaboration could create a more efficient and inclusive remittance ecosystem across Africa.
Speakers
Gituku Kirika
Chief Executive Officer, Intergrated Payment Services Limited (IPSL)
Gituku Kirika
Chief Executive Officer, Intergrated Payment Services Limited (IPSL)
Gituku Kirika has more than 20 years of banking, cards, and payment experience. As the Chief Executive Officer of Integrated Payment Services Limited (IPSL), he is leading the evolution of Pesalink into Kenya’s de facto interoperable payment network, powering instant affordable payments for everyone, everywhere, every time.
Since joining IPSL in 2021, Gituku has overseen a 35% growth in payment volumes on Pesalink and expansion of the network to more than 70 institutions. Instant account-to-account transactions on Pesalink have been the fastest-growing payment type in Kenya since 2022.
Previously he was Director, Digital Payments & Labs for Mastercard in Sub-Saharan Africa. He helped Africa payments become the company’s fastest-growing business line and launched innovative solutions to over 15 million new users. Earlier in his career, he held product and digital leadership positions at Standard Chartered Bank and Diamond Trust Bank. Among his achievements was launching pioneering prepaid card solutions to millions of Kenyans.
Gituku is a recognised thought leader, speaker, and mentor in the payments industry.
Since joining IPSL in 2021, Gituku has overseen a 35% growth in payment volumes on Pesalink and expansion of the network to more than 70 institutions. Instant account-to-account transactions on Pesalink have been the fastest-growing payment type in Kenya since 2022.
Previously he was Director, Digital Payments & Labs for Mastercard in Sub-Saharan Africa. He helped Africa payments become the company’s fastest-growing business line and launched innovative solutions to over 15 million new users. Earlier in his career, he held product and digital leadership positions at Standard Chartered Bank and Diamond Trust Bank. Among his achievements was launching pioneering prepaid card solutions to millions of Kenyans.
Gituku is a recognised thought leader, speaker, and mentor in the payments industry.
Kennedy Kipkemboi
Director, Public Policy & Advocacy, Mobile Money, GSMA
Kennedy Kipkemboi
Director, Public Policy & Advocacy, Mobile Money, GSMA
Kennedy Kipkemboi is a policy advocacy and regulatory affairs leader with over 17 years of experience spanning telecommunications and digital finance. At GSMA, he leads the global policy and advocacy agenda for mobile financial services, working with regulators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to shape the regulatory frameworks that enable mobile money to thrive across emerging and developing markets.
A recognised thought leader and policy researcher in digital finance, Kennedy brings deep expertise in policy advocacy, government relations, and regulatory capacity building. He has contributed to research and analysis underpinning some of the most influential policy positions in the mobile money space — translating evidence into actionable recommendations that inform regulatory reform at national and regional levels. His work spans digital public infrastructure, fiscal policy, interoperability, and consumer protection, alongside the design of empowering, inclusive policy frameworks that are both commercially sustainable and driven by genuine social impact.
A firm believer that digital finance is the foundation upon which inclusive digital economies are built, Kennedy champions open, interoperable systems that enable governments, operators, and citizens to transact, exchange value, and access services seamlessly and equitably. He is known for convening the public–private dialogues that drive meaningful and lasting reform — bringing together governments, regulators, and industry to build digital finance ecosystems that work for everyone, not just the few.
Prior to GSMA, Kennedy held senior leadership roles at Safaricom PLC — the pioneering force behind M-PESA and a global benchmark for mobile money — and at JUMO World, a fintech platform advancing financial access in emerging markets. These experiences forged his ability to navigate the interface between industry and government with credibility, authority, and impact.
Kennedy is a committed advocate for ensuring that digital financial services are commercially sustainable and socially transformative — with a particular focus on empowering underserved communities across Africa and beyond to participate fully in the digital economy.
A recognised thought leader and policy researcher in digital finance, Kennedy brings deep expertise in policy advocacy, government relations, and regulatory capacity building. He has contributed to research and analysis underpinning some of the most influential policy positions in the mobile money space — translating evidence into actionable recommendations that inform regulatory reform at national and regional levels. His work spans digital public infrastructure, fiscal policy, interoperability, and consumer protection, alongside the design of empowering, inclusive policy frameworks that are both commercially sustainable and driven by genuine social impact.
A firm believer that digital finance is the foundation upon which inclusive digital economies are built, Kennedy champions open, interoperable systems that enable governments, operators, and citizens to transact, exchange value, and access services seamlessly and equitably. He is known for convening the public–private dialogues that drive meaningful and lasting reform — bringing together governments, regulators, and industry to build digital finance ecosystems that work for everyone, not just the few.
Prior to GSMA, Kennedy held senior leadership roles at Safaricom PLC — the pioneering force behind M-PESA and a global benchmark for mobile money — and at JUMO World, a fintech platform advancing financial access in emerging markets. These experiences forged his ability to navigate the interface between industry and government with credibility, authority, and impact.
Kennedy is a committed advocate for ensuring that digital financial services are commercially sustainable and socially transformative — with a particular focus on empowering underserved communities across Africa and beyond to participate fully in the digital economy.
David Backshall
Vice President of Payment Partnerships, Terrapay
David Backshall
Vice President of Payment Partnerships, Terrapay
David Backshall, based in London, UK, is Vice President of Payment Partnerships at TerraPay, where he plays a leading role in driving global banking and financial institution partnerships across the cross‑border payments ecosystem. With over 25 years of experience in the payments industry, David brings deep expertise in Mobile Payments, E-commerce, Cross-Border Payments, FX, Treasury, Card Processing, and broader financial infrastructure.
At TerraPay, where he has spent the past five years, David has been instrumental in expanding the company’s network of global partners, working closely with banks, financial institutions, digital platforms, and fintechs to enable seamless, real-time payment connectivity across markets. His work focuses on building scalable, interoperable payment solutions that bridge traditional banking rails with modern digital channels, including wallets and online platforms.
At TerraPay, where he has spent the past five years, David has been instrumental in expanding the company’s network of global partners, working closely with banks, financial institutions, digital platforms, and fintechs to enable seamless, real-time payment connectivity across markets. His work focuses on building scalable, interoperable payment solutions that bridge traditional banking rails with modern digital channels, including wallets and online platforms.
Doreen Lukandwa
Board Member, Africa Fintech Network
Doreen Lukandwa
Board Member, Africa Fintech Network
Doreen is a distinguished professional in Digital Financial Services, with a track record spanning across over 20 markets, collaborating with a diverse range of public and private stakeholders. She is a seasoned Board and Global Executive Leader, known for her expertise in driving strategies for adoption, scale, and governance of innovative
digital technology solutions that facilitate interoperable, inclusive, cross-border services across various channels (mobile money, card schemes, agent networks and bank solutions) and sectors.
Doreen passionately champions the development of equitable and sustainable digital infrastructure and ecosystems, designed to confront today’s complex challenges and democratize access to opportunities between African countries and the rest of the world. Her impactful contributions have garnered her numerous industry awards, underscoring her commitment to inspiring positive socio-economic transformation throughout Africa for generations to come.
Doreen is also known for her Advisory work across series of Global initiatives that foster ecosystem enablement, gender equity, multi-level mentorship, and fintech/MSME coaching across multiple markets with the goal of
deepening financial access & inclusion.
Of Doreen’s experience, worth noting include:
• She was part of the MTN Uganda team that pioneered the launch of Mobile Money for MTN Group.
• She has contributed to significant milestones at Onafriq.
• She serves as a Board Member of the Africa Fintech Network.
digital technology solutions that facilitate interoperable, inclusive, cross-border services across various channels (mobile money, card schemes, agent networks and bank solutions) and sectors.
Doreen passionately champions the development of equitable and sustainable digital infrastructure and ecosystems, designed to confront today’s complex challenges and democratize access to opportunities between African countries and the rest of the world. Her impactful contributions have garnered her numerous industry awards, underscoring her commitment to inspiring positive socio-economic transformation throughout Africa for generations to come.
Doreen is also known for her Advisory work across series of Global initiatives that foster ecosystem enablement, gender equity, multi-level mentorship, and fintech/MSME coaching across multiple markets with the goal of
deepening financial access & inclusion.
Of Doreen’s experience, worth noting include:
• She was part of the MTN Uganda team that pioneered the launch of Mobile Money for MTN Group.
• She has contributed to significant milestones at Onafriq.
• She serves as a Board Member of the Africa Fintech Network.
12:00 PM - 01:30 PM Cape Town
Hall C&D
Lunch
Networking lunch
01:30 PM - 01:40 PM Cape Town
Hall A&B
Afternoon introduction
Introduction to the afternoon and a quick energy boost.
01:40 PM - 02:25 PM Cape Town
Hall A&B
Fragmented Globalisation: Navigating Regional Blocs and Emerging Market Coalitions in Cross border payments
In an era of "fragmented globalisation," this session examines the shifting landscape of global trade and Africa's evolving role within it. We explore how changing geopolitical dynamics and the rise of new international coalitions are influencing the development of innovative cross-border payment systems, challenging traditional financial frameworks and shaping the future of global commerce.
Speakers
Maxine Hlaba
Executive Secretary, SADC
Maxine Hlaba
Executive Secretary, SADC
Maxine Hlaba joined SADC Banking Association in April 2014 as Manager:
Executive Secretariat, SADC Banking Association.
She previously worked for the South African Reserve Bank in various capacities over a period of 15 years.
In her last role, she worked with the SADC Committee for Central Bank Governors (CCBG) Secretariat, in executing their mandate as stipulated in the protocol of the Finance and Investment Protocol. (FIP)
Executive Secretariat, SADC Banking Association.
She previously worked for the South African Reserve Bank in various capacities over a period of 15 years.
In her last role, she worked with the SADC Committee for Central Bank Governors (CCBG) Secretariat, in executing their mandate as stipulated in the protocol of the Finance and Investment Protocol. (FIP)
Nermine Kamal
Assistant Sub-Governor, Compliance Offsite Supervision, Central Bank of Egypt
Nermine Kamal
Assistant Sub-Governor, Compliance Offsite Supervision, Central Bank of Egypt
Mrs. Nermine Kamal is a banking professional with over two decades of experience in financial services, specializing in financial crime risk management and the supervision of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) frameworks. Since 2021, she has served as Assistant Sub-Governor in the Offsite Supervision Sector at the Central Bank of Egypt, where she leads the offsite supervision of regulated entities to ensure robust compliance with AML/CFT regulations and international standards.
In her current role, Mrs. Kamal oversees a broad portfolio of critical supervisory functions, including AML/CFT risk management, governance risks, risk assessment, remediation monitoring, and technical risks. She also supervises risks associated with financial products and services.
Prior to her appointment, Mrs. Kamal served as an Advisor to the Central Bank of Egypt from 2020 to 2021. During this period, she was instrumental in supporting Egypt’s mutual evaluation by the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF), contributing to the successful issuance and approval of Egypt’s evaluation report in May 2021. She further collaborated with international experts to establish the AML/CFT Offsite Supervision Department, reinforcing the Central Bank’s supervisory capabilities in line with global best practices.
Before joining the Central Bank of Egypt, Mrs. Kamal held senior compliance leadership roles at prominent financial institutions, including Banque du Caire and HSBC Bank Egypt. Her earlier career includes key leadership positions at Citibank and the Arab African International Bank, where she gained extensive experience across financial analysis, corporate banking, and retail banking. In addition to her executive responsibilities, she serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Egypt’s leading digital identity company, contributing to the advancement of secure and innovative financial infrastructure.
Mrs. Kamal has completed numerous advanced training programs and professional certifications in banking, with a strong focus on AML/CFT and counter-proliferation financing. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, specializing in accounting, from the American University in Cairo.
In her current role, Mrs. Kamal oversees a broad portfolio of critical supervisory functions, including AML/CFT risk management, governance risks, risk assessment, remediation monitoring, and technical risks. She also supervises risks associated with financial products and services.
Prior to her appointment, Mrs. Kamal served as an Advisor to the Central Bank of Egypt from 2020 to 2021. During this period, she was instrumental in supporting Egypt’s mutual evaluation by the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF), contributing to the successful issuance and approval of Egypt’s evaluation report in May 2021. She further collaborated with international experts to establish the AML/CFT Offsite Supervision Department, reinforcing the Central Bank’s supervisory capabilities in line with global best practices.
Before joining the Central Bank of Egypt, Mrs. Kamal held senior compliance leadership roles at prominent financial institutions, including Banque du Caire and HSBC Bank Egypt. Her earlier career includes key leadership positions at Citibank and the Arab African International Bank, where she gained extensive experience across financial analysis, corporate banking, and retail banking. In addition to her executive responsibilities, she serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Egypt’s leading digital identity company, contributing to the advancement of secure and innovative financial infrastructure.
Mrs. Kamal has completed numerous advanced training programs and professional certifications in banking, with a strong focus on AML/CFT and counter-proliferation financing. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, specializing in accounting, from the American University in Cairo.
Natalie Baatjes
Senior Programme Officer, Gates Foundation
Natalie Baatjes
Senior Programme Officer, Gates Foundation
Natalie Baatjies is a Senior Program Officer with the Inclusive Financial Systems team at the Gates Foundation, where she designs catalytic investments to accelerate digital payments that increase the income and resilience of rural and women-owned microbusinesses across Africa and South Asia. Her work focuses on driving digital payment usage to reduce the risks associated with providing productive credit to underserved entrepreneurs and to strengthen the sustainability of digital payment ecosystems in emerging markets.
Natalie brings over 20 years of experience in financial services spanning more than 30 markets. Prior to joining the foundation, she served as Head of Cross-Border Payments at MTN South Africa and as Senior Manager for Payment Product and Strategy at MTN Group. She has also held senior leadership roles at Visa and executive positions at fintech companies including Fundamo and Oradian. In addition, Natalie is a seasoned digital financial services strategy consultant, with extensive experience supporting organizations such as Oxford Policy Management, FinMark Trust, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on digital transformation and the digitization of agricultural value chains
Natalie brings over 20 years of experience in financial services spanning more than 30 markets. Prior to joining the foundation, she served as Head of Cross-Border Payments at MTN South Africa and as Senior Manager for Payment Product and Strategy at MTN Group. She has also held senior leadership roles at Visa and executive positions at fintech companies including Fundamo and Oradian. In addition, Natalie is a seasoned digital financial services strategy consultant, with extensive experience supporting organizations such as Oxford Policy Management, FinMark Trust, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on digital transformation and the digitization of agricultural value chains
02:25 PM - 03:25 PM Cape Town
Room 11
Breakout 3 (French only) - Swift Payment Scheme: Improving payment experience from the Front End to the last mile
(FR) Swift Payment Scheme: Improving payment experience from the Front End to the last mile.
02:25 PM - 03:25 PM Cape Town
Verve
Breakout 2 - ISO 20022 SR2026 Readiness: Post‑Migration Priorities
Swift Payment Scheme: Improving payment experience from the Front End to the last mileISO 20022 SR2026 Readiness: Post‑Migration Priorities
02:25 PM - 03:25 PM Cape Town
Hall A&B
Breakout 1 - Swift Payment Scheme: Improving payment experience from the Front End to the last mile
Swift Payment Scheme: Improving payment experience from the Front End to the last mile
03:25 PM - 04:00 PM Cape Town
Exhibition Area
Coffee break
Your opportunity to meet the Swift experts and connect with your peers.
04:00 PM - 04:45 PM Cape Town
Hall A&B
Next-Gen Payments in Africa: Exploring Tokenization, Stablecoins, and Bank Liquidity
This session moves beyond the 'Crypto' hype to explore the evolving role of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) in the African banking sector by 2026. We discuss how some leading African banks are experimenting with DLT to enhance cross-border payments, improve financial inclusion, and explore the potential of tokenizing real-world assets. While the creation of 'Institutional Stablecoins' for high-value settlement between central banks and commercial entities is still in its early stages, these innovations are laying the groundwork for a more efficient and transparent financial ecosystem in Africa
Speakers
Eng Kombe Kaponda
Lead reasearcher on Central Bank Digital Currency, Bank of Zambia
Eng Kombe Kaponda
Lead reasearcher on Central Bank Digital Currency, Bank of Zambia
Dr. Eng Kombe Kaponda is an award-winning emerging technologies researcher and a leading regional expert in financial technologies, Digital Transformation, and Financial Market Infrastructure (FMI). With over 20 years of experience, he is a highly motivated Central Bank specialist currently leading the feasibility study on emerging technologies focusing on virtual assets, distributed ledger technologies (DLT), tokenization and stablecoins in the Banking industry.
As a seasoned financial regulator, Dr. Eng Kaponda drives initiatives in Fintech frameworks, Regtech, Suptech, and InsuTech. He is currently leading financial technologies strategies for inclusive and sustainable development and chairs the Digital Transformation Working Group (DTWG), focusing on operational efficiency, cybersecurity, and data-driven policymaking in the Bank of Zambia.
His expertise covers Next-Gen Payments, including tokenization, stablecoins, bank liquidity and the evolving role of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) in enhancing cross-border payments and financial inclusion. He explores institutional stablecoins for high-value settlement and tokenization of real-world assets, laying the groundwork for a
more efficient African financial ecosystem.
Dr. Kaponda actively contributes to the SADC and global digital agenda, participating in the IMF-World Bank Technology Community of Practice (CBDC track) and the ITU's Digital Currency Global Initiative. He is a certified University of Cambridge, Judge Business School, Executive Education: Cambridge Digital Assets for Regulators (CDAR), Certified Digital Finance practitioner (CDFP) from Digital Frontiers Institute and Hong Kong University (Blockchain Ethics). He is also a Certified Digital Transformation Executive, DASM, ISO/IEC 27001, and holds multiple technical credentials (CISCO, CompTIA, EC-Council, ITIL).
Outside work, he follows Fintech and DLT developments, is passionate about farming for food security, and enjoys DIY projects and recreational golf.
Full Bio available on URL: https://bit.ly/3DAI9fC
As a seasoned financial regulator, Dr. Eng Kaponda drives initiatives in Fintech frameworks, Regtech, Suptech, and InsuTech. He is currently leading financial technologies strategies for inclusive and sustainable development and chairs the Digital Transformation Working Group (DTWG), focusing on operational efficiency, cybersecurity, and data-driven policymaking in the Bank of Zambia.
His expertise covers Next-Gen Payments, including tokenization, stablecoins, bank liquidity and the evolving role of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) in enhancing cross-border payments and financial inclusion. He explores institutional stablecoins for high-value settlement and tokenization of real-world assets, laying the groundwork for a
more efficient African financial ecosystem.
Dr. Kaponda actively contributes to the SADC and global digital agenda, participating in the IMF-World Bank Technology Community of Practice (CBDC track) and the ITU's Digital Currency Global Initiative. He is a certified University of Cambridge, Judge Business School, Executive Education: Cambridge Digital Assets for Regulators (CDAR), Certified Digital Finance practitioner (CDFP) from Digital Frontiers Institute and Hong Kong University (Blockchain Ethics). He is also a Certified Digital Transformation Executive, DASM, ISO/IEC 27001, and holds multiple technical credentials (CISCO, CompTIA, EC-Council, ITIL).
Outside work, he follows Fintech and DLT developments, is passionate about farming for food security, and enjoys DIY projects and recreational golf.
Full Bio available on URL: https://bit.ly/3DAI9fC
04:45 PM - 05:10 PM Cape Town
Hall A&B
Closing address
A high-level summary of the day’s outcomes, focusing on the immediate action points for CFOs and Treasury heads to implement by the end of the fiscal year and invitation to evening gala dinner.
07:00 PM - 10:00 PM Cape Town
GOLD Restaurant
SCA 2026 Gala Dinner
Sponsored by Montran
Wednesday 03 Jun
08:00 AM - 08:45 AM Cape Town
Exhibition Area
Morning coffee and networking
Your opportunity to meet the Swift experts and connect with your peers.
08:45 AM - 09:15 AM Cape Town
Hall A&B
What Africa payment growth is really built on; Financial inclusion and inteoperability
Africa's payments momentum has proven that scale is possible when products are usable and distribution is strong. The next step is to make that scale inclusive by building an open payment ecosystem, where interoperability, open access and fair competition allow innovation to reach everyone, not only those already served.
This fireside chat focuses on the responsibility of central banks as market shapers. We will discuss how the role of central banks in open, safe and sustainable payments ecosystem.
The conversation will explore what good looks like in practice, including open APIs that enable secure access, interoperable rails that reduce fragmentation, and policy choices that protect stability while expanding reach. The goal is a trusted ecosystem that lowers barriers for households and SMEs, so financial inclusion becomes active use and meaningful economic participation.
Speakers
Enoch Malisa
Head of Business Development, PayInc
Enoch Malisa
Head of Business Development, PayInc
With over 15 years of senior leadership experience spanning banks, fintechs, payments industry body, card schemes and government-owned enterprises, Enoch is a seasoned expert in the payments landscape. He brings extensive board-level engagement experience and has led high-impact projects with social and economic significance. Well-versed in African markets, Enoch has spearheaded several business initiatives and played a key role in developing robust issuing and acceptance ecosystems across the continent. He also has a strong understanding of local regulation and a proven record on corporate governance and ethics.
In his current role at PayInc (formerly known as BankservAfrica), Enoch leads the development of strategic business opportunities and value-added services designed to strengthen the organisation’s offerings to banks and fintechs.
Enoch has held prominent roles as Head: Merchant Sales and Acquiring at Visa Sub-Saharan Africa, Head of Commercial Payments – South Africa at Absa Bank, and Chief Operating Officer at the Payments Association of South Africa.
Enoch has a Master of Business Administration from the Henley University of Reading and is a graduate of the Management Development Programme from the Unisa Graduate School of Business Leadership.
In his current role at PayInc (formerly known as BankservAfrica), Enoch leads the development of strategic business opportunities and value-added services designed to strengthen the organisation’s offerings to banks and fintechs.
Enoch has held prominent roles as Head: Merchant Sales and Acquiring at Visa Sub-Saharan Africa, Head of Commercial Payments – South Africa at Absa Bank, and Chief Operating Officer at the Payments Association of South Africa.
Enoch has a Master of Business Administration from the Henley University of Reading and is a graduate of the Management Development Programme from the Unisa Graduate School of Business Leadership.
09:15 AM - 10:00 AM Cape Town
Hall A&B
From Domestic Real Time Payments to Continental Rails: Operationalising Instant Payments for crossborder Across Africa
As Africa expands domestic real-time payment systems, the next priority is connecting these systems into seamless, interoperable networks that facilitate instant cross-border payment. This panel will explore how to enable instant cross-border payment solutions addressing interoperability, real-time FX and liquidity management, regulatory alignment, and risk frameworks.
Speakers
Sanjeev Hazareesing
Group Chief Operating Officer, MCB
Sanjeev Hazareesing
Group Chief Operating Officer, MCB
Hemandra Kumar (Sanjeev) Hazareesing brings over three decades of experience in Global Transaction Banking, Corporate Finance, and Strategic Operations, with deep expertise in areas closely aligned to the SWIFT ecosystem, including cross-border payments, messaging standards, and correspondent banking. Through his executive roles, he has led and contributed to initiatives focused on payments efficiency, ISO 20022 adoption, and correspondent banking frameworks, engaging in industry discussions on transparency, interoperability, and operational resilience.
Appointed Chief Operating Officer of MCB Group in June 2025, he previously headed the Bank’s Global Transaction Banking division, where he helped shape international transaction banking and client solutions. Since joining MCB in 2004, he has held several senior leadership roles within Corporate Banking.
Recognised for his expertise in Trade Finance and Cash Management, he actively participates in SIBOS and contributes to global and regional forums, including GTR and ITFA events, offering a practical perspective on financial market infrastructures and global banking resilience.
Appointed Chief Operating Officer of MCB Group in June 2025, he previously headed the Bank’s Global Transaction Banking division, where he helped shape international transaction banking and client solutions. Since joining MCB in 2004, he has held several senior leadership roles within Corporate Banking.
Recognised for his expertise in Trade Finance and Cash Management, he actively participates in SIBOS and contributes to global and regional forums, including GTR and ITFA events, offering a practical perspective on financial market infrastructures and global banking resilience.
Richard Akuoku-Sarpong
Acting Head of Real-Time Payments, GhIPSS
Richard Akuoku-Sarpong
Acting Head of Real-Time Payments, GhIPSS
Richard Nana Akuoko-Sarpong is a seasoned Digital Payments Practitioner with close to 15 years of experience in banking, business transformation, digital payments, and technology solutions. He has built a strong track record of driving business growth, product innovation,
and service adoption across the financial services ecosystem, working with banks, mobile money operators, fintechs, and multinational organizations.
In his role at Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems Limited (GhIPSS), Richard has led the rollout and expansion of several national payment solutions, including Instant Payment Service, Mobile Money Interoperability (MMI), Ghana Universal QR Code Service (GhQR) and Request to Pay Service. His work has contributed significantly to adoption, building the partnerships and commercial frameworks that has turn infrastructure into impact.
He is highly experienced in product management, business development, stakeholder engagement, and market adoption strategies.
Richard holds a Master of Science in Business Consulting & Enterprise Risk Management from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
and service adoption across the financial services ecosystem, working with banks, mobile money operators, fintechs, and multinational organizations.
In his role at Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems Limited (GhIPSS), Richard has led the rollout and expansion of several national payment solutions, including Instant Payment Service, Mobile Money Interoperability (MMI), Ghana Universal QR Code Service (GhQR) and Request to Pay Service. His work has contributed significantly to adoption, building the partnerships and commercial frameworks that has turn infrastructure into impact.
He is highly experienced in product management, business development, stakeholder engagement, and market adoption strategies.
Richard holds a Master of Science in Business Consulting & Enterprise Risk Management from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
Abeneazer Wondwosen
Chief Portfolio Officer, EthSwitch S.C.
Abeneazer Wondwosen
Chief Portfolio Officer, EthSwitch S.C.
Abeneazer Lakew leads the portfolio and program management office at EthSwitch, Ethiopia’s national payment switch.
With over Thirteen years’ experience in digital payments, fintech and strategic planning, he drives initiatives that are reshaping Ethiopia’s payment ecosystem that includes the successful launch of EthioPay – Ethiopian Instant Payment Platform.
His track record spans launching innovative digital services on Finance, Fintech and Insurance.
Abeneazer holds an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with multiple certifications.
With over Thirteen years’ experience in digital payments, fintech and strategic planning, he drives initiatives that are reshaping Ethiopia’s payment ecosystem that includes the successful launch of EthioPay – Ethiopian Instant Payment Platform.
His track record spans launching innovative digital services on Finance, Fintech and Insurance.
Abeneazer holds an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with multiple certifications.
Matthieu de Heering
Global head of Business Development, Capital Markets, Montran
Matthieu de Heering
Global head of Business Development, Capital Markets, Montran
Matthieu de Heering is Montran’s Global Head of Business Development, Capital Markets, since 2024. In this role, Matthieu leads Montran’s business expansion across capital markets - into new products, technologies, geographies, segments, and industry initiatives.
Prior to this, Matthieu was a member of Swift’s EMEA leadership team, responsible for Central & Eastern Europe, CIS, and Data & Analytics. He previously served as a Director of Capital Markets Strategy, focusing on digital assets; and as Target2-Securities’ ISO 20022 programme manager.
Before Swift, Matthieu headed up the Management Information & Statistics team for Bank of New York’s Global Custody EMEA business unit.
Matthieu is married, and a father of two.
Prior to this, Matthieu was a member of Swift’s EMEA leadership team, responsible for Central & Eastern Europe, CIS, and Data & Analytics. He previously served as a Director of Capital Markets Strategy, focusing on digital assets; and as Target2-Securities’ ISO 20022 programme manager.
Before Swift, Matthieu headed up the Management Information & Statistics team for Bank of New York’s Global Custody EMEA business unit.
Matthieu is married, and a father of two.
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM Cape Town
Hall A&B
Is Liquidity the New Oil? Exploring Africa’s Cross-Border Payments in a Volatile Currency Environment
Africa’s cross-border trade ambitions are accelerating, but liquidity constraints, currency volatility and fragmented payment systems continue to create friction across the continent. This panel explores how banks, fintechs, regulators and market infrastructure players are rethinking liquidity optimisation to enable faster, more efficient funding of trade and movement of value across African payment corridors.
From trapped liquidity and FX pressure to stablecoins, tokenised assets and alternative funding models, the discussion will unpack the practical realities shaping cross-border payments in Africa today — and ask a critical question: how do we ensure cross-border payments and trade funding move at the same speed as trade itself?
As Africa’s trade ambitions continue to outpace its financial infrastructure, liquidity may become the continent’s most strategic resource in unlocking the next era of African commerce.
Speakers
Chanal Subramoney
Group Senior Compliance Manager, Yellow card
Chanal Subramoney
Group Senior Compliance Manager, Yellow card
Chanal Subramoney serves as Yellow Card’s Group Senior Compliance Manager and Money Laundering Control Officer (MLCO) for the SADC region. With over a decade of experience in Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) investigations and financial crime compliance, Chanal is a dynamic and driven compliance professional. The crypto industry is a rapid and ever-evolving sector, which is the primary motive for Chanal’s passion in crypto compliance.
Throughout her career, Chanal has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience in the banking (retail, commercial and corporate) and cryptocurrency sectors, having played a critical role in creating and implementing AML compliance programs and policies; chairing and participating in risk review committees and internal and external stakeholder engagements with key role-players, including law enforcement, regulators and third-party vendors. Process development, implementation and management also lies at the heart of Chanal’s compliance ethos, a pertinent component that brings policies to life.
Starting her crypto compliance journey at VALR.com as the Group MLCO, Chanal assisted the exchange with its transition when the crypto regulations were enacted in South Africa. Chanal holds a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Criminology and two AML certifications, all obtained from accredited South African universities. Chanal was requested by the United States Secret Service to participate in a fraud and cryptocurrency training workshop to educate local law enforcement and policy makers on emerging and hybrid cryptocurrency risks.
At Yellow Card, Chanal is inspired by the company’s mission to drive financial inclusion in emerging markets through stablecoin adoption, and she remains dedicated to shaping forward-thinking compliance strategies that strengthen trust and integrity within the crypto financial ecosystem.
Throughout her career, Chanal has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience in the banking (retail, commercial and corporate) and cryptocurrency sectors, having played a critical role in creating and implementing AML compliance programs and policies; chairing and participating in risk review committees and internal and external stakeholder engagements with key role-players, including law enforcement, regulators and third-party vendors. Process development, implementation and management also lies at the heart of Chanal’s compliance ethos, a pertinent component that brings policies to life.
Starting her crypto compliance journey at VALR.com as the Group MLCO, Chanal assisted the exchange with its transition when the crypto regulations were enacted in South Africa. Chanal holds a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Criminology and two AML certifications, all obtained from accredited South African universities. Chanal was requested by the United States Secret Service to participate in a fraud and cryptocurrency training workshop to educate local law enforcement and policy makers on emerging and hybrid cryptocurrency risks.
At Yellow Card, Chanal is inspired by the company’s mission to drive financial inclusion in emerging markets through stablecoin adoption, and she remains dedicated to shaping forward-thinking compliance strategies that strengthen trust and integrity within the crypto financial ecosystem.
Simon Just
Group Head - Payments, Standard Bank
Simon Just
Group Head - Payments, Standard Bank
Simon Just is the Group Head of Payments and Digital Assets at
Standard Bank, where he is responsible for the development and
execution of the bank’s payments strategy across 20 African markets.
With broad experience as an executive in transactional banking, card, fintech and management consulting, Simon works with teams across the bank to advance innovation in real-time payments, cross-border transfers, and digital assets, with a focus on building secure and efficient payment ecosystems.
Simon has great passion for financial inclusion, seamless interoperability and customer experiences, with emphasis on connecting African economies more effectively to one another and global markets. Through leadership roles in large banks, Simon has contributed to the evolution of digital payments, new ventures, and collaboration with fintechs across the financial services sector.
Simon holds a degree from Andrews University and is an alumnus of the INSEAD Advanced Management Programme.
Standard Bank, where he is responsible for the development and
execution of the bank’s payments strategy across 20 African markets.
With broad experience as an executive in transactional banking, card, fintech and management consulting, Simon works with teams across the bank to advance innovation in real-time payments, cross-border transfers, and digital assets, with a focus on building secure and efficient payment ecosystems.
Simon has great passion for financial inclusion, seamless interoperability and customer experiences, with emphasis on connecting African economies more effectively to one another and global markets. Through leadership roles in large banks, Simon has contributed to the evolution of digital payments, new ventures, and collaboration with fintechs across the financial services sector.
Simon holds a degree from Andrews University and is an alumnus of the INSEAD Advanced Management Programme.
Isaiah A Adeleke
Deputy Director, Central Bank of Nigeria
Isaiah A Adeleke
Deputy Director, Central Bank of Nigeria
Isaiah Adeleke is currently a Deputy Director and Head of Trade Finance in Central Bank of Nigeria. He is a Fellow, of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).
He holds B.Sc. Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, M.Sc Accounting from University of Lagos, Nigeria, an MBA degree in International Oil & Gas Management from University of Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom, a Post Graduate Diploma in Fintech and Regulatory Innovation from University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, and a PhD in Finance from Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja.
He has over 30 years’ post-graduation experience in financial and management consultancy, corporate banking and fintech regulatory services. He had worked in GoldPoint Consults Limited, Nigeria, a financial management firm as the Financial Accountant, Fidelity Bank Nigeria, as a Corporate Banking Executive, and United Bank for Africa as the Head of Energy Group. He joined the Central Bank of Nigeria as a Principal Bank Examiner in November 2014 where he oversaw onsite and offsite supervision of tier one banks. In 2018, he was one of the pioneer executives that started the Payments System Management Department in the Central Bank of Nigeria. The Payments System Management Department oversees the fintech activities in the financial landscape of Nigeria. At various times, he headed the Data Management, Oversight & Compliance, and Licensing Divisions of the Department. Isaiah is part of the standing team that drives initiatives such as cashless policy, agency banking, contactless payments, bank verification number (BVN), central bank digital currency (CBDC) and Payment System Vision (PSV) 2008 in Nigeria. He moved to Banking Services Department in May 2025, where he headed the Domestic Payment. His current role is as the Head of Trade Finance Division, handling the establishment of letters of credit for government ministries, departments and agencies.
Ademola is a fintech enthusiast with many publications in national and international journals. He is a Trainer at the Central Bank Learning Centre and a regular Speaker in national and international fora on subject of prudential regulation and fintech innovations.
He holds B.Sc. Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, M.Sc Accounting from University of Lagos, Nigeria, an MBA degree in International Oil & Gas Management from University of Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom, a Post Graduate Diploma in Fintech and Regulatory Innovation from University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, and a PhD in Finance from Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja.
He has over 30 years’ post-graduation experience in financial and management consultancy, corporate banking and fintech regulatory services. He had worked in GoldPoint Consults Limited, Nigeria, a financial management firm as the Financial Accountant, Fidelity Bank Nigeria, as a Corporate Banking Executive, and United Bank for Africa as the Head of Energy Group. He joined the Central Bank of Nigeria as a Principal Bank Examiner in November 2014 where he oversaw onsite and offsite supervision of tier one banks. In 2018, he was one of the pioneer executives that started the Payments System Management Department in the Central Bank of Nigeria. The Payments System Management Department oversees the fintech activities in the financial landscape of Nigeria. At various times, he headed the Data Management, Oversight & Compliance, and Licensing Divisions of the Department. Isaiah is part of the standing team that drives initiatives such as cashless policy, agency banking, contactless payments, bank verification number (BVN), central bank digital currency (CBDC) and Payment System Vision (PSV) 2008 in Nigeria. He moved to Banking Services Department in May 2025, where he headed the Domestic Payment. His current role is as the Head of Trade Finance Division, handling the establishment of letters of credit for government ministries, departments and agencies.
Ademola is a fintech enthusiast with many publications in national and international journals. He is a Trainer at the Central Bank Learning Centre and a regular Speaker in national and international fora on subject of prudential regulation and fintech innovations.
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM Cape Town
Exhibition Area
Coffee break
Your opportunity to meet the Swift experts and connect with your peers.
11:15 AM - 12:00 PM Cape Town
Hall A&B
The API Economy: Where Banks, Fintechs and Enablers Collide
Across Africa, API ambitions often outpace reality, with fragmented systems and uneven readiness limiting scale. This panel explores how fintechs and technology enablers are pragmatically bridging these gaps; abstracting legacy complexity, accelerating integration, and enabling progress despite imperfect infrastructure.
Speakers
Edward Phelps
Head of Strategy, StoneX
Edward Phelps
Head of Strategy, StoneX
Edward Phelps is a Senior Vice President in the Global Payments Division at StoneX, based in London. He leads network modernisation initiatives, integrating real‑time payment rails to deliver greater transparency, flexibility, and traceability for clients, with a strong focus on developing new payment flows and use cases.
Prior to joining StoneX, Edward worked at Swift in a Strategy and Business Development capacity, and earlier in his career led a sales team at a FinTech, giving him a strong blend of strategic, commercial, and industry‑wide perspective.
He is Deputy Chair of the SWIFT UK User Groups, Interim Chair of the Securities Advisory Forum, and is actively involved in the European SWIFT Alliance, contributing to industry‑wide discussions on payments modernisation, interoperability, and governance.
Prior to joining StoneX, Edward worked at Swift in a Strategy and Business Development capacity, and earlier in his career led a sales team at a FinTech, giving him a strong blend of strategic, commercial, and industry‑wide perspective.
He is Deputy Chair of the SWIFT UK User Groups, Interim Chair of the Securities Advisory Forum, and is actively involved in the European SWIFT Alliance, contributing to industry‑wide discussions on payments modernisation, interoperability, and governance.
Edith Kababure
Chief Manager, Digital/ Alternative Channels, Centenary Bank
Edith Kababure
Chief Manager, Digital/ Alternative Channels, Centenary Bank
Edith Kababure is the General Manager, Back Office Operations at Centenary Bank Uganda, second largest bank in Uganda where she leads mission-critical banking operations underpinning payments, transaction processing, and financial service delivery.
A seasoned banking executive with over 20 years of experience, Edith is widely recognized for her leadership in advancing digital transformation and modernizing payment ecosystems across Africa. Her work has focused on building resilient, scalable, and efficient transaction platforms that enhance financial inclusion, improve customer experience, and support the growing demands of real-time and cross-border payments.
She has played a central role in transforming payment operations, driving straight-through processing, automation, and interoperability across channels. Her leadership has delivered significant improvements in transaction turnaround times, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance, while strengthening the integrity and reliability of high-value payment systems such as RTGS and electronic funds transfers.
Edith brings deep expertise in cross-border transaction flows, liquidity management, and payment infrastructure optimization. She has successfully led initiatives that streamline settlement cycles, enhance system integration with partners—including fintechs and mobile network operators—and enable faster, more secure movement of funds across domestic and regional markets.
She is passionate about the future of payments in Africa, particularly the role of digital infrastructure, interoperability, and collaborative ecosystems in unlocking seamless cross-border trade and financial connectivity. Edith works closely with regulators, industry bodies, and technology partners to shape sustainable, secure, and inclusive payment systems across the continent.
She holds a Bachelor of Information Technology, Masters in Information Technology, Masters in Business Administration and many other certifications in Digital payment space
A seasoned banking executive with over 20 years of experience, Edith is widely recognized for her leadership in advancing digital transformation and modernizing payment ecosystems across Africa. Her work has focused on building resilient, scalable, and efficient transaction platforms that enhance financial inclusion, improve customer experience, and support the growing demands of real-time and cross-border payments.
She has played a central role in transforming payment operations, driving straight-through processing, automation, and interoperability across channels. Her leadership has delivered significant improvements in transaction turnaround times, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance, while strengthening the integrity and reliability of high-value payment systems such as RTGS and electronic funds transfers.
Edith brings deep expertise in cross-border transaction flows, liquidity management, and payment infrastructure optimization. She has successfully led initiatives that streamline settlement cycles, enhance system integration with partners—including fintechs and mobile network operators—and enable faster, more secure movement of funds across domestic and regional markets.
She is passionate about the future of payments in Africa, particularly the role of digital infrastructure, interoperability, and collaborative ecosystems in unlocking seamless cross-border trade and financial connectivity. Edith works closely with regulators, industry bodies, and technology partners to shape sustainable, secure, and inclusive payment systems across the continent.
She holds a Bachelor of Information Technology, Masters in Information Technology, Masters in Business Administration and many other certifications in Digital payment space
Steven Haley
Director of Market development and Partnerships, Mojaloop
Steven Haley
Director of Market development and Partnerships, Mojaloop
Steve has led diverse global impact-driven teams for 25 years, based in over 10 countries between work in the government, non-profit and the private sectors. He aims to influence a more equitable and fairer world, particularly through inclusive financial services. As the Director of Market Development at the Mojaloop Foundation, he helps country leaders develop inclusive instant time payments that reach everyone by helping various stakeholders to understand their role in building locally owned, locally controlled, and locally operated payments infrastructure. He holds degrees in Mathematics from West Point and the University of Padova.
12:00 PM - 01:30 PM Cape Town
Hall C&D
Lunch break
Lunch break and networking
01:30 PM - 01:40 PM Cape Town
Hall A&B
Afternoon introduction
An introduction to the afternoon and a quick energy boost.
01:40 PM - 02:25 PM Cape Town
Hall A&B
Infrastructure sovereignty and global interoperability - where should Africa draw the line?
As African countries build stronger domestic payment systems and local data rules, this panel examines how they can protect national sovereignty while still enabling seamless cross-border trade. The discussion focuses on finding the right balance between national control, pan-African integration, and connectivity with global networks and what this means for the future design of Africa’s payments ecosystem.
Speakers
Jedidah Ndebele
Executive Secretary and CEO, COMESA Clearing House
Jedidah Ndebele
Executive Secretary and CEO, COMESA Clearing House
Jedidah Ndebele is the Executive Secretary of the COMESA Clearing House (CCH), bringing over two decades of experience in banking, finance, and digital payment systems. With an economics background, she plays a pivotal role in advancing cross-border financial integration across COMESA Member States.
At CCH, she leads efforts to facilitate seamless cross-border payments and settlements through the Regional Payment and Settlement System (REPSS), enabling transactions in USD, Euro, and other convertible currencies via central banks. She is also spearheading the implementation of a cross-border, inclusive instant payment system designed to enhance financial access at an affordable cost and in domestic currencies. This is mainly targeted for inclusion of MSMEs, women and youth.
A strong advocate for open and interoperable payment ecosystems, she aligns with initiatives that drive low-cost, real-time, and accessible financial services, reinforcing her commitment to financial inclusion and strengthening Africa’s digital payment infrastructure.
At CCH, she leads efforts to facilitate seamless cross-border payments and settlements through the Regional Payment and Settlement System (REPSS), enabling transactions in USD, Euro, and other convertible currencies via central banks. She is also spearheading the implementation of a cross-border, inclusive instant payment system designed to enhance financial access at an affordable cost and in domestic currencies. This is mainly targeted for inclusion of MSMEs, women and youth.
A strong advocate for open and interoperable payment ecosystems, she aligns with initiatives that drive low-cost, real-time, and accessible financial services, reinforcing her commitment to financial inclusion and strengthening Africa’s digital payment infrastructure.
Nomwelase Skenjana
Division Head - Domestic and Regional Settlement Operations, SARB
Nomwelase Skenjana
Division Head - Domestic and Regional Settlement Operations, SARB
Nomwelase Skenjana CA(SA) is a payments and financial market infrastructure specialist with deep expertise in the evolution of national and regional payment systems, settlement architecture, and the future of sovereign digital financial ecosystems in Africa. Working within the central banking environment, she operates at the intersection of policy, infrastructure resilience, interoperability, innovation, and financial inclusion. Her work centres on ensuring that African nations achieve digital payments sovereignty without sacrificing the benefits of global interoperability. She has been a keynote speaker at several African central banking forums and is a trusted voice in shaping Africa’s digital financial future.
She is the Divisional Head of Domestic and Regional Settlement Services within the National Payment System Department of the South African Reserve Bank, where she leads strategic initiatives relating to domestic and regional settlement infrastructures, including the renewal of the Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) systems for both South Africa and the SADC region.
A qualified Chartered Accountant, Nomwelase holds a BCom and BCompt Honours degree and brings more than 24 years of experience in finance, banking, payments, governance, and financial market infrastructures. Her career has spanned financial reporting, pension administration, governance oversight, retail banking operations, and transformational technology programmes across the banking and payments ecosystem.
Nomwelase is passionate about bridging the gap between African innovation and global best practices, advocating for payment infrastructure models that advance resilience, interoperability, operational sovereignty, and sustainable regional integration.
She is the Divisional Head of Domestic and Regional Settlement Services within the National Payment System Department of the South African Reserve Bank, where she leads strategic initiatives relating to domestic and regional settlement infrastructures, including the renewal of the Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) systems for both South Africa and the SADC region.
A qualified Chartered Accountant, Nomwelase holds a BCom and BCompt Honours degree and brings more than 24 years of experience in finance, banking, payments, governance, and financial market infrastructures. Her career has spanned financial reporting, pension administration, governance oversight, retail banking operations, and transformational technology programmes across the banking and payments ecosystem.
Nomwelase is passionate about bridging the gap between African innovation and global best practices, advocating for payment infrastructure models that advance resilience, interoperability, operational sovereignty, and sustainable regional integration.
02:25 PM - 03:25 PM Cape Town
Room 11
Breakout 3 (French only) - ISO 20022 SR2026 Readiness: Post‑Migration Priorities
(FR) ISO 20022 SR2026: Practical Implementation Workshop.
02:25 PM - 03:25 PM Cape Town
Hall A&B
Breakout 1 - Swift Payment Scheme: Improving payment experience from the Front End to the last mile
Swift Payment Scheme: Improving payment experience from the Front End to the last mile.
02:25 PM - 03:25 PM Cape Town
Verve
Breakout 2 - ISO 20022 SR2026 Readiness: Post‑Migration Priorities
ISO 20022 SR2026 Readiness: Post‑Migration Priorities.
03:25 PM - 04:00 PM Cape Town
Exhibition Area
Coffee break
Your opportunity to meet the Swift experts and connect with your peers.
04:00 PM - 04:40 PM Cape Town
Hall A&B
From vision to velocity: The Africa we want to see
Speakers
Okito Vanessa Wedi
Founder & CEO, Crtve Development
Okito Vanessa Wedi
Founder & CEO, Crtve Development
04:40 PM - 05:00 PM Cape Town
Hall A&B
Swift Connect Africa 2026 – The final wrap-up
A call to action for all stakeholders to commit to the "Cape Town Accord", a set of voluntary principles to ensure that the innovations discussed over the two days lead to measurable increases in intra-African trade and financial stability.
Speakers
Speakers
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Yele Okeremi
CEO, Precise Financial Systems Ltd
Yele Okeremi
Yele OkeremiYele Okeremi, the founding and incumbent Chief Executive Officer of Precise Financial Systems Ltd. He holds a Doctor of Business Administration degree from the Swiss Business School, Zurich, Switzerland having previously obtained a Master of Applied Business Research from the same institution. He also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science (With Economics) from the Obafemi Awolowo University.
He is an alumnus of Wits Business School, Johannesburg South Africa, where he completed NEPAD African Leadership Program, INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France where he completed the International Directors Program and also Harvard Business School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA where he completed the Owner President Management Program.
Prior to PFS, he had a successful professional career at Inlaks Computers before he proceeded to Industrial Bank Limited (Merchant Bankers) as a Programmer/Analyst. He was the Chief Information Officer of Industrial Bank as at the time he left for Ventura Savings and Loans Limited as the Head, Systems and Logistics department. He held this position until 1994 when he founded PFS with Philip Ayeni, a Chartered Accountant.
As a leading icon in software development in Nigeria, Okeremi is also a member of the Presidential Initiative for developing the software industry in Nigeria and has previously served on the board of the Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). He is a Past President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON).
As a technology startup advocate supporting the promotion and funding of indigenous entrepreneurs, twice, he served as the chairman of the Local Organizing Committee [LOC] for Demo Africa in 2014 and 2015. Demo Africa is an initiative of the United States Department of State and Lions@frica to promote innovation in the technology field globally and connecting startup companies with investors.
Dr. Okeremi is an adjunct Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the NIBS University, Accra, Ghana. He is a Director of Uniswitch Nigeria, as well as Petroprism Limited He is the Vice Chairman of the Board of Colton Group Nigeria. He is the incumbent Chairman of the Board of Arit of Africa Limited having served as a non- executive director of the company for many years. -
Tamara Timothy
Group Treasury - Governance, Risk and Controls, ABSA
Tamara Timothy
Tamara TimothyTamara Timothy is a seasoned Director within Group Treasury’s Governance, Risk and Compliance function at Absa Bank Limited. She brings over two decades of experience at the intersection of financial markets evolution, prudential regulation, risk governance, and digital transformation.
A recognised specialist in complex regulatory frameworks, including Basel IV, BCBS 239, and FRTB, Tamara has played a pivotal role in repositioning compliance from a procedural requirement to a strategic enabler of sustainable value creation. Her work has strengthened control environments, enhanced regulatory transparency, and embedded a culture of accountability across Treasury and Finance functions.
Her career spans South Africa, broader Africa, and international markets, with global exposure through secondments in Mauritius and Singapore. This breadth of experience enables her to bring a nuanced, globally informed perspective to the evolving challenges of modern banking, particularly in navigating regulatory change, market transformation, and cross-border risk dynamics.
Tamara has been instrumental in advancing fintech partnerships, leading due diligence on development finance institutions, and shaping strategic corporate collaborations. She is known for her ability to translate complex risk and regulatory requirements into practical, forward-looking governance frameworks that support innovation while maintaining robust risk discipline.
A strategic thinker and change leader, she is deeply committed to evolving corporate risk management practices across Africa. Her passion for continuous learning, innovation, and tangible impact underpins her leadership approach and drives her focus on building resilient, future-fit organisations.
Off the execution and on the ground role, Tamara is dedicated to broadening representation and influence within financial markets. As an active alumnus leader of the International Women’s Forum of South Africa (IWFSA), she champions inclusive growth, mentorship, and the advancement of women in finance, actively shaping the next generation of diverse leaders in the industry. -
Christian Bwakira
Group Chief Commercial Officer, Onafriq
Christian Bwakira
Christian BwakiraChristian Bwakira is a global fintech leader and digital payments executive whose 20+ year career spans the full payments value chain, from card issuance and POS acquiring to cross-border payment, and fintech ecosystem development across the Middle East & Africa.
As Group Chief Commercial Officer at Onafriq, Africa's leading cross-border payment infrastructure platform interconnecting over one billion mobile wallets, 500 million bank accounts, 2,000 cross-border payment corridors, across 44 countries. Christian leads strategic partnerships with major global schemes, pan-African banks, fintechs, and MNOs. He previously held senior leadership roles at Visa, Mastercard, and Ingenico Group, where he spearheaded digital payment ecosystems, drove public-private partnerships with central banks and governments, and delivered sustained P&L growth across 70+ MEA markets. -
Muuka Madubeko
Assistant Director, Payment Systems Development and Operation, Bank of Zambia
Muuka Madubeko
Muuka Madubeko -
Sachin Shah
Executive Head - Payments and Receivables, Standard Bank
Sachin Shah
Sachin ShahSachin is a visionary leader, with over 25 years of experience transforming the financial services landscape across Africa. As the Head, Payments and Receivables for the Standard Bank Group, he oversees one of the largest product portfolios within the bank.
His leadership spans the full spectrum of payments solutions – from wallets and cards to remittances and collections – anchored in a deep understanding of the continent’s evolving digital economy and navigating a complex network of business and regulatory environments.
Throughout his career, Sachin has consistently driven innovation and was instrumental in securing the bank’s recognition as the Best Bank for Cash Management in Africa. Sachin’s entrepreneurial mindset has been central to his impact. He has pioneered and partnered in bold ventures across multiple client ecosystems. He co-created new platforms using first-principles thinking and emerging technologies, reflecting his ability to blend corporate scale with start-up agility.
With extensive leadership experience in Africa including Executive roles in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa, Sachin brings a pan-African perspective to his work. He has launched market-leading propositions, led turnaround strategies and championed inclusive growth through digitisation and financial inclusion. His unique blend of strategic foresight, commercial acumen and people-first leadership continues to shape the future of payments across the continent. -
Michaella Allen
Senior Associate, Genesis Analytics
Michaella Allen
Michaella AllenMichaella Allen is a Senior Consultant at Genesis Analytics with nearly a decade of experience in consulting and implementation in innovative and inclusive digital finance, specialising in payments digitalisation, cross-border payment systems, and regulatory frameworks across Africa and the Middle East. She leads the Research and Policy workstreams within the Payments and Digital Financial Services service line, where she works across initiatives spanning regional RTGS and instant payment infrastructure, Open Banking and mobile money ecosystems, and cross-border payment strategy evaluations. Prior to this, she served as Director of Product at DreamStart Labs, a social impact fintech, where she led the design, deployment and delivery of digital savings and credit products serving informal savings groups across Africa, South East Asia, and Latin America. Over her career, Michaella has advised central banks, financial regulators, international development partners, and private sector players across 15+ countries — including Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, Jordan, Eswatini, and Mozambique — on Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) policy and diagnostics, KYC and eKYC innovation, open finance feasibility, national payment system strategy, remittance corridor research, and agent network development. -
Adrien Sicoli
Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer, Dixio
Adrien Sicoli
Adrien SicoliWith a strong interest in the financial landscape, Adrien Sicoli began his career in Europe in the consulting field, specializing in payments and cash management for corporates and financial institutions. Alongside three highly qualified SWIFT technical and business experts, he identified a critical market gap - the need for an actor capable of enabling access to the SWIFT network in a simple, secure and future-proof way, fully aligned with SWIFT's strategic vision.
Five years on, DiXiO is proud to be an official SWIFT complementor, empowering over 250 institutions across the globe - with a strong presence in Africa. DiXiO has since consolidated its leadership in enabling SWIFT solutions and services, while also going beyond by giving its clients access to additional payment networks - enabling significantly faster cross-border payments, reduced costs, and access to multiple currencies.
Adrien Sicoli now serves as Co-founder & Chief Growth Officer at DiXiO. -
Josephat Mutepfa
Deputy Director - National payment Systems, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
Josephat Mutepfa
Josephat Mutepfa -
Sean Mouton
Chief Technology Manager, ABSA
Sean Mouton
Sean MoutonSean Mouton has been in the payments industry for the last 30+ years. I chair several local and international payment and ISO committees.
I represent South Africa on the following structures.
PMPG
ISO T68 Global committee
CPMI PIE 3 working group
CBPR+ -
Rashad Cassim
Deputy Governor, South African Reserve Bank
Rashad Cassim
Rashad CassimDr Rashad Cassim is the Deputy Governor and an MPC member of the South African Reserve Bank since 2019. He is responsible for the Financial Markets, International Economic Relations and Policy, National Payment System and Legal Servies departments.
He has also served as the Head of the SARB’s Economic Research and Statistics Department and Chief Economist from March 2011 until July 2019. Before joining the SARB, he was the Deputy Director-General at Stats SA responsible for economic statistics. From 2003 until 2006 he was a professor and Head of the School of Economics and Business Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand. Before this he was the head of Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies and held various research positions at the University of Cape Town. -
Rahul Bhargava
Chief Operations Officer, Contour Network
Rahul Bhargava
Rahul BhargavaRahul Bhargava is a globally recognized business leader with over 24 years of experience driving innovation and collaboration in the financial services and payments industry. His expertise lies in successfully helping both public and private sector organisations globally in navigating the complex landscape of next generation payments, trade digitisation and banking systems. As a global strategy leader, business owner and community lead, Rahul has spearheaded key initiatives at SWIFT, the World Bank Group, WEF, Accenture, FIS, RBS, ICICI Bank, AI 2030, EPAA and other prominent organizations with global impact.
He has additionally taken up a pivotal role recently as Interim COO of Contour Network, seeking to innovate and digitise across the transaction value chain, integrating, standardising and integrating upstream trade finance all the way to end payment settlements, retaining optionality for traditional and emerging payment methods, providing full flexibility for different size corporates and banks, and ability to seamlessly scale up from domestic to regional and global coverage.
Rahul currently leads a multifaceted global advisory portfolio, partnering and advising public sector entities, financial market infrastructures, web3 leaders including Layer 1 blockchains, trade digitisation platforms, banks, fintechs, and paytechs, offering strategic direction as they navigate the complexities of digital transformation in payments, trade, wider financial services and emerging technologies. This includes providing subject matter expertise to World Bank and IFCs technical assistance programs, closely aligned with the G20's agenda for solving impactful market-specific development challenges, a case in point being Rahul’s support to World Banks ongoing derisking mitigation program in the Pacific Islands over the last two years.
Rahul is a recognized global thought leader, actively shaping the future of finance through leading public-private dialogue, publishing thought leadership, driving collaboration and public policy advocacy via global think tanks. He is a regular speaker and moderator across global industry forums, including Sibos, Money 20/20, Central Bank Payments Conference, Global Payment Summit, Digital Currency Conference, BAFT, The Asian Banker, World Bank Global Payments Week, Token2049-Stablecoin Summit, Global Fintech Festival (India), various GFTN Forums including the Singapore Fintech Festival. -
Richard Porter
CEO, Forex
Richard Porter
Richard PorterRichard Porter is CEO of the Foreign Exchange Product House at First National Bank (FNB), where he leads the strategy, development and delivery of the bank’s FX proposition across FNB and Rand Merchant Bank. With deep experience spanning retail, commercial, corporate and institutional client segments, Richard works closely with product, technology, operations and risk teams to strengthen the end-to-end cross-border payments and FX journey. His focus includes improving interoperability, resilience and client experience across payment rails and ensuring that innovation is delivered within robust financial crime, sanctions and regulatory controls. Richard joined FNB in 2013 after building a Global Markets career that included roles at Crédit Agricole in structured product sales and as an assistant treasurer. Earlier, he spent more than a decade at Nedbank, where he headed the options trading team. Richard is a contributor to industry initiatives and engagements on market structure, liquidity and the evolving role of banks in enabling efficient, transparent international trade and payments. -
Tumubweinee Twinemanzi
Executive Director National Payment Systems, Bank of Uganda
Tumubweinee Twinemanzi
Tumubweinee TwinemanziTumubweinee Twinemanzi aka “Twine” has a PhD & Msc Economics, and a MS in Management & Administrative Sciences all from the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). He has training in: Quantitative Competition Analysis from the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics, and in Utility Regulation and Strategy from the University of Florida at Gainesville. He has also Mathematics for Economists and Advanced Macroeconomics.
With over 20 years of combined experience in Retail Banking, Telecommunications regulation, Digital Finance policy, and in structured finance for greenfield infrastructure projects in Uganda. For six years, he served as the Executive Director Supervision at the central Bank of Uganda before taking on the role to operationalize a new Directorate for the regulation and oversight of Payment systems in Uganda. Prior to joining the central Bank, he served as the Director Industry Affairs and Content Development at the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), the regulator for the telecommunications, broadcasting and postal sub-sectors in Uganda; where among others he was pivotal in the establishment of an inter-agency collaboration framework on mobile money between the central bank of Uganda (BOU) and the UCC.
He has been a facilitator, panelist and presenter at numerous workshops, seminars and industry events on varied subjects including but not limited to: Mobile Money & Digital Payments, Responsible Finance, Block Chain Technology, Open Banking, Inclusive and Instant Payment Systems among others. In addition, he has represented the central Bank on Uganda’s National AML Taskforce, the National Taskforce for Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies, Financial Sector Stability Forum, and currently chairs the Anti-Fraud Consortium for the financial sector that coordinates response and management of fraud in the financial sector.
Dr Twinemanzi is currently a Trustee and was a past Hon Chairman and Hon Secretary of Entebbe Club, the oldest Golf Club in East Africa established in 1901. -
Jean Jacques Kajuga
Chief Operating Officer, R Switch
Jean Jacques Kajuga
Jean Jacques KajugaJean Jacques’s dedication to financial inclusion, along with his deep insights into Digital Financial Services (DFS), has positioned him as a respected voice in the industry. He is committed to building a future where digital payments empower everyone, transcending borders, enhancing remittance flows, and fueling economic growth throughout Rwanda and beyond.
Jean Jacques Kajuga stands at the forefront of Rwanda’s digital payment revolution as the
Chief Operations Officer at RSwitch Rwanda, a
pivotal player in the country's journey towards a cashless economy. With an impressive track
record in Payment Service Operations and an
extensive knowledge of the Fintech and Banking sectors, Jean Jacques blends visionary strategy with hands-on expertise in digital payments, remittances, cross-border interoperability, and financial inclusion.
Over the years, he has become a trusted leader in the payments space, championing innovation and driving initiatives that break down barriers to financial access. Jean Jacques is known for his skillful navigation of complex financial ecosystems, delivering solutions that resonate with today’s fast-paced, digitally savvy consumer. His strategic leadership at RSwitch is advancing the financial services landscape, where digital transformation meets real-world impact, connecting communities and businesses alike to the benefits of seamless, instant payments. -
Gituku Kirika
Chief Executive Officer, Intergrated Payment Services Limited (IPSL)
Gituku Kirika
Gituku KirikaGituku Kirika has more than 20 years of banking, cards, and payment experience. As the Chief Executive Officer of Integrated Payment Services Limited (IPSL), he is leading the evolution of Pesalink into Kenya’s de facto interoperable payment network, powering instant affordable payments for everyone, everywhere, every time.
Since joining IPSL in 2021, Gituku has overseen a 35% growth in payment volumes on Pesalink and expansion of the network to more than 70 institutions. Instant account-to-account transactions on Pesalink have been the fastest-growing payment type in Kenya since 2022.
Previously he was Director, Digital Payments & Labs for Mastercard in Sub-Saharan Africa. He helped Africa payments become the company’s fastest-growing business line and launched innovative solutions to over 15 million new users. Earlier in his career, he held product and digital leadership positions at Standard Chartered Bank and Diamond Trust Bank. Among his achievements was launching pioneering prepaid card solutions to millions of Kenyans.
Gituku is a recognised thought leader, speaker, and mentor in the payments industry. -
Kennedy Kipkemboi
Director, Public Policy & Advocacy, Mobile Money, GSMA
Kennedy Kipkemboi
Kennedy KipkemboiKennedy Kipkemboi is a policy advocacy and regulatory affairs leader with over 17 years of experience spanning telecommunications and digital finance. At GSMA, he leads the global policy and advocacy agenda for mobile financial services, working with regulators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to shape the regulatory frameworks that enable mobile money to thrive across emerging and developing markets.
A recognised thought leader and policy researcher in digital finance, Kennedy brings deep expertise in policy advocacy, government relations, and regulatory capacity building. He has contributed to research and analysis underpinning some of the most influential policy positions in the mobile money space — translating evidence into actionable recommendations that inform regulatory reform at national and regional levels. His work spans digital public infrastructure, fiscal policy, interoperability, and consumer protection, alongside the design of empowering, inclusive policy frameworks that are both commercially sustainable and driven by genuine social impact.
A firm believer that digital finance is the foundation upon which inclusive digital economies are built, Kennedy champions open, interoperable systems that enable governments, operators, and citizens to transact, exchange value, and access services seamlessly and equitably. He is known for convening the public–private dialogues that drive meaningful and lasting reform — bringing together governments, regulators, and industry to build digital finance ecosystems that work for everyone, not just the few.
Prior to GSMA, Kennedy held senior leadership roles at Safaricom PLC — the pioneering force behind M-PESA and a global benchmark for mobile money — and at JUMO World, a fintech platform advancing financial access in emerging markets. These experiences forged his ability to navigate the interface between industry and government with credibility, authority, and impact.
Kennedy is a committed advocate for ensuring that digital financial services are commercially sustainable and socially transformative — with a particular focus on empowering underserved communities across Africa and beyond to participate fully in the digital economy. -
David Backshall
Vice President of Payment Partnerships, Terrapay
David Backshall
David BackshallDavid Backshall, based in London, UK, is Vice President of Payment Partnerships at TerraPay, where he plays a leading role in driving global banking and financial institution partnerships across the cross‑border payments ecosystem. With over 25 years of experience in the payments industry, David brings deep expertise in Mobile Payments, E-commerce, Cross-Border Payments, FX, Treasury, Card Processing, and broader financial infrastructure.
At TerraPay, where he has spent the past five years, David has been instrumental in expanding the company’s network of global partners, working closely with banks, financial institutions, digital platforms, and fintechs to enable seamless, real-time payment connectivity across markets. His work focuses on building scalable, interoperable payment solutions that bridge traditional banking rails with modern digital channels, including wallets and online platforms. -
Doreen Lukandwa
Board Member, Africa Fintech Network
Doreen Lukandwa
Doreen LukandwaDoreen is a distinguished professional in Digital Financial Services, with a track record spanning across over 20 markets, collaborating with a diverse range of public and private stakeholders. She is a seasoned Board and Global Executive Leader, known for her expertise in driving strategies for adoption, scale, and governance of innovative
digital technology solutions that facilitate interoperable, inclusive, cross-border services across various channels (mobile money, card schemes, agent networks and bank solutions) and sectors.
Doreen passionately champions the development of equitable and sustainable digital infrastructure and ecosystems, designed to confront today’s complex challenges and democratize access to opportunities between African countries and the rest of the world. Her impactful contributions have garnered her numerous industry awards, underscoring her commitment to inspiring positive socio-economic transformation throughout Africa for generations to come.
Doreen is also known for her Advisory work across series of Global initiatives that foster ecosystem enablement, gender equity, multi-level mentorship, and fintech/MSME coaching across multiple markets with the goal of
deepening financial access & inclusion.
Of Doreen’s experience, worth noting include:
• She was part of the MTN Uganda team that pioneered the launch of Mobile Money for MTN Group.
• She has contributed to significant milestones at Onafriq.
• She serves as a Board Member of the Africa Fintech Network. -
Maxine Hlaba
Executive Secretary, SADC
Maxine Hlaba
Maxine HlabaMaxine Hlaba joined SADC Banking Association in April 2014 as Manager:
Executive Secretariat, SADC Banking Association.
She previously worked for the South African Reserve Bank in various capacities over a period of 15 years.
In her last role, she worked with the SADC Committee for Central Bank Governors (CCBG) Secretariat, in executing their mandate as stipulated in the protocol of the Finance and Investment Protocol. (FIP) -
Nermine Kamal
Assistant Sub-Governor, Compliance Offsite Supervision, Central Bank of Egypt
Nermine Kamal
Nermine KamalMrs. Nermine Kamal is a banking professional with over two decades of experience in financial services, specializing in financial crime risk management and the supervision of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) frameworks. Since 2021, she has served as Assistant Sub-Governor in the Offsite Supervision Sector at the Central Bank of Egypt, where she leads the offsite supervision of regulated entities to ensure robust compliance with AML/CFT regulations and international standards.
In her current role, Mrs. Kamal oversees a broad portfolio of critical supervisory functions, including AML/CFT risk management, governance risks, risk assessment, remediation monitoring, and technical risks. She also supervises risks associated with financial products and services.
Prior to her appointment, Mrs. Kamal served as an Advisor to the Central Bank of Egypt from 2020 to 2021. During this period, she was instrumental in supporting Egypt’s mutual evaluation by the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF), contributing to the successful issuance and approval of Egypt’s evaluation report in May 2021. She further collaborated with international experts to establish the AML/CFT Offsite Supervision Department, reinforcing the Central Bank’s supervisory capabilities in line with global best practices.
Before joining the Central Bank of Egypt, Mrs. Kamal held senior compliance leadership roles at prominent financial institutions, including Banque du Caire and HSBC Bank Egypt. Her earlier career includes key leadership positions at Citibank and the Arab African International Bank, where she gained extensive experience across financial analysis, corporate banking, and retail banking. In addition to her executive responsibilities, she serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Egypt’s leading digital identity company, contributing to the advancement of secure and innovative financial infrastructure.
Mrs. Kamal has completed numerous advanced training programs and professional certifications in banking, with a strong focus on AML/CFT and counter-proliferation financing. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, specializing in accounting, from the American University in Cairo. -
Natalie Baatjes
Senior Programme Officer, Gates Foundation
Natalie Baatjes
Natalie BaatjesNatalie Baatjies is a Senior Program Officer with the Inclusive Financial Systems team at the Gates Foundation, where she designs catalytic investments to accelerate digital payments that increase the income and resilience of rural and women-owned microbusinesses across Africa and South Asia. Her work focuses on driving digital payment usage to reduce the risks associated with providing productive credit to underserved entrepreneurs and to strengthen the sustainability of digital payment ecosystems in emerging markets.
Natalie brings over 20 years of experience in financial services spanning more than 30 markets. Prior to joining the foundation, she served as Head of Cross-Border Payments at MTN South Africa and as Senior Manager for Payment Product and Strategy at MTN Group. She has also held senior leadership roles at Visa and executive positions at fintech companies including Fundamo and Oradian. In addition, Natalie is a seasoned digital financial services strategy consultant, with extensive experience supporting organizations such as Oxford Policy Management, FinMark Trust, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on digital transformation and the digitization of agricultural value chains -
Eng Kombe Kaponda
Lead reasearcher on Central Bank Digital Currency, Bank of Zambia
Eng Kombe Kaponda
Eng Kombe KapondaDr. Eng Kombe Kaponda is an award-winning emerging technologies researcher and a leading regional expert in financial technologies, Digital Transformation, and Financial Market Infrastructure (FMI). With over 20 years of experience, he is a highly motivated Central Bank specialist currently leading the feasibility study on emerging technologies focusing on virtual assets, distributed ledger technologies (DLT), tokenization and stablecoins in the Banking industry.
As a seasoned financial regulator, Dr. Eng Kaponda drives initiatives in Fintech frameworks, Regtech, Suptech, and InsuTech. He is currently leading financial technologies strategies for inclusive and sustainable development and chairs the Digital Transformation Working Group (DTWG), focusing on operational efficiency, cybersecurity, and data-driven policymaking in the Bank of Zambia.
His expertise covers Next-Gen Payments, including tokenization, stablecoins, bank liquidity and the evolving role of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) in enhancing cross-border payments and financial inclusion. He explores institutional stablecoins for high-value settlement and tokenization of real-world assets, laying the groundwork for a
more efficient African financial ecosystem.
Dr. Kaponda actively contributes to the SADC and global digital agenda, participating in the IMF-World Bank Technology Community of Practice (CBDC track) and the ITU's Digital Currency Global Initiative. He is a certified University of Cambridge, Judge Business School, Executive Education: Cambridge Digital Assets for Regulators (CDAR), Certified Digital Finance practitioner (CDFP) from Digital Frontiers Institute and Hong Kong University (Blockchain Ethics). He is also a Certified Digital Transformation Executive, DASM, ISO/IEC 27001, and holds multiple technical credentials (CISCO, CompTIA, EC-Council, ITIL).
Outside work, he follows Fintech and DLT developments, is passionate about farming for food security, and enjoys DIY projects and recreational golf.
Full Bio available on URL: https://bit.ly/3DAI9fC -
Enoch Malisa
Head of Business Development, PayInc
Enoch Malisa
Enoch MalisaWith over 15 years of senior leadership experience spanning banks, fintechs, payments industry body, card schemes and government-owned enterprises, Enoch is a seasoned expert in the payments landscape. He brings extensive board-level engagement experience and has led high-impact projects with social and economic significance. Well-versed in African markets, Enoch has spearheaded several business initiatives and played a key role in developing robust issuing and acceptance ecosystems across the continent. He also has a strong understanding of local regulation and a proven record on corporate governance and ethics.
In his current role at PayInc (formerly known as BankservAfrica), Enoch leads the development of strategic business opportunities and value-added services designed to strengthen the organisation’s offerings to banks and fintechs.
Enoch has held prominent roles as Head: Merchant Sales and Acquiring at Visa Sub-Saharan Africa, Head of Commercial Payments – South Africa at Absa Bank, and Chief Operating Officer at the Payments Association of South Africa.
Enoch has a Master of Business Administration from the Henley University of Reading and is a graduate of the Management Development Programme from the Unisa Graduate School of Business Leadership. -
Sanjeev Hazareesing
Group Chief Operating Officer, MCB
Sanjeev Hazareesing
Sanjeev HazareesingHemandra Kumar (Sanjeev) Hazareesing brings over three decades of experience in Global Transaction Banking, Corporate Finance, and Strategic Operations, with deep expertise in areas closely aligned to the SWIFT ecosystem, including cross-border payments, messaging standards, and correspondent banking. Through his executive roles, he has led and contributed to initiatives focused on payments efficiency, ISO 20022 adoption, and correspondent banking frameworks, engaging in industry discussions on transparency, interoperability, and operational resilience.
Appointed Chief Operating Officer of MCB Group in June 2025, he previously headed the Bank’s Global Transaction Banking division, where he helped shape international transaction banking and client solutions. Since joining MCB in 2004, he has held several senior leadership roles within Corporate Banking.
Recognised for his expertise in Trade Finance and Cash Management, he actively participates in SIBOS and contributes to global and regional forums, including GTR and ITFA events, offering a practical perspective on financial market infrastructures and global banking resilience. -
Richard Akuoku-Sarpong
Acting Head of Real-Time Payments, GhIPSS
Richard Akuoku-Sarpong
Richard Akuoku-SarpongRichard Nana Akuoko-Sarpong is a seasoned Digital Payments Practitioner with close to 15 years of experience in banking, business transformation, digital payments, and technology solutions. He has built a strong track record of driving business growth, product innovation,
and service adoption across the financial services ecosystem, working with banks, mobile money operators, fintechs, and multinational organizations.
In his role at Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems Limited (GhIPSS), Richard has led the rollout and expansion of several national payment solutions, including Instant Payment Service, Mobile Money Interoperability (MMI), Ghana Universal QR Code Service (GhQR) and Request to Pay Service. His work has contributed significantly to adoption, building the partnerships and commercial frameworks that has turn infrastructure into impact.
He is highly experienced in product management, business development, stakeholder engagement, and market adoption strategies.
Richard holds a Master of Science in Business Consulting & Enterprise Risk Management from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. -
Abeneazer Wondwosen
Chief Portfolio Officer, EthSwitch S.C.
Abeneazer Wondwosen
Abeneazer WondwosenAbeneazer Lakew leads the portfolio and program management office at EthSwitch, Ethiopia’s national payment switch.
With over Thirteen years’ experience in digital payments, fintech and strategic planning, he drives initiatives that are reshaping Ethiopia’s payment ecosystem that includes the successful launch of EthioPay – Ethiopian Instant Payment Platform.
His track record spans launching innovative digital services on Finance, Fintech and Insurance.
Abeneazer holds an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with multiple certifications. -
Matthieu de Heering
Global head of Business Development, Capital Markets, Montran
Matthieu de Heering
Matthieu de HeeringMatthieu de Heering is Montran’s Global Head of Business Development, Capital Markets, since 2024. In this role, Matthieu leads Montran’s business expansion across capital markets - into new products, technologies, geographies, segments, and industry initiatives.
Prior to this, Matthieu was a member of Swift’s EMEA leadership team, responsible for Central & Eastern Europe, CIS, and Data & Analytics. He previously served as a Director of Capital Markets Strategy, focusing on digital assets; and as Target2-Securities’ ISO 20022 programme manager.
Before Swift, Matthieu headed up the Management Information & Statistics team for Bank of New York’s Global Custody EMEA business unit.
Matthieu is married, and a father of two. -
Chanal Subramoney
Group Senior Compliance Manager, Yellow card
Chanal Subramoney
Chanal SubramoneyChanal Subramoney serves as Yellow Card’s Group Senior Compliance Manager and Money Laundering Control Officer (MLCO) for the SADC region. With over a decade of experience in Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) investigations and financial crime compliance, Chanal is a dynamic and driven compliance professional. The crypto industry is a rapid and ever-evolving sector, which is the primary motive for Chanal’s passion in crypto compliance.
Throughout her career, Chanal has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience in the banking (retail, commercial and corporate) and cryptocurrency sectors, having played a critical role in creating and implementing AML compliance programs and policies; chairing and participating in risk review committees and internal and external stakeholder engagements with key role-players, including law enforcement, regulators and third-party vendors. Process development, implementation and management also lies at the heart of Chanal’s compliance ethos, a pertinent component that brings policies to life.
Starting her crypto compliance journey at VALR.com as the Group MLCO, Chanal assisted the exchange with its transition when the crypto regulations were enacted in South Africa. Chanal holds a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Criminology and two AML certifications, all obtained from accredited South African universities. Chanal was requested by the United States Secret Service to participate in a fraud and cryptocurrency training workshop to educate local law enforcement and policy makers on emerging and hybrid cryptocurrency risks.
At Yellow Card, Chanal is inspired by the company’s mission to drive financial inclusion in emerging markets through stablecoin adoption, and she remains dedicated to shaping forward-thinking compliance strategies that strengthen trust and integrity within the crypto financial ecosystem. -
Simon Just
Group Head - Payments, Standard Bank
Simon Just
Simon JustSimon Just is the Group Head of Payments and Digital Assets at
Standard Bank, where he is responsible for the development and
execution of the bank’s payments strategy across 20 African markets.
With broad experience as an executive in transactional banking, card, fintech and management consulting, Simon works with teams across the bank to advance innovation in real-time payments, cross-border transfers, and digital assets, with a focus on building secure and efficient payment ecosystems.
Simon has great passion for financial inclusion, seamless interoperability and customer experiences, with emphasis on connecting African economies more effectively to one another and global markets. Through leadership roles in large banks, Simon has contributed to the evolution of digital payments, new ventures, and collaboration with fintechs across the financial services sector.
Simon holds a degree from Andrews University and is an alumnus of the INSEAD Advanced Management Programme. -
Isaiah A Adeleke
Deputy Director, Central Bank of Nigeria
Isaiah A Adeleke
Isaiah A AdelekeIsaiah Adeleke is currently a Deputy Director and Head of Trade Finance in Central Bank of Nigeria. He is a Fellow, of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).
He holds B.Sc. Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, M.Sc Accounting from University of Lagos, Nigeria, an MBA degree in International Oil & Gas Management from University of Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom, a Post Graduate Diploma in Fintech and Regulatory Innovation from University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, and a PhD in Finance from Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja.
He has over 30 years’ post-graduation experience in financial and management consultancy, corporate banking and fintech regulatory services. He had worked in GoldPoint Consults Limited, Nigeria, a financial management firm as the Financial Accountant, Fidelity Bank Nigeria, as a Corporate Banking Executive, and United Bank for Africa as the Head of Energy Group. He joined the Central Bank of Nigeria as a Principal Bank Examiner in November 2014 where he oversaw onsite and offsite supervision of tier one banks. In 2018, he was one of the pioneer executives that started the Payments System Management Department in the Central Bank of Nigeria. The Payments System Management Department oversees the fintech activities in the financial landscape of Nigeria. At various times, he headed the Data Management, Oversight & Compliance, and Licensing Divisions of the Department. Isaiah is part of the standing team that drives initiatives such as cashless policy, agency banking, contactless payments, bank verification number (BVN), central bank digital currency (CBDC) and Payment System Vision (PSV) 2008 in Nigeria. He moved to Banking Services Department in May 2025, where he headed the Domestic Payment. His current role is as the Head of Trade Finance Division, handling the establishment of letters of credit for government ministries, departments and agencies.
Ademola is a fintech enthusiast with many publications in national and international journals. He is a Trainer at the Central Bank Learning Centre and a regular Speaker in national and international fora on subject of prudential regulation and fintech innovations. -
Edward Phelps
Head of Strategy, StoneX
Edward Phelps
Edward PhelpsEdward Phelps is a Senior Vice President in the Global Payments Division at StoneX, based in London. He leads network modernisation initiatives, integrating real‑time payment rails to deliver greater transparency, flexibility, and traceability for clients, with a strong focus on developing new payment flows and use cases.
Prior to joining StoneX, Edward worked at Swift in a Strategy and Business Development capacity, and earlier in his career led a sales team at a FinTech, giving him a strong blend of strategic, commercial, and industry‑wide perspective.
He is Deputy Chair of the SWIFT UK User Groups, Interim Chair of the Securities Advisory Forum, and is actively involved in the European SWIFT Alliance, contributing to industry‑wide discussions on payments modernisation, interoperability, and governance. -
Edith Kababure
Chief Manager, Digital/ Alternative Channels, Centenary Bank
Edith Kababure
Edith KababureEdith Kababure is the General Manager, Back Office Operations at Centenary Bank Uganda, second largest bank in Uganda where she leads mission-critical banking operations underpinning payments, transaction processing, and financial service delivery.
A seasoned banking executive with over 20 years of experience, Edith is widely recognized for her leadership in advancing digital transformation and modernizing payment ecosystems across Africa. Her work has focused on building resilient, scalable, and efficient transaction platforms that enhance financial inclusion, improve customer experience, and support the growing demands of real-time and cross-border payments.
She has played a central role in transforming payment operations, driving straight-through processing, automation, and interoperability across channels. Her leadership has delivered significant improvements in transaction turnaround times, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance, while strengthening the integrity and reliability of high-value payment systems such as RTGS and electronic funds transfers.
Edith brings deep expertise in cross-border transaction flows, liquidity management, and payment infrastructure optimization. She has successfully led initiatives that streamline settlement cycles, enhance system integration with partners—including fintechs and mobile network operators—and enable faster, more secure movement of funds across domestic and regional markets.
She is passionate about the future of payments in Africa, particularly the role of digital infrastructure, interoperability, and collaborative ecosystems in unlocking seamless cross-border trade and financial connectivity. Edith works closely with regulators, industry bodies, and technology partners to shape sustainable, secure, and inclusive payment systems across the continent.
She holds a Bachelor of Information Technology, Masters in Information Technology, Masters in Business Administration and many other certifications in Digital payment space -
Steven Haley
Director of Market development and Partnerships, Mojaloop
Steven Haley
Steven HaleySteve has led diverse global impact-driven teams for 25 years, based in over 10 countries between work in the government, non-profit and the private sectors. He aims to influence a more equitable and fairer world, particularly through inclusive financial services. As the Director of Market Development at the Mojaloop Foundation, he helps country leaders develop inclusive instant time payments that reach everyone by helping various stakeholders to understand their role in building locally owned, locally controlled, and locally operated payments infrastructure. He holds degrees in Mathematics from West Point and the University of Padova. -
Jedidah Ndebele
Executive Secretary and CEO, COMESA Clearing House
Jedidah Ndebele
Jedidah NdebeleJedidah Ndebele is the Executive Secretary of the COMESA Clearing House (CCH), bringing over two decades of experience in banking, finance, and digital payment systems. With an economics background, she plays a pivotal role in advancing cross-border financial integration across COMESA Member States.
At CCH, she leads efforts to facilitate seamless cross-border payments and settlements through the Regional Payment and Settlement System (REPSS), enabling transactions in USD, Euro, and other convertible currencies via central banks. She is also spearheading the implementation of a cross-border, inclusive instant payment system designed to enhance financial access at an affordable cost and in domestic currencies. This is mainly targeted for inclusion of MSMEs, women and youth.
A strong advocate for open and interoperable payment ecosystems, she aligns with initiatives that drive low-cost, real-time, and accessible financial services, reinforcing her commitment to financial inclusion and strengthening Africa’s digital payment infrastructure. -
Nomwelase Skenjana
Division Head - Domestic and Regional Settlement Operations, SARB
Nomwelase Skenjana
Nomwelase SkenjanaNomwelase Skenjana CA(SA) is a payments and financial market infrastructure specialist with deep expertise in the evolution of national and regional payment systems, settlement architecture, and the future of sovereign digital financial ecosystems in Africa. Working within the central banking environment, she operates at the intersection of policy, infrastructure resilience, interoperability, innovation, and financial inclusion. Her work centres on ensuring that African nations achieve digital payments sovereignty without sacrificing the benefits of global interoperability. She has been a keynote speaker at several African central banking forums and is a trusted voice in shaping Africa’s digital financial future.
She is the Divisional Head of Domestic and Regional Settlement Services within the National Payment System Department of the South African Reserve Bank, where she leads strategic initiatives relating to domestic and regional settlement infrastructures, including the renewal of the Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) systems for both South Africa and the SADC region.
A qualified Chartered Accountant, Nomwelase holds a BCom and BCompt Honours degree and brings more than 24 years of experience in finance, banking, payments, governance, and financial market infrastructures. Her career has spanned financial reporting, pension administration, governance oversight, retail banking operations, and transformational technology programmes across the banking and payments ecosystem.
Nomwelase is passionate about bridging the gap between African innovation and global best practices, advocating for payment infrastructure models that advance resilience, interoperability, operational sovereignty, and sustainable regional integration. -
Okito Vanessa Wedi
Founder & CEO, Crtve Development
Okito Vanessa Wedi
Okito Vanessa Wedi
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Cape Town, South Africa
