About
The European Women Payments Network (EWPN) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to building a community of diverse communities and allies in cards, fintech & payments in Europe.
1,000s of volunteers across 50 plus countries focus on promoting diversity in leadership, financial education and profile building to shine a light on under-represented groups in the payments industry. EWPN organises local networking evenings, workshops, annual events, awards, webinars, and research. Everyone is welcome.
Each year volunteers raise tens of thousands to organise 100s of local events attracting extraordinary people to connect, grow and learn.
Over the past decade the EWPN has made a huge impact on under-represented communities, in cards, fintech and payments through campaigning, education programmes, mentorship, leadership and giving a stage to new and unsung voices in Fintech. They have gone on to speak at many major conferences and are now recognised leaders.
Our annual one and half day event focuses on learning, networking and career growth – we raise up All TOGETHER NOW
We’re on a mission to raise the standards in financial education and inclusion.
ANCHORING THEME:
FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND INCLUSION
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Venue
The EWPN Annual Awards & Conference 2025 will be hosted at De Nederlandsche Bank in the heart of Amsterdam.
📍 Address: Frederiksplein 61, 1017 XL, Amsterdam, NL (View map)
Situated in one of the city’s most vibrant districts, De Nederlandsche Bank offers a prestigious and inspiring setting for this year’s conference. The venue is easily accessible by public transport, with several tram lines stopping directly in front of the building, making it convenient for both local and international guests.
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PROGRAMME
13 October 2025, Dinner Venue: Capital Kitchen, Amsterdam – Weesperplein 4A, 1018 XA Amsterdam, Netherlands
18:00 – 19:00 Walk-in and Opening
19:00 – 20:00 Awards Ceremony
20:00 – 21:00 Networking
14 October 2025, Conference Venue: De Nederlandsche Bank, Amsterdam
08:30-9:30 Arrival — Registration, networking and refreshments
09:30-10:00 Welcome & Opening
- Merima Mahmutovic – Chair of EWPN Executive Board, Senior Manager, PwC
- Inge van Dijk – Director Payments, Cash & Market Infrastructure, De Nederlandsche Bank
10:00-10:20 Keynote: Financial literacy & Gen Alpha — Tomorrow’s customers, today’s challenge
- Louise Hill – Founder & Executive Chair, GoHenry
10:20-10:40 Tête-à-tête with the EWPN founders: “Milestones and moments: a decade of EWPN”
- Nadja van der Veer – Co-founder and Special Advisor to the Executive Directors at EWPN, Payments Lawyer
- Siliva Mensdorff-Pouilly – Head of BD EMEA at WorldPay, EWPN Executive Director
10:40-11:15 Panel: Mind the gap — Building workplaces that actually work
- Piotr Jan Pietrzak – New Markets Lead at EPI Company
- Monika Moser-Bärlehner – Senior Manager at PPI
- Anna Sweeney – Head of Advisory, Payments at fscom
- Jolita Strasunskaite – Chief People Officer at Payabl.
- Moderator: Lee Chambers – Managing Director at Male Allies UK
11:15-11:40 Coffee break & networking
11:40-12:15 Panel: Designing inclusive UX — “The edges are the new center”
- Joanne Dewar – Founder at Project Nemo
- Gareth Evans – Co-Director at The Financial Inclusion Centre
- Jayne Sibley – Founder & CEO at Sibstar
- Moderator: Helen Owen – VP of Marketing at BR-DGE and EWPN Country Ambassador
12:15-12:35 Fireside chat: Give yourself choices, get yourself chances
- Barbara Logoteta – Head of Compliance UK at Banking Circle
- Moderator: Nadia Edwards-Dashti – Chief Customer Officer at Harrington Starr
12:35-13:15 Panel: Not just pink apps — Building real wealth for women
- Rukayyat Modupe Kolawole – Founder at PaceUP Invest
- Alejandra Rojas – Contributing Writer at Forbes
- Nitika Vyas – CEO & Founder at Aila Money
- Moderator: Elaine Tighe – Head of Marketing at fscom & EWPN Country Ambassador
13:15 – 14:15 Lunch & networking
14:15-14:50 Panel: From credit to worth — Rethinking financial identity
- Carla Canino – Founder at Kindlee
- Jelena Ðurović – Innovation Consultant, ICT HUB Serbia
- Willem Wellinghoff – Chief Compliance Officer at Ecommpay
- Louise Hogan – Senior Associate at A&L Goodbody & EWPN Country Ambassador
- Moderator: Tanuj Pasupuleti – CEO at Bankify
14:50-15:35 Roundtable: The real ROI of diversity in fintech
- Lynda Clarke – General Manager UK at Nayax
- Chloe Fox-Robertson – PhD student at Manchester University
- Srishti Jain Andreasen – Executive, Global Business Development at RS Software
- Marie Beneke – Senior People Business Partner at Unzer
- Moderator: Angela Yore – CEO, SkyParlour and EWPN Executive Board Director
15:35-16:00 Coffee break & networking
16:00-16:35 Panel: Innovation stories from SEE — “Access isn’t accidental — it’s designed”
- Filomena Pijakovska Asprovksa – CEO, President of the Management Board at CaSys, North Macedonia
- Elma Zukić – President of the Association of Microfinance Institutions in BiH
- Martina Bagarić Maršić – Senior Sales and Business Development Executive at DORSUM
- Linda Shomo – Founder and CEO of EasyPay
- Moderator: Naida Čustović – Independent Attorney at Law in Cooperation at WolfTheiss, BiH
16:35-17:15 Debate: Trends that will reshape finance by 2030
- Christia Evagorou – Deputy CEO at payabl.
- Douwe Lycklama- Vice President at Innopay
- Bilgen Aldan – CEO at BKT Pay Albania
- Sylvia Mensdorff-Pouilly – Head of BD EMEA at WorldPay, EWPN Executive Board Member
- Moderator: Magda Milas – Business Development Manager at Monri Payments, EWPN Executive Board Member
17:15-17:30 Closing keynote: “The Power of Finance”
- Ruwani Hewa – Director of Payments at Starling
17:30-17:40 Closing ceremony by EWPN
- Angela Yore – Founder and CEO at SkyParlour, EWPN Executive Board Member
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AWARDS: NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN
(1st September – 24th September)
Education & Knowledge Catalyst
Individual Awards
Positive Troublemaker Award
Description: The Positive Troublemaker Award recognises individuals who fearlessly champion diversity and inclusion in fintech and payments. Recipients actively challenge the status quo, speak truth to power, and create meaningful change through bold advocacy and unwavering integrity.
Criteria: Nominees must demonstrate impact in at least 3 areas
Trailblazing Leadership
- Pioneers change in areas lacking diversity representation
- Maintains exceptional professional standards whilst driving transformation
- Creates new pathways for underrepresented talent
Active Advocacy
- Publicly champions diversity and refuses participation in non-inclusive events
- Challenges discriminatory behaviour and practices
- Uses platform and influence to advance inclusion
Mentorship Excellence
- Sponsors and develops diverse talent across the industry
- Creates supportive environments that encourage innovation and leadership
- Demonstrates measurable impact on mentees’ career progression
Policy Innovation
- Implements internal and external programmes maximising diverse team contributions
- Influences industry standards and best practices
- Drives systemic change beyond individual organisations
Measurable Impact: Evidence of career advancement for supported individuals, policy changes implemented, industry recognition, or quantifiable improvements in workplace inclusion.
Eligibility: Individuals working and based in Europe
Allyship Champion Award
Description: The Allyship Champion Award honours individuals demonstrating exceptional commitment to supporting underrepresented communities in fintech. Recipients use privilege and influence to create meaningful opportunities and drive systemic inclusion.
Criteria: Nominees must excel in at least 2 areas
Strategic Inclusion
- Implements comprehensive diversity strategies with clear vision
- Addresses systemic barriers through innovative programmes
- Creates equitable advancement opportunities across all levels
Active Sponsorship
- Provides meaningful career development for underrepresented talent
- Uses influence to open doors and create opportunities
- Demonstrates measurable impact on sponsored individuals’ progression
Cultural Change
- Builds inclusive environments where all voices contribute
- Challenges bias and exclusionary practices consistently
- Creates psychological safety for authentic participation
Community Engagement
- Partners with organisations supporting underrepresented communities
- Contributes expertise and resources to diversity-focused initiatives
- Drives positive change beyond organisational boundaries
Measurable Impact: Improved representation metrics, successful mentee outcomes, partnership achievements, recognition from diversity organisations, or documented cultural improvements.
Eligibility: Individuals working and based in Europe
Organisational Awards
Inclusion Innovation Award
Description: The Inclusion Innovation Award celebrates groundbreaking approaches to building inclusive workplaces and services in fintech. Recipients develop and implement creative solutions that remove barriers and create meaningful opportunities for underrepresented groups.
Criteria: Nominees must show innovation in at least 2 areas
Product Innovation
- Designs financial products addressing underserved community needs
- Creates accessible services removing traditional barriers
- Demonstrates measurable impact on financial inclusion
Workplace Innovation
- Implements novel policies advancing inclusion beyond traditional approaches
- Creates cultural practices enabling authentic participation
- Develops new frameworks for equitable decision-making
Technology Solutions
- Uses technology to increase accessibility and remove barriers
- Creates digital tools supporting inclusive experiences
- Develops platforms enabling broader community participation
Systemic Change
- Addresses root causes of exclusion through strategic initiatives
- Creates sustainable models for long-term inclusion
- Influences industry practices through innovative partnerships
Measurable Impact: Improved accessibility metrics, increased representation, community impact data, user engagement improvements, or recognition for innovative inclusion practices.
Replication Potential: Strong preference for solutions adaptable by other organisations
Eligibility: Organisations operating in Europe
Education & Knowledge Catalyst Award
Description: The Education & Knowledge Catalyst Award recognises those advancing financial literacy and professional development across the fintech ecosystem. Recipients create lasting learning opportunities that elevate industry knowledge and expand access to financial services education.
Criteria: Nominees must demonstrate impact in at least 2 areas
Knowledge Leadership
- Develops educational content, training programmes, or thought leadership
- Shares expertise through workshops, conferences, or mentoring
- Creates resources advancing industry understanding
Financial Inclusion
- Improves financial literacy for underserved communities
- Develops accessible educational tools and resources
- Bridges knowledge gaps affecting financial participation
Professional Development
- Creates career pathways and skills training opportunities
- Mentors emerging talent with measurable outcomes
- Builds capabilities strengthening industry workforce
Educational Innovation
- Uses technology to increase learning accessibility
- Partners with educational institutions or community organisations
- Develops creative approaches making complex topics understandable
Measurable Impact: Participant feedback scores, career advancement of learners, reach and engagement metrics, educational partnerships established, or documented improvements in financial literacy.
Community Focus: Preference given to initiatives with broad industry or community impact
Eligibility: Organisations operating in Europe
Nomination Process
- Self-nominations and third-party nominations accepted
- Detailed applications highlighting achievements and measurable impact required
- Supporting evidence and references encouraged
- Nomination summary: 400 words max
Evaluation Process
- Expert judging panels with 3-5 relevant industry experts
- Assessment based on criteria alignment and measurable outcomes
- Background verification for potential winners
- Winners announced at EWPN Awards ceremony, October 13th
These awards inspire excellence in diversity, inclusion, and education, driving positive change across the European fintech and payments ecosystem.
If you would like to submit yourself, your colleague, your organisation or someone who you think deserves any of the awards listed above, please fill in the form below. Please note that only ONE form of submission can be received from one individual.
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Speakers
European Payment Initiative (EPI)
PACEUPinvest®
EasyPay
The Association of Microcredit Organizations in B&H
Board Director – Microfinance Centre
GoHenry
Brown Way To Money
Nayax- UK
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Sponsors and Partners of our 2025 conference
VENUE SPONSOR
PLATINUM SPONSOR
NETWORKING SPONSOR
BRONZE SPONSORS
PARTNERS
Interested in becoming a sponsor for our 2025 Conference? Let us know!
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Organizational Team
The event is organised by EWPN team and volunteers. The European Women Payments Network (EWPN) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to building a community of diverse communities and allies in cards, fintech & payments in Europe. Find out more about EWPN here.
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Previous EWPN events
EWPN Vienna, October 2023
EWPN Zagreb, June 2023
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