EWPN Annual Conference 2024

About

A movement made of people working in fintech & payments, who are committed to making changes in our industry. A movement made of people committed to starting and having difficult conversations that are necessary for impactful change in our industry. A movement made of leaders, innovators, change makers, troublemakers, trailblazers, human beings, thought leaders, diverse community and impact creators.

Our events are like no other events. We gather as a community, as a movement to share, learn, encourage one another. We curate the change we want to see in the financial industry. We gather with a purpose.

We are changing the way we interact, using our multiple identities and innovating the way we create, store and exchange value.

ANCHORING THEME: Make It Last

New technologies, digital assets, virtual worlds and marketplaces offer great opportunities to build a more sustainable and inclusive world in which boundaries are fading and silos are broken down.

We are changing the way we interact, using our multiple identities and innovating the way we create, store and exchange value.

SUPPORTING THEMES:

Make DEI and ESG (or The Future) Last
Make Careers Last
Make the Impact of Technology & Innovation Last

The conference brings together our community from across Europe and beyond for a dynamic blend of in-depth workshops, interactive panels,
and plenary sessions led by prominent industry leaders.

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About the Venue

WE WILL MEET IN:
UK, London: Rise, created by Barclays. 41 Luke St, London EC2A 4DP
Ireland: DA Ireland, Three Park Place, Hatch Street Upper, Dublin 2
D02 FX65
Germany, Frankfurt: TechQuartier, Platz d. Einheit 2, 60327 Frankfurt am Main
Netherlands, Amsterdam: Mollie, Keizersgracht 126, 1015 CW Amsterdam.

Event| Program | Speakers | Sponsors and Partners | Previous EWPN events

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PROGRAMME

AMSTERDAM-HUB

12:00-13:00 Arrival, Registration & Refreshments

13:00 – 13:15 WELCOME & OPENING

Ceren Danis – Chief Product Officer at Unique Payments & Country Ambassador Netherlands at EWPN

13:15-13:30 Theme Keynote by Mollie: Make it Last

13:30 – 14:15 Panel: Balancing Tough Personal Life Moments with Career Ambitions

Andreea Pap – Senior Business Development Manager at Etraveli Group
Sophie Makker – Entrepreneur, Gut Leadership at Sophie Makker
Thais Rodrigues Alves – Product Partnerships Lead at Mollie
Moderator: Liesl Bebb-McKay – Director Business Development & Partnerships at BBD

14:30 – 15:15 Panel : (VC) Funding for Women

Claire Tange – Founder/Partner at Joanna Invests
Esma Choho – Growth Strategist/Founder/Angel Investor at choho.com
Kimberly Ofori – Founder at The Bold New Company
Michelle ter Laak – Investment Analyst at Arches Capital
Moderator: Ceren Danis – Chief Product Officer at Unique Payments

15:30 – 16:15 Networking & Coffee Break

16:15-17:00 Podcast Interview Live on Stage

Dirkjan Hupkes – Podcast Host at Women Disrupting Tech

17:15 – 18:15 Industry Leadership Deepdive: “Bridging the AI Gap in Fintech: Unleashing Potential vs. Real-World Adoption”

Charlotte Al Usta – Principal at Flagship Advisory Partners
Denelise L’Ecluse – Managing Director Continental Europe at BSI
Frans van Bruggen – Senior Policy officer FinTech & Artificial Intelligence at Dutch Central Bank
Ryan Chaves – Head of Machine Learning at Mollie
Sharon Ehigiene – Card Scheme & Payments Expert at Silverflow
Thea van Osterhout – Founder/Business Strategy Consultant Identity, Payments & Data at Mariposa
Moderator: Arlette Broex – Head at PaymentGenes Academy, Podcast Host at Nieuwe Knikkers

18:15 – 18:45 Drinks Reception Break

18:45 – 19:00 Awards Welcome by EWPN

19:00 – 19:15 Sponsor Keynote by Mollie

19:15 – 19:30 Awards Announcements

19:30 – 21:00 Dinner & Networking

IRELAND-HUB

12:00-13:00 Arrival, Registration & Refreshments

13:00 – 13:30 WELCOME

Alison Donnelly – Director at fscom & EWPN Ambassador for Ireland
Denis Curran – Divisional Manager and Head of International Financial Services, Engineering & Green Economy

13:30-14:00 Opening Keynote – Make it Last

Matt McCann – CEO and Founder of Access Earth

14:00 – 14:40 Panel: Pay It Forward: The Future of Accessible Payments

Brian Dalton – Senior Accessibility Consultant
Joan Breen – Director at DailyPay
Louise O’Mara – Managing Director at Citi Corporate and Investment Bank. Head of Corporate Banking Ireland and Head of Aviation, Citi Europe plc
Siobhain Colborne, Head of Merchant Service Delivery Europe, Chair of Women in Payments Network at Fexco or Louise Hogan, Senior Associate Solicitor at A&L Goodbody LLP

14:40 – 15:00 Networking & Coffee Break

15:00 – 15:40 Panel: AI-tastic Futures: Crafting Timeless Tech in Fintech

Stéphanie Dossou – Director of Artificial Intelligence at Forvis Mazars
Jared Browne – Privacy & AI Governance, Head of Data Privacy at Fexco Group
Aisling Browne – CEO & Co-Founder at Glitch
Louise Hogan – Solicitor at A&L Goodbody

15:45 – 16:30 Fireside chat: Forge Your Own Path and Navigate the Hidden Rules

Alison McMurtrie – CEO & Founder at Idunn Consulting

16:30 – 17:00 Female Founders Talk

Sinead Sharkey-Steenson – Founder & CEO of Generation Women and Career Reboot Ltd
Michelle O’Keefe – Co-Founder of Platform55
Lesley Tully – Founder at Penny FS Technologies and This is Penny: building the economic power of women

17:00 – 17:15 Pre-Awards Drinks and Sponsor Keynote: Make Careers Last

17:15 – 18:00 Awards Announcements
Closing Remarks: Alison Donnelly – Director at fscom and EWPN Ambassador for Ireland

18:00 – 20:00 Dinner & Networking

FRANKFURT-HUB

12:00-13:00 Arrival, Registration & Refreshments

13:00 – 13:15 WELCOME & OPENING

Melanie Ockerse – Sr. Director Partnership Europe at Entersekt & Executive Board Member at EWPN

13:15-13:30 Keynote: Beyond the Buzz: Crafting Digital Change That Endures

Olga Brumnik – Business Consultant for Digital Transformation at Beecon

13:30 – 14:15 Panel: Beyond Tokenism: Building Sustainable DEI Practices in Fintech

Peter Grouev – Co-founder & Chief Investment Officer at Tapline
Maria Paula Guimarães Baum (She/Her) – Senior Product Manager Xaver
Rukayyat Kolawole, CFA – Founder & CEO at PaceUP Invest & Executive Board Member at EWPN
Moderator: Dorris Kirui – Senior ESG Manager at Gothaer Asset Management AG

14:15 – 15:00 GenAI in digital payments: how to maximize the benefits?

Aigerim Smrčková – Manager at Flagship Advisory Partners
Tanuj Pasupuleti – CEO at Bankify Ltd
Verena Ritter-Döring – Partner at Taylor Wessing Germany
Moderator: Magda Schmid-Debska – Head of Growth & Marketing at PXP Financial

15:00 – 15:45 Networking & Coffee Break

15:45-16:15 Fireside Chat: Forge Your Own Path and Navigate the Hidden Rules

Asmaa Hechenberger – Data Engineer Lead at WWK Lebensversicherung a. G.
Birgit Bucari-Kaiser – Titel at Unzer

16:15 – 16:45 Female Founders Talk

Fanny Giannou – Founder & CEO at Alithea Biotechnology
Rukayyat Kolawole, CFA – Founder & CEO at PaceUP Invest & Executive Board Member at EWPN
Sara Egetemeyr – Co-Founder PENEMUE

17:00 – 17:15 Awards Sponsor Keynote: Make Careers Last

Julia Faesser – Senior Vice President for Identity & Post Transactions Services for Europe at Mastercard

17:15 – 18:00 Awards Announcements

18:00 – 21:00 Dinner & Networking

LONDON – HUB

12:00-13:00 Arrival, Registration & Refreshments

13:00 – 13:15 WELCOME & OPENING

EWPN Board Member Lana Hoffmann
EWPN UK Country Ambassador & Event Host: Helen Owen

13:15-13:30 Keynote: Embracing neurodiversity in the workplace

Alexander Hedlund, Financial Services Programme Lead at Neurodiversity in Business

13:30 – 14:15 Presentations & Panel: Accessible Payments

Prerna Geol – Core team and Founding Member at Project Nemo
Claire Maillet – Fraud Product Manager at Vanguard
Moderator: Miranda Mclean – CMO at ecommpay, EWPN Exec Board Member

14:15 – 15:00 Panel: Inclusive payment technologies: lessons from emerging markets

Gary Prince – CEO at The Pay Firm
Bronwyn Boyle – CISO at PPRO
Teresa Cameron – Finance Director at Clear Junction
Moderator: Dr. Ekaterina Safonova – Managing Director at CS Consulting & Advisory, EWPN Exec Board Member

15:00 – 15:45 Networking & Coffee Break

15:45 – 16:15 Podcast: Bounceback careers: bumps, jumps and squiggly lines

Divya Eapen – Chief Risk Officer
Megan Dunford – COO
Nicola Marins – CCO at The Pay Firm.
Host: Nadia Dashti-Edwards – Chief Customer Officer at Harrington Starr, EWPN Exec Board Member

16:15 – 16:45 EWPN Clips: Female & Minority Founders

Gihan Hyde – Founder & CEO at Communique

17:00 – 17:15 Awards Sponsor Keynote: Make Inclusion Last – Lynda Clarke, COO, Tribe Payments

17:50 – 18:00 Closing remarks
Presented by Aishat Apesin + Sponsors

17:15 – 17:50 Awards Announcement

EWPN Board Member Lana Hoffmann

18:00 – 21:00 Dinner & Networking

Event| Program | Speakers | Sponsors and Partners | Previous EWPN events

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AWARDS

Award Category: “Allyship Champion of the Year” (4)

Description:

The “Allyship Champion of the Year” award recognizes and celebrates outstanding individuals, companies, or organisations that have made significant contributions to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusivity within the fintech payments industry. This award honours those who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, commitment, and proactive efforts in fostering an inclusive culture and supporting underrepresented communities.

The idea is to have at least one winner for this award in each of the hubs.

Criteria:

Nominees should showcase a well-defined, comprehensive, and forward-thinking vision for diversity and inclusion within their organisation. This includes a clear strategy outlining how they integrate inclusive practices into their core operations and long-term plans, addressing at least 2 of the 4 criteria below.

Promotion of Diversity: The nominee should have demonstrated measurable efforts in promoting diversity within their organisation. This could involve initiatives to increase the representation of underrepresented groups in leadership positions, hiring practices that prioritise diversity, and programs that support the career development of diverse talent.
Commitment to Equity: The nominee must demonstrate a commitment to equity through fair and just practices. This includes initiatives to ensure equitable opportunities for all employees, transparent and fair compensation practices, and support systems that address disparities within the workplace.
Innovative Inclusion Programs: Judges will look for innovative and impactful programs implemented by the nominee to foster inclusion. This could include mentorship programs, employee resource groups, partnerships with diversity-focused organisations, or initiatives that create safe and supportive environments for all employees.
Leadership and Advocacy: The nominee should exemplify strong leadership in advocating for diversity and inclusion both internally and externally. This involves actively engaging in conversations about inclusivity, influencing industry standards, and inspiring others to champion diversity and inclusion in their own organisations.
Community Engagement: The nominee should demonstrate efforts to support and engage with underrepresented communities outside of their organisation. This includes partnerships with community organisations, volunteer work, and initiatives aimed at uplifting and empowering marginalised groups within the broader fintech payments ecosystem.

Measurable Results:

Judges will assess the nominee’s ability to achieve tangible and quantifiable results in their allyship and inclusivity efforts. This could involve improved diversity metrics, certifications, awards, and recognition from reputable bodies. Recognising that many fintech companies may be at the early stages of their inclusivity journey, demonstrable measures could include:

Diversity Metrics: Increase in the percentage of underrepresented groups in leadership positions (board, executive committee, senior leadership team, middle managers, etc.). AND /OR Achievement of specific diversity targets across the organisation.
Inclusive Hiring Practices: Implementation of unbiased recruitment policies and processes. AND / OR Partnerships with organisations that support the recruitment of diverse talent.
Employee Engagement and Support: Establishment and active participation in employee resource groups. AND / OR Implementation of mentorship and sponsorship programs for underrepresented employees. AND / OR Results from employee satisfaction and engagement surveys, particularly from diverse groups.
Training and Development: Mandatory diversity, equity, and inclusion training programs for all employees. AND / OR Specialized training programs for managers and leaders to foster inclusive leadership.
Recognition and Awards: Receipt of diversity and inclusion certifications or awards from reputable organisations. AND / OR Public acknowledgment and awards for inclusive initiatives and programs.
Community Engagement: Quantifiable contributions to community organisations supporting underrepresented groups. AND / OR Volunteer hours dedicated to diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Innovation in Inclusion: Development and implementation of unique programs or initiatives that have positively impacted inclusivity. AND / OR Metrics demonstrating the success and impact of these innovative programs.

Scalability and Replicability: Consideration will be given to how easily the nominee’s inclusive practices can be scaled and replicated by other businesses, promoting a ripple effect of positive impact across the fintech payments industry.

Nomination Process:

Self-nominations or nominations by others are accepted, and nominees should submit a detailed application highlighting their diversity and inclusivity initiatives and achievements.

Evaluation Process:

All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges with expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion within the fintech payments industry.
Nominees will be evaluated based on the criteria outlined above, with particular emphasis on measurable results and the scalability and replicability of their practices.

The winner will be announced during the EWPN Awards ceremony on October 16th across all hubs.

The “Allyship Champion of the Year” award aims to inspire and encourage businesses to embrace diversity and inclusivity, serving as a beacon of hope for a more equitable, inclusive, and prosperous future.

Award Category: “Sustainable Business Champion of the Year”

Description:

The “Sustainable Business Champion of the Year” award recognises and celebrates outstanding individuals, companies, or organisations that have made significant contributions to the promotion and implementation of sustainable business practices. This award honours those who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment to creating a positive impact on the environment, society, and the economy through their sustainable business initiatives.

Criteria:

Sustainable Vision and Strategy:

Nominees should showcase a well-defined, comprehensive, and forward-thinking sustainable vision for their business. This includes a clear strategy outlining how they integrate sustainable practices into their core business operations and long-term plans around at least 2 of the 4 criteria below.

Environmental Impact: The nominee should have demonstrated measurable and positive impacts on environmental sustainability. This could involve efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, minimise waste and pollution, conserve natural resources, promote eco-friendly production processes, and biodiversity conservation.
Social Responsibility: The nominee must demonstrate a commitment to social responsibility and ethical practices. This includes initiatives to improve employee conditions, foster inclusivity and diversity, support local communities, and ensure fair trade practices throughout their supply chain.
Innovation and Creativity: Judges will look for innovative approaches and creative solutions employed by the nominee to address sustainability challenges within their industry. This could include the development of new green technologies, business models, or partnerships to promote sustainable growth.
Leadership and Engagement: The nominee should exemplify strong leadership in advocating for sustainable business practices both internally and externally. This involves inspiring and involving employees, stakeholders, and customers in their sustainability journey.

Measurable Results:

Judges will assess the nominee’s ability to achieve tangible and quantifiable results in their sustainable business efforts. This could involve improved sustainability metrics, certifications, awards, and recognition from reputable bodies.

Recognising that most FinTechs will be in very early stages on their sustainability journey demonstrable measures could include:

Implementation of carbon tracking
Moving to 100% renewable energy
Use of sustainable suppliers
Changing recruitment policies
Achieving diversity for each level of seniority in the business (board, Exco, senior leadership team, middle managers, etc)
Producing a materiality assessment
Reducing carbon emissions

Scalability and Replicability:

Consideration will be given to how easily the nominee’s sustainable practices can be scaled and replicated by other businesses, promoting a ripple effect of sustainable impact across industries.

Nomination Process:

Self-nominations or nominations by others are accepted, and nominees should submit a detailed application highlighting their sustainable initiatives and achievements.

The winner will be announced during the EWPN Awards ceremony on October 16th across all hubs.

The “Sustainable Business Champion of the Year” award aims to inspire and encourage businesses to embrace sustainable practices, serving as a beacon of hope for a greener, more responsible, and prosperous future.

The Positive Troublemaker Award

The Positive Trouble Awards will recognise one woman* and one male ally* who has been, and continues to be, very vocal in promoting diversity & inclusion in the industry, especially in areas where women and minority groups are absent or under-represented. The recipients have continuously demonstrated through actions their strong beliefs that diverse organisations are better run, more successful and more innovative than homogenous ones. Recipients should meet at least 3 of the following criteria:

A known fintech or payments evangelist, who “got there” by blazing the trail where there was none before (and continues to blaze the trail today), all the while displaying high integrity, ethical and professional standards
An active sponsor, mentor and promoter of gender equality
Doesn’t hesitate to loudly advocate, promote and fight for diversity in the industry
Has no problem publicly calling out and refusing to participate in “Manels”
Speaks up and is not afraid to point out non-inclusive or poor behaviour
Goes the extra mile to create positive environments to encourage innovation, diversity and leadership
Known for being a good mentor to fellow women in the industry
Responsible for and champions internal and external policies and programs to maximise the contributions and influence of a diverse team in their workforce and/or across the industry

*Individual must be working and based in Europe

Fintech/ Payments Leader of the Year

The Fintech/Payments Leader of the Year will recognise one woman*, who has demonstrated the most leadership in Fintech/Payments. She has persistently shaped the Fintech/Payments dialogue and supported the Fintech community in Europe. The recipient should meet at least 3 of the following criteria:

Recognised thought leader and fintech/payments evangelist known for her distinguished leadership and inspiring work in making a positive impact in her company and the financial services industry
Demonstrable impact of significant financial, strategic and fintech innovative value to her company, investors, customers and community
Demonstrable dedication and commitment to clients and customer service
Exceptional skills in managing and partnering with internal and external stakeholders
A commitment to personal development and a clear vision of the goals they have for themselves
Responsible for and champions internal and external policies and programs to build diverse teams, inspire the next generation, and mentor talent inside and outside her company

*Individual must have worked in the European Fintech/Payments industry for at least 3 years, and is also currently working and based in Europe