The 12th Edition Connected Banking Summit focuses on technology, innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability.
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Jine 3 (The CONNECT) – Over 300 global executives, experts, and leaders from the banking and financial services industry provided a vibrant platform for learning, networking, and impactful discussions at the 12th Edition Connected Banking Summit – Southern Africa Innovation & Excellence Awards 2024.
The Maslow Hotel in Johannesburg became the epicentre of innovation and excellence as it hosted the summit and the awards on May 23.
This highly anticipated event celebrated outstanding achievements in the banking and financial services industry, cantered around the theme “Empowering Tomorrow’s Banking Digital Landscape: Enroute to Technology, Innovation, Inclusivity, and Sustainability.”
The event underscored the vital role of collaboration and knowledge sharing in propelling the industry forward.
BizNewsConnect was a media patner for the event.
The Innovation & Excellence Awards honored organizations and individuals who have significantly contributed to the BFSI industry in Southern Africa. These accolades highlighted innovative initiatives and exceptional leadership driving growth and development in the region’s financial services sector. The esteemed award winners included:
- Best Bank in South Africa: Standard Bank Group
- Excellence in Consumer Digital Banking: First Rand Bank
- Excellence in Private Banking: First National Bank
- Excellence in Innovative Investment Banking: Absa CIB
- Excellence in Sustainable Banking: Nedbank
- Inspirational Personality in African Banking: Kennedy G. Bungane
- Excellence in Customer Centricity: Tyme Bank
- Excellence in Asset Management: Sasfin Bank
- CEO of the Year: Sim Tshabalala
- CIO of the Year: Johnson Idesoh
- Chief Analytics Officer of the Year: Dr. Mark Nasila
- CDO of the Year: Esther Munyi
- COO of the Year: Pradeep Maharaj
- CISO of the Year: Del Van Rooyen
- Digital Transformation Provider of the Year: Wipro
These awards celebrated the innovative efforts and exemplary leadership that have significantly impacted the financial services sector in Southern Africa. The winners embodied the summit’s core values of technology, innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability.
The summit featured over 24 distinguished speakers who provided invaluable insights and fostered dynamic discussions on critical industry trends. Notable speakers included:
- Johnson Idesoh, Group Chief Information and Technology Officer, Absa Group
- Francois Benjamin, Chief Operating Officer, Access Bank SA
- Marijke Guest, CIB CIO, Ned Bank Group Ltd
- Rene Morel, Cyber Security Lead – Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA), Wipro
- Philile Mkhize, Chief Operations Officer – Technology, Absa Group
- Esther Munyi, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, Sasfin
- Kutlwano Ngwarati, Member, Forbes
- Mark Nasila, Chief Data and Analytics Officer, First National Bank
- Ridwaan Rasool, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, Absa Group
- Doreen Mokoena, Chief Information Security Officer, Cybersec Clinique
- Marianne Kekana, Chief Data and Analytics Officer, FNB ConnectMe
- Tunde Macaulay, Head, Business & Commercial Banking, Africa Regions and Offshore, Standard Bank Group
- Herman Sambo, Executive Head: Personal & Business Banking, Bidvest Bank
- Pascalle Albrecht, Executive: Commercial Issuing: Relationship Banking Product, Absa Group
- Angela Mwelu Tshikhovhokhovho, Senior Vice President, Business Development – Africa, Sharp Vision
- Thembela Khedama, Head of Digitisation, Client Experience and Risk Execution, Standard Bank
- Nkosana Thato Roda, Head: Payments Platform Services, Standard Bank Group
- Mumbi Odame, Head of Client Experience and Design, Rand Merchant Bank
- Dolly Mphahlele, Head of Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing, FirstRand Group Treasury
- Mind Mabhunu, Head of the ATM Business Unit under Personal and Private Banking Coverage, Standard Bank South Africa
- Resham Sivnarain, Tech Lead: Machine Learning & AI, Vodacom Group
- Japheth Munyw’oki, Founder, Goodson Capital Partners
These experts shared their knowledge on emerging technologies, customer experience, DeFi, and the role of AI, ML, and robotics in financial services, propelling forward discussions on how to empower the future of banking through innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability.
The summit explored the increasing influence of emerging technologies on the financial sector, addressing pivotal topics such as Digital Inclusion and Transformation, Customer Experience, DeFi, Lending and Financial Inclusion, the Role of AI, ML, and Robotics in Financial Services, and the Synergies Between Traditional Financial Institutions and Telecoms. Emphasis was also placed on ESG & Sustainability, ensuring that banking advancements progress responsibly and inclusively.
