The 11th Edition Connected Banking Summit- Innovation & Excellence Awards East Africa 2024, took place on 6th of March, 2024 in Nairobi, kenya conceptualized and organized by The International Center For Strategic Alliances (ICSA), has successfully marked another milestone in the banking industry’s journey towards inclusion and digital evolution. Held at the Radisson Blu Upper Hill, Nairobi, and supported by partners such as Kaspersky, Freshworks, TransUnion, and Access Bank, this summit has once again proven to be a melting pot for innovation, knowledge, and strategic collaborations.
Keynote Speakers and C-Suite Insights
The summit was graced by the presence of notable figures like Stanley Kamanguya, CEO of ICT Authority, and Mary Mulili, MD/CEO of United Bank for Africa Kenya Ltd, who shared their insights during the opening sessions. Their discussions underscored the critical balance between innovation and traditional banking values, emphasizing the role of partnerships, collaborations, and ecosystems in propelling digital evolution forward.
Panel discussions brought together experts like George Wanjohi, Chief Information Security Officer at Co-operative Bank of Kenya, Michael Michie, CEO of Eversetech, and Moses Munguti, Lead Technical Expert for Kaspersky in East Africa, highlighting the summit’s commitment to addressing pressing industry challenges such as cybersecurity and the future of artificial intelligence in banking.
Our esteemed speakers Includes: –
Sumayya Hassan, CEO, Takaful Insurance of Africa.
David Mukaru, CEO, Caritas Microfinance Bank.
Morris Maina, CEO, TransUnion Kenya.
Njeri Jomo, CEO and Principal Officer, Jubilee Health Insurance Limited.
Lillian Odhiambo, Executive Director, Wholesale Banking, Access Bank Kenya PLC.
Winston Vimalraj, Territory Sales Lead, Africa, Freshworks.
Cyrus Kamau, Deputy Director and Chief Analyst, Infrastructure and ICT, National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation.
Amritha Reddy, Director, Fraud Solutions, TransUnion Africa.
Eunice R. Gatama, Deputy GM Group Digital Lending, Ecosystems & Partnerships, I&M Bank), Everline Wangu Kamau (Territory Manager at VMware by Broadcom.
Dr. Gitonga Muriithi, Head of Commercial, Mwananchi Credit.
Winnie Kaaka, Head Products and Channels, Access Bank PLC.
Joshua Odongo, CEO, Tusenti Limited.
Julius Orayo, Group Chief Information Officer, Jubilee Insurance.
Hartnell Ndungi, Chief Data Officer, Absa Group.
John Frank, CEO, Benkiko.
Angela Mwirigi, Director Digital Financial Services, KCB Bank Group.
Charles Kinyanjui, Head New Ventures and Fintech Development, National Bank of Kenya (NBK).
Winnie Syowai Onyancha, Corporate Relationship Public Sector- Transaction Banking Expert, KCB Bank Group.
Celebrating International Women’s Day and Fostering Innovation
A special segment dedicated to International Women’s Day celebrated the achievements of women in the sector, reflecting the summit’s ongoing commitment to gender equality. The “Launchpad Exhibitors” initiative further underscored this ethos by spotlighting startups like Tusenti and Benkiko, illustrating the summit’s role in nurturing innovation across all levels of the banking ecosystem.
The Innovation & Excellence Awards
The climax of the event, the Innovation & Excellence Awards, recognized the outstanding contributions of individuals and organizations to the banking industry, celebrating achievements across various categories such as digital banking, customer experience, and sustainable practices. This ceremony not only honored current leaders but also inspired future innovators to strive for excellence.
- Excellence In Customer Responsiveness – Family Bank Ltd
- Excellence In Product Innovation – National Bank of Kenya
- Best Islamic Bank of The Year – Gulf African Bank
- Excellence In Payment Innovation – Access Bank (Kenya) Plc
- Best SME Bank – Equity Bank Kenya Ltd
- Excellence In Product Marketing – KCB Bank Group (Kenya)
- Excellence In SME Finance – Co-Operative Bank of Kenya
- Excellence In Digital Banking – Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Ltd
- Excellence In Innovative Banking – Absa Bank Kenya Plc
- Excellence In Financial Reporting – Diamond Trust Bank Kenya Ltd
- Excellence In Investment Banking – Stanbic Bank Kenya
- Excellence In Customer Experience – NCBA Bank Kenya
- Best Bank of The Year – UBA Kenya Bank Ltd
- Microfinance Bank of The Year – Kenya Women Microfinance Bank Plc
- Microfinance CEO of The Year – Dennis Mombo, Mwananchi Credit Ltd
- Insurance CEO of The Year – Dr. Julius Kipng’etich, Jubilee Holdings Ltd
- Insurance Provider of The Year – Jubilee Holdings Ltd
- CEO of The Year – Kariuki Ngari, Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Ltd
- CTO of The Year – Moses Okundi, Absa Bank Kenya Plc
- CISO of The Year – Thelma Kganakga, Equity Bank Kenya Ltd
- CDO of The Year – Hartnell Ndungi, Absa Bank Kenya Plc
- COO of The year – Amrit Gayan, SBM Bank Kenya
- Digital Personality of The year – Mary Mulili, UBA Kenya Plc
- Excellence In Financial Inclusion, Safaricom
The summit provided a unique platform for networking, fostering collaborations among attendees, sponsors, and LaunchPad exhibitors, including Tusenti and Benkiko.
A Call to Action for Future Participation
As the Connected Banking Summit looks forward to its next editions in cities like Addis Ababa, Johannesburg, Manila, Manama, Luxembourg City, Dhaka, and Accra, it continues to invite industry professionals and organizations to be part of this transformative journey.
To get involved or for more information, interested parties are encouraged to reach out via email to Mohammed@connected-banking.com or visit the summit’s website at https://connected-banking.com/summit/
The summit’s success is a testament to the collective wisdom and collaborative spirit of the banking community. By bringing together key speakers, C-Suite delegates, and industry innovators, the Connected Banking Summit not only charts the path for the future of banking but also fosters an environment where every participant can contribute to and benefit from the industry’s growth and evolution.