With Thanks To Our Event Sponsor:

Date
Wednesday, 13 November 2024

Time
10:00 - 11:20 GMT

Cost
Free

Background:

Join us for an engaging webinar on the Digitalization of Payment Systems in Mauritius and Opportunities for Payment Intermediaries. This event will explore into the rapid evolution of payment systems in Mauritius, highlighting the significant opportunities for payment intermediaries in this dynamic landscape.

Agenda:

10:00 - 10:05 GMT - Introductory remarks, Hugh Morris

10:05 - 10:10 GMT - Keynote Address, Bank of Mauritius, Mardayah Kona Yerukunondu

10:10 - 10:20 GMT - Overview of Payment Systems in Mauritius, Bank of Mauritius, Khemraj Hurry

10:20 - 10:30 GMT - Regulatory framework for payment intermediary services, Financial Services Commission, Aakash Mishra

10:30 - 10:35 GMT - Sharing of experience - from Telco Company, Emtel, Kresh Goomany

10:35 - 10:40 GMT - Sharing of experience - from a Credit Company, CIM Finance, Sudheer Prabhu

10:40 - 10:50 GMT - Sharing of experience - from FSC, IPT Africa, Mark O’Sullivan

10:50 - 11.00 GMT - Sharing of experience - from FSC, TerraPay Group, Marco Boldini

11:00 - 11:10 GMT - Sharing of experience, MINDEX Group, Jessica Naga

11:10 - 11:15 GMT - Q&A

11:15 - 11:20 GMT - Concluding Remarks, Hugh Morris

Speakers:

Mardayah Kona Yerukunondu was appointed, with effect from 24th February 2020, First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Mauritius (Bank). He also sits on the Monetary Policy Committee. Mr Yerukunondu served as the Chairperson of the Board of the Financial Services Commission, Mauritius from May 2020 to July 2024 and is a sworn Barrister at Law and a seasoned central banker. He joined the Bank in 1977 and has filled several key positions at the Bank. He has played a pivotal role in the modernization of the country’s banking and financial services framework. He has extensively contributed in the drafting of the Bank of Mauritius Act 2004, the Banking Act 2004 as well as the drafting of the Ombudsperson for Financial Services Act. He has played a key role in country missions focusing on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism. Mr Yerukunondu was the Chairperson of the Steering Committee set up by Government to study the social and legal aspects of Islamic financial services. He was equally the Chairperson of the Committee set up by the Bank overseeing the implementation of a Credit Information Bureau in Mauritius.

Khemraj Hurry serves as the Chief of Payment Systems and Digital Currency at the Bank of Mauritius, where he plays a pivotal role in advancing digital banking initiatives and payment systems. He leads a team of analysts overseeing the National Payment Switch, MauCAS, a Bank of Mauritius owned and operated platform aiming to integrate all domestic electronic payment transactions and enhance cost-effectiveness. Khemraj's experience spans over 17 years in the financial sector, with extensive knowledge in the card business, card technologies, and card fraud management gained through his tenure at SBM Bank (Mauritius) Ltd.

Aakash Mishra holds the post of Assistant Director, Fintech supervision since 02 Sept 2024 at the Financial Services Commission, Mauritius. Earlier he was supervising Insurance and Pensions cluster for the past 6 years. Aakash has been nominated recently to represent FSC in Technical Committee for the National Fintech Strategy which has been set up by the Ministry of Financial Services and Good Governance and has over 30 years of insurance domain experience. He has worked in senior management positions in Mauritius, Tanzania and India in leading insurance companies.

Krishnaduth (Kresh) Goomany has over 32 years of extensive local and international experience, of which 25 years at Senior Management level. Since beginning his career in 1992, Kresh has held the positions of Executive Director at Mauritius Telecom and Cellplus Mobile Communications Ltd - Vice President Sales, Chief Operating Officer (Africa) at Comviva Technologies Ltd, and Managing Partner at Anglo African Ltd. He played an important role in the success stories of the companies he worked at. Kresh joined Emtel in 2014 and held the positions of Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO, before moving into his current role as Chief Executive Officer in January 2021. His background and expertise in Telecommunications Networks, Cellular Communications, General Management, Business Development and Sales have enabled him to play an instrumental role in Emtel’s strategy, innovation, new products & services, and growth journey in recent years.

Sudheer Prabhu is an experienced technologist with a career spanning more than 33 years in banking and non-banking Technology and Operations, having worked with large international banks like ABN AMRO and The Royal Bank of Scotland, in addition to working in the public sector, private sector, and the MNC and banking environments in India. Sudheer has been driving the Technology and Digital Strategy along with Cyber Security Strategy of Cim Finance since 2019. Prior to joining Cim Finance, he served as the Chief Information & Digital Officer at MauBank. There, he played a key role in developing and executing MauBank’s digital strategy, and established market-first products like chatbots and Online Leasing Lending, amongst others.

Mark O'Sullivan is an experienced leader in the payments and financial services industry, with over 25 years of global experience and more than 15 years specifically in the African payments sector. As the Founder and CEO of IPT Africa, based in Mauritius, Mark has established a leading cross-border payment platform that serves corporations across Africa. IPT Africa offers real-time pricing, extensive liquidity in over 40 African currencies, and multiple payment options, including bank-to-bank transfers, mobile payments, and instant payments. The company’s advanced, AI-driven compliance platform has a 99.8% payment success rate, offering clients efficient and reliable financial solutions tailored to the complex needs of African markets. Mark's extensive industry knowledge and innovative approach make him a key player in transforming financial services across Africa and beyond.

Marco Boldini is the Global Head of Governmental Affairs, Licensing and Regulatory department at TerraPay where he oversees the company’s efforts in the licensing area. He is also the CEO for TerraPay Italy and a Non-Exec Director for Terrapay UK. Previously he was a Partner at the US law firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe), LLP leading the EU Financial & Fintech practice.Before that Marco was the Head of the Asset Management Regulatory department at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) UK. Marco is a leading authority on financial services regulations, including but not limited to AIFMD, UCITS, PRIIPs, FCA Handbook and Brexit-related topics, as well as on all aspects of funds-related work, on ETFs and ETCs. He advised clients on MIFID II and compliance matters in front of the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Italian Companies and Exchange Commission (Consob). Marco also has deep knowledge of the fintech sector, particularly blockchain and cryptocurrency matters and payment institutions.

Jessica Naga is a FinTech barrister and entrepreneur. She is the Group CEO of the Mauritian headquartered MINDEX Group of companies, which includes MINDEX Digital Custodian Limited, the first licensed Virtual Asset Service Provider of Mauritius, and MINDEX Limited, the first digital securities exchange of Mauritius. Jessica co-founded the MINDEX Group with the goal of addressing financial infrastructure deficiencies in Africa and using blockchain technology to optimise the creation, storing and trading of assets of any kind. In 2020, Jessica was the laureate of Women In Africa 54 (WIA 54) in the digital sphere, and in 2021 and 2022, formed part of the 100 International Women in FinTech Power list of Innovate Finance, UK. She was also the winner of the Most Innovative FinTech CEO 2024 award, by APAC Insider Magazine.