Speakers

First National Bank (FNB) recently appointed Yolande van Wyk as the new CEO for Smart Services. Yolande and her highly skilled and dedicated team are responsible for the development of innovative alternative banking solutions a well as FNB’s eMoney business.
Yolande joined First National Bank Cellphone Business Solutions and Smart Services as Head of Product Development and was part of the original Cellphone Banking team.  Since then she’s headed up Strategic Projects as well as Expansion, and was responsible for the management and implementation of her division’s products in FNB and FirstRand subsidiaries within the African continent.
Yolande’s active interest in mobile telecoms has enabled her to develop various innovative mobile financial products. As a qualified Industrial Engineer, Yolande began her career as a mobile telecoms consultant at Icon Corporation and Accenture Consulting before joining Leaf Wireless as an Analyst, later becoming Project Office Manager for Leaf Wireless. She has also completed her Masters in Business Administration at UCT at the Graduate School of Business.
Yolande is a dynamic, fun, loving and caring individual who has worked in various interesting markets such as Nigeria, Zambia and India. Yolande is a leading expert in mobile financial services and financial inclusion. With her extensive experience she is a regular speaker at innovation and banking conferences around the world.
Yolande is a prime example of a woman in IT and Financial Services that has become a leading thinker on mobile technologies and mobile banking who truly embraces the world of change and bridging the gap between ICT and Business.

Mehdi KANOUNI currently holds the position of Business Development Director - Professional Services for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.  He joined Motorola in 1999 as an RF Design and Optimization Senior Engineer working for a major North African Operator Account. After which he was responsible for the Professional Services Line of Business (which includes Network Design, Planning and Optimization services) across French Speaking Africa Region.  Mehdi Kanouni was also Operations Director in Algeria where he set up the office, recruited and trained the engineering staff. Prior to joining Motorola, Mehdi Kanouni worked for Alcatel, as a certified IT Professional responsible of the Unix Operating Systems, Databases and Network Administration. 

Mehdi KANOUNI has been involved in Mobile Telecommunications for over 10 years. He completed a Masters degree in Communications and Electronics in 1998 and has been involved in many aspects of Telecommunications including Optimization, Operational, Project Management and Business Development disciplines.

Modupe Ladipo is currently the Chief Executive Officer for Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access (EFInA). EFInA is an independent, professional and non-profit organisation funded by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. EFInA’s purpose is to promote pro-poor financial sector development and financial inclusion in Nigeria.

EFInA focuses on three distinct but mutually reinforcing sets of activities: providing credible market information on the Nigerian financial sector; supporting projects which will augment the development of innovative inclusive financial services for the unbanked and under-banked through our Innovation Fund; engaging in policy related advocacy to promote financial inclusion.
Modupe has over 20 years financial services experience covering corporate strategy & development, product & markets development, mergers & acquisitions, retail and institutional brokerage.  She has worked for Tata Consultancy Services, Merrill Lynch, ABN AMRO, the London Stock Exchange and Credit Suisse Financial Products.  She holds a Masters in Business Administration from Manchester Business School and a Chemical Engineering degree from University College, London.

Brian has worked with Safaricom since 2008 and is the Principal In House Counsel in charge of M-PESA legal and regulatory matters. Prior to joining Safaricom he worked with CRBAfrica, a pan-African credit bureau as its Head of Legal Affairs.
Brian holds Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Master of Laws (LLM) degrees.  He is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and was admitted to the Roll of Advocates in 2002. He is also a member of the Law Society of Kenya.
Brian’s professional areas of interest include Banking & Payment Systems law. He is an ardent rugby fan and supports his country’s Rugby 7s team.