Fintech and banking partnerships Leveraging innovation for value creation and risk minimisation
Join us for this timely online business briefing exploring how fintech and banking partnerships can help organisations accelerate innovation, improve customer outcomes, enhance operational effectiveness, and minimise emerging risks across rapidly evolving financial landscapes.
This discussion will examine how organisations can balance innovation with responsible governance while navigating areas such as AI adoption, digital transformation, cybersecurity, operational resilience, financial inclusion, regulatory expectations, talent gaps, and changing customer behaviours.
Importantly, the session will also explore the growing role fintechs play in supporting SMEs and scaling businesses, particularly where traditional financing models may not always align with the pace, flexibility, innovation, or growth ambitions of modern entrepreneurial businesses.
We’ve designed the topic and discussion to provide key takeaways:
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Understanding the evolving relationship between fintech firms, financial institutions, and SMEs.
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Learning practical approaches for innovation-led value creation and transformation.
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Exploring frameworks for managing financial, operational, technology, and governance risks.
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Gaining insights into responsible innovation and sustainable growth strategies.
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Understanding how fintech solutions are reshaping access to finance and customer engagement.
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Connecting with peers and leaders shaping the future of financial services innovation.
Whether your interest lies in financial services transformation, innovation, business growth, governance, risk management, customer engagement or SME development, this session offers valuable insight into the partnerships and technologies shaping the future of the financial services ecosystem.
Speakers
Barbara Gottardi
Barbara Gottardi is CEO and Founder of Finbridge Global, a fintech platform focused on accelerating collaboration between financial institutions, fintech firms, and investors through streamlined onboarding, innovation credentialing, and ecosystem partnerships. An internationally recognised financial services and technology executive, Barbara brings extensive leadership experience across banking, investment management, operational resilience, and digital transformation.
Dr. Nashwa Joy Saleh
Dr. Nashwa (Joy) Saleh is an internationally recognized strategic advisor, Chartered Director, fintech leader, educator, and published author with more than 30 years of experience across global emerging and frontier markets, particularly within the EMEA region. She has held senior leadership, policy, and capital markets roles with organizations including European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, African Development Bank, Central Bank of Egypt, S&P Global, and KPMG. She currently serves in several senior board and governance roles, including Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair of Risk Committee at United Bank for Africa UK and Bank of Ceylon UK, both regulated by the Bank of England’s PRA and the FCA.
Jarmila Yu
Jarmila Yu is Founder and Managing Director of YUnique Marketing Ltd, a strategic marketing consultancy supporting ambitious founders, CEOs, and SMEs to successfully launch, grow, and transform their businesses through strategic marketing leadership, business growth advisory, and brand development. Jarmila will bring the SME and entrepreneurial perspective to the discussion, exploring how growing businesses increasingly engage with fintech providers to access agile financing solutions, digital innovation, growth support, and customer-centric financial services alongside traditional banking relationships. Jarmila, past IoD Surrey and Berkshire Branch Chair, now serves as the IoD Surrey and Berkshire Branch Ambassador for Strategic Marketing and Business Growth
Richard Jones
Richard Jones is an experienced financial services and payments sector executive with expertise spanning banking, fintech, cards, payments, digital transformation, and strategic growth within global financial ecosystems. His professional background includes leadership, enterprise payments, strategic business development, and advisory engagement with banking and fintech organisations across Europe and emerging markets.
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