Innovation & Excellence Awards East Africa 2024, Nairobi, Kenya
The Connected Banking Summit, organized by The International Center For Strategic Alliances (ICSA), once again showcased its ability to bring together experts in banking, fintech, and financial services. The 11th Edition Connected Banking Summit- Innovation & Excellence Awards East Africa 2024 took place on 6th of March, 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya, with support from partners like Kaspersky, Freshworks, TransUnion, and Access Bank, creating a hub for strategic partnerships essential for industry advancement.
Our esteemed speakers include:
Mary Mulili, CEO, United Bank for Africa Kenya Limited.
Samuel Addae Minta, Country Managing Director, Access Bank (Kenya) PLC.
Stanley Kamanguya, CEO, ICT Authority.
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.
Moses Munguti, Lead Technical Expert East Africa, Kaspersky.
Joshua Odongo, CEO, Tusenti Limited.
Julius Orayo, Group Chief Information Officer, Jubilee Insurance.
Hartnell Ndungi, Chief Data Officer, Absa Group.
George Wanjohi, Chief Information Security Officer, Co-operative Bank of Kenya.
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.
The Innovation & Excellence Awards recognized outstanding achievements across categories, with notable winners:
The Connected Banking Innovation & Excellence Awards 2024, have been one of the most prestigious awards in the region in the past 5 years. The awards aim to acknowledge the exceptional contributions from individuals and organizations towards sustainable growth in the BFSI sector, to lead in the global digital evolution. They provide a platform to celebrate current leaders and inspire future ones, showcasing their expertise and contributions, while encouraging other organizations to strive for excellence in promoting sustainable growth, following the mission statement – “Connect, Integrate and Transform.”
- 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 offered a unique networking platform, fostering collaborations among attendees, sponsors, and LaunchPad exhibitors, including Tusenti and Benkiko.
A Catalyst for Collaboration
One of the summit’s highlights was its facilitation of networking opportunities among attendees, serving as a catalyst for starting conversations that could lead to transformative collaborations. Whether through panel discussions, breakout sessions, or casual networking events, participants found common ground to explore potential partnerships promising to drive innovation and tackle complex banking challenges.
Innovative Solutions Through Fintech Partnerships
The summit emphasized the importance of banks and fintech companies working together to deliver innovative solutions to market. Discussions focused on how these collaborations could enhance digital banking experiences, streamline operations, and expand access to financial services, especially in underserved communities. By partnering with fintech startups, traditional banks can expedite their digital transformations, providing customers with more personalized and efficient services.
The Role of Technology Providers
Technology providers, including the event’s sponsors, were instrumental in showcasing how cutting-edge solutions can support the banking sector’s needs. From cybersecurity measures by Kaspersky to customer engagement tools by Freshworks, these partnerships are crucial for banks to stay ahead in a digital and competitive landscape.
Towards a More Connected Banking Ecosystem
The summit highlighted the significance of building a connected banking ecosystem, where collaboration among stakeholders leads to greater innovation, inclusion, and sustainability in the sector. These partnerships go beyond technology adoption, focusing on sharing knowledge, best practices, and visions for the future of banking.
A Global Platform for Local and International Collaboration
As the summit looks ahead to upcoming editions in cities like Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Johannesburg, South Africa; Manila, Philippines; Manama, Bahrain; Luxembourg City, Luxembourg; Dhaka, Bangladesh and Accra, Ghana, it continues to provide a global platform for fostering local and international collaborations. These future events will undoubtedly serve as vital venues for forming new partnerships and strengthening existing ones, driving the collective mission of innovating and transforming the banking industry.
For professionals and organizations interested in exploring partnership opportunities or contributing to the future of banking, we encourage you to reach out via email to Mohammed@connected-banking.com or visit our website at https://connected-banking.com/summit/
The Connected Banking Summit remains dedicated to being a bridge-builder in the banking sector, facilitating partnerships that pave the way for a more innovative, inclusive, and resilient financial ecosystem.