Yves Danielle Dote

Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Yves Danielle DOTE specialized in digital finance and particularly in the management of agent networks. She started her professional career in 2009 at MTN Côte d'Ivoire with the MTN Mobile Money service as Sales and Distribution Representative where she helped set up the first agents network. 

She then joined Top Image Côte d'Ivoire as MTN Mobile Money Regional Team Leader then MTN Mobile Money Field Operation Manager until 2015.

Since 2016, she is an Agent Network Manager for Baobab Côte d'Ivoire (formerly Microcred), a microfinance institution, and is responsible for developing alternative distribution channels.

Ophelia Ama Oni

Accra, Ghana

Ophelia Ama Oni has over 14 years combined experience in branch banking, ebanking, mobile money and financial inclusion. She is currently the Financial Inclusion Expert with Digital Disruptions a US based consulting firm that focuses on strategy, design and product innovation. She was previously the Strategy and Business Development Manager for the Inclusive Banking unit of Fidelity Bank Ghana Limited with the responsibility of pursuing its financial inclusion agenda.

Ophelia is passionate about using technology as an enabler to develop solutions to reach the unbanked and underbanked to give them greater access to financial services. She is a founding member of the Financial Inclusion Forum Africa and a Certified Digital Finance Practitioner.

Teshome Kebede

Association of Ethiopian Microfinance Institutions (AEMFI)

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Teshome is currently working as executive director of the Association of Ethiopian Micro finance institutions (AEMFI), which is an umbrella institution for 42 MFIs in Ethiopia and Ethiopian Inclusive Finance, Research and Training institute (EIFTRI). Prior to this position, he has served as a CEO for Ethiopian Inclusive Finance Technology Company(ETIFT). At this capacity, he had managed a shared technology platform for mobile and agent banking services which is shared by six larger MFIs in the country. He also worked as a Managing director for one of the largest biggest MFIs in Ethiopia, OCSSCO. Also worked as a research and academic in staff at Jimma University. Have been serving in the financial sector at different capacities for more than 25 years. He has also served as a member of board members of various institutions and is still serving as a member of national level steering committees.

Professionally, he holds BA Degree in Economics, MA degree in business and MA degree in RLDS, AA University. He is also a certified trainer in different fields of finance. He obtained Certificate in Digital Money (CIDM) from Digital Frontiers Institute (DFI) in partnership with Fletcher school, Tufts University.

Chikhulupiliro John Mphatso

Blantyre & Lilongwe, Malawi

 Chikhulupiliro John Mphatso is an accomplished Digital Financial Services Practitioner with over 8 years’ experience in Sales and Marketing, as well as building Sales and Agent networks. A holder of a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA from the Polytechnic, University of Malawi) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Management (University of Derby) as well as a Certificate in Digital Finance (Digital Frontiers Institute).

He worked as Key Accounts Manager for Unilever SEA from 2010, before joining TNM as Manager for National Channels in 2012.  He was promoted to Head TNM Mobile Money Division in August 2015, a position he held until 1st 30th June 2019 when he was appointed as General Manager for TNM Mpamba Ltd, a subsidiary of TNM Plc.

Sarah Corley

 Cape Town, South Africa

Sarah is DFI’s Community & Professional Development Manager and is responsible for providing opportunities for capacity building of DFS professionals and DFI alumni outside of our online course provision.

She has over 19 years of experience in learning and capacity development within the development and health sector, and is passionate about being a catalyst for change

Carmen Ahounou

 Cotonou, Benin

Carmen has over 19 years of banking and finance experience, with expertise in Financial consolidation, Credit management, Financial Engineering, Research, Strategy and Corporate Governance, Bank Management, Financial Diagnosis, International Finance, and Digital Finance. Her current role is Director of Retail Banking, where she has launched value adding digital products and Atlantic Mobile. 

She completed the Certificate in Digital Money with DFI in 2017 and holds an MBA (finance) from Paris Graduate School of Management.

Madi Ouedraogo

Dakar, Senegal

Madi is a deputy managing director at the Headquarters of central bank of West African states at Dakar Senegal. He is a multidisciplinary expert, including monetary policy, Financial markets, Payment systems, Digital finance and public debt management. 

Madi has a Certificate in Digital Money, and a DES (management) from HEC University of Montreal, and a DEA (Finance) from the University of Abidjan

Gloria Njiu

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Gloria, is an accomplished Digital Financial Services Practitioner with over 10 years’ experience in Digital Business, products and partnerships, as well as building Agent networks. A holder of Masters of Business Administration (MBA from the African Leadership University- Business school, ALUSB) and a Bachelors of Information Technology (Hindustan University) as well as Certificate in Digital Money (Digital Frontiers Institute) and Strategy in the Age of Digital Disruption from INSEAD.

She served in multiple roles at Vodacom M-Pesa Tanzania including Application Support, Agent distribution management and Strategic partnerships product management. She also served as Digital Products Manager for FINCA impact solutions in 2017, before joining CBA as Business Delivery Manager for Digital Products in 2018. She was promoted to Head NCBA Digital business department in April 2020, a position she currently holds.

She is the chair of the founding committee for the Tanzania Association of Digital Finance Practitioners. She is also a member of African Women Leaders Network (AWLN-TZ chapter) in the financial Inclusion pillar.

Edwin Byaruhanga

Digital Frontiers Association (DFA)

Kampala, Uganda

Edwin has +15 years’ experience working with Telecommunications, Banking, and Digital Payment systems sector with hands-on expertise in customer acquisition, network growth, and 3rd Party partner management. His current work experiences include working with Regulators and Development Partners such as the Central Bank of Uganda, the National Identification Regulation Authority & Financial Sector Deepening Uganda. He is also a Market Entry Strategy and Implementation Consultant for multinational Digital Platforms in Southern Africa. He is a known content developer for talks, conferences, fintech festivals, and webinar discussions on all matters digital. 

Jimmy Rutabingwa

Kigali, Rwanda

Jimmy Rutabingwa is a techpreneur, digital finance and payments specialist. He is currently a COO of URWEGO BANK PLC. He used to be a CEO of IMAGINET Ltd, software and e-commerce applications development. He is a chartered Accountant (ACCA) and obtained a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from Makerere University Uganda; a Post Graduate diploma in E-Commerce and Management from London School of Commerce and an MBA from Charles Stuart University Australia. He is currently Pursuing a Chartered Digital Finance Practitioner certification from DFI.

He has over 10 years’ experience in Private sector development, Financial Inclusion, Digital finance and payments, Jimmy is passionate about improving financial livelihoods and experiences of people leveraging technology as an enabler.

Jimmy is a member of the Rwanda Leaders Fellowship and Serves on a number of Boards namely; Klab, Christian Life Assembly, ICT Chamber as the Vice Chairman, Trinity Int. Academy as co-founder and board member, and Chairman of Africa Smart Investments Ltd.

Charity Luchembe Chikumbi

Association for Digital Finance Practitioners (ADFP)

Lusaka, Zambia

Charity Luchembe Chikumbi is Director for DFS and Policy at Financial Sector Deepening Zambia (FSDZ). Previously, she worked for many years at the Central Bank of Zambia in the Payment systems Division before joining FSDZ in April 2016 as a Policy Advisor. She has worked in the Digital Financial Services space to influence regulatory formulation that fosters a healthy growth of DFS in Zambia. 

She believes that digitisation of payments is one way to solve financial exclusion. One of the deterrents to growing financial inclusion is lack of awareness.  Financial Education (FE) is therefore a necessity. Charity also sits on 2 National Financial Inclusion Inclusion Strategy Working Groups that deal with Delivery Channels and the other with Infrastructure. She is founding member of the Association for Digital Finance Professionals in Zambia and the world’s first female CDFP graduate.

Joseph Michelo

Joseph Michelo holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and Masters Degree in Business Administration - both from the Copperbelt University. He has held various positions that include merchant sales, business development of project cum strategic business unit, branch sales manager and regional sales manager of digital products biased towards agency business expansion.

He was part of the team that pioneered the banks agency banking business in Zambia.He is on a CDFP journey and has so far completed LDMM, CIDM, Product management in FinTech and Blind Spots: Gender in Digital Financial Services. He is a digital financial services expert and founding member of the Association for Digital Finance Professionals in Zambia.

Esselina Macome

Maputo, Mozambique

Esselina Macome - Associate Professor at the Eduardo Mondlane University. She holds a PhD in Information Technologies and MSc in Analysis, Design and Management of Information System by LSE - University of London.

She concluded courses in Digital Money, Leading Digital Money Market, Leading for Frontiers, Bitcoin and Block chain, Gender, regulating Fintechs, Humanitarian payment offered by the Digital Frontiers Institute and in Leadership for Financial Inclusion offered by Fletcher School. 

She worked at the Central Bank of Mozambique from 2005-2015, as Executive Director and Member of the Board. She was responsible for Currency Issuing, Payment systems, information Technology and financial inclusion portfolio.

Presently, beside her academic activeity, she is also working at the FSDMOç (Financial Sector Deepening Moçambique) as the Chief Executive Officer since July 2017. 

Her areas of interest include the usage of Information Communication Technology (ICT) for development, Financial Inclusion with more focus to Digital financial services (DFS) and ICT for Gender related issues.

Joao Gasper

Maputo, Mozambique

João Gaspar has over 30 years of experience in the design, implementation and management of business and services in telecommunications, information systems, banking and electronic payments. He has worked for 16 years in SIBS, the Portuguese Interbank Society, as Telecommunications Director and 8 years in Portugal Telecom where he held several Management positions related with Bank services. He was Managing Director at Megarede, a 2.000 brick and mortar network for bills and utilities payment. As partner of Consulpay, he worked with Banco de Angola and Banco de Moçambique, where he helped to define the country interbank services network SIMO.

Since 2018 he is CEO and founder of PAYTEK, one of the first Mozambique Fintech Payment Service Provider and in 2019 helped to create FINTECH.MZ, Mozambique Fintech Association, becoming his president.

Residing in Maputo since 2013, João has a B-Level degree in Electronic Engineering and telecommunications and several specialization courses in business development, leadership, and technology with a special focus in the Digital Financial Services area.

Timothy Mukata

Nairobi, Kenya

Tim has been engaged with transforming financial services through creativity & disruption resulting in value-adding financial solutions for the masses.  With over 20 years’ experience working on the African continent, ranging across countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Rwanda and in various roles and capacities, his wealth of experience and knowledge is as rich and diverse as can be. He is happy to share the knowledge, experiences, networks, expertise and skills gathered and honed over the years, as well as provide training guidance, mentorship and advisory if that will contribute towards impacting the lives of many in a positive way.

He focuses on a wide range of digital and financial innovation applications such as financial inclusion, value adding finance, agency banking, digital credit, insurance, trade finance; and healthcare, education and agricultural value chains.

He is an ardent believer in the application of technology as an agent of change, and that when used in a smart way, has the potential to drastically improve the livelihoods of the masses.

MD Rashed

Digital Finance Forum Bangladesh

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Mr. Md. Rashed is serving Bangladesh Bank (central bank) since 2006 and currently in the position of Joint Director. He was responsible for AML/CFT related supervision of Money Remittance Services and Digital Financial Services for 7 years. He was the lead researcher/ author of the Study Paper, “AML/CFT Regulation for Mobile Money: Policy Options for Bangladesh” (2017) and “NGO/NPO Sector Assessment of Bangladesh” (2015).  

Mr. Rashed obtained his Bachelor and Masters Degrees from the University of Dhaka. He had completed Professional Masters in Banking & Finance from Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok. He was member of Focus Group on Digital Financial Services (FG-DFS) and on Digital Fiat Currency (FG-DFC) of International Telecommunication Union, Switzerland. 

He had completed Certificate in Digital Money (CIDM), Leading Digital Money Markets (LDMM), Digital Identity, Mobile Money Operations, Digital Finance for All, Money Transfer, AML/CFT Compliance and Gender in Digital Finance online courses from Digital Frontiers Institute. He is the Founder and Convener of ‘Digital Finance Forum Bangladesh’, the professional association for digital finance and inclusion practitioners. He speaks on digital finance, inclusion and AML/CFT issues in different local and international training, seminar, conference and webinar, etc. He has been working as member of different government and central bank committee/panel/working groups related with digital finance, inclusion and FinTech innovation.

International standards, policy, regulation and supervision of digital finance, digital economy, inclusive growth and AML/CFT are his areas of interest.

Fahad Shabab

Karachi, Pakistan

Fahad is a Certified Digital Money Practitioner with an extensive experience in the Field of Digital Payments and Financial Services. Founding member of the 1LINK (National Payment Switch) of Pakistan, leading the product development role and business implementation. 

He is of the very few individuals in the country who have strong domain knowledge of Payment System both Business and Technical aspects. 
Passionate about Human development, economic empowerment, digital money, blockchain, gender and financial services and inclusive growth.

Immanuel Umukoro

Lagos, Nigeria

Immanuel Ovemeso Umukoro is a research fellow in digital finance and information systems at the Lagos Business School, Nigeria. In addition to his research role, he also facilitates sessions in business process improvement, management information systems, blue ocean strategy, and turning strategy into action at the Lagos Business School. His research focuses on digital financial services, financial inclusion, technology adoption and use, digital platforms and the sharing economy, innovation and technology transfer studies, business information systems, process management, consumer studies, development information systems, ergonomics and man-machine interaction, and management information. He is an associate of the Centre for Global Enterprise (CGE) with a distinction in Platform Management, Strategy, and Innovation. Immanuel has certifications in digital money, interoperable and inclusive payment systems, and digital financial services in emerging markets among others from the Digital Frontiers Institute and Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

Adenike Okunbolade

Abuja, Nigeria

Adenike Okunbolade has over 10 years of cumulative experience in Mobile Money and Customer Service/Contact Centre. She is passionate about Digital Finance, Financial Inclusion and Customer Satisfaction. She holds a B-Tech in Agricultural Economics and Extension from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Nigeria. She has Certificate in Leading Digital Money Market, Certificate in Digital Money, Certificate in Digital Humanitarian payments, Certificate in Product Management for FinTech, Certificate in Digital Identity, Operationalizing Mobile Money, Certificate in Money Transfer Int. Remit, Certificate in Digital Finance for All, Certificate in Digital Humanitarian Payment, from Digital Frontiers Institute. She is also a Certified E-Business Professional and has Customer Relationship Management Certification with EC Council.

Adenike has a strong and assertive personality with an eye for details and passion for results, she’s a self-motivated team player with an optimistic and enthusiastic outlook to work and people and always committed to delivering high quality and professional service. She also believes that developing strong relationships is the foundation of everything she does, both professionally and personally. She like meeting people and organizing events.

Gisele Yitamben

Douala, Cameroon

Gisele Yitamben is the CEO of ASAFE Knowledge Academy a training institute on IT (Networking Academy, AWS, Microsoft and programming in various languages) based in Douala. The academy was founded in 2000 and was supported by ITU. Gisele is also a researcher and as such she has written several articles of financial inclusion in Francophone countries. She earned a CIDM certificate in 2018. Gisele is a social entrepreneur and a member of the World Economic Forum as an outstanding social entrepreneur since 2002.

Eloi Gome

Lome, Togo

Graduate of a DESS in Banking and Finance at the Center for Financial, Economic and Banking Studies (CEFEB) in Marseille (France), a DESS in Management at the Institute of Business Administration (IAE) of the University from Paris 1 Sorbonne Panthéon, and a Master in Marketing – Communication at the International Institute of Management (IIM-Benin), Mr. Eloi GOME is currently preparing his PhD in Digital Finance and financial inclusion. Eloi GOME was major of the CIDM cohort 5 of DFI.

Expert-Consultant and Trainer, he has led several studies and consulting assignments in digital finance, including :

Principal Consultant in the setting up of a digital finance platform at the National Microfinance Fund and at the nine (09) microfinance institutions (MFIs) partners in Benin;

Senior Consultant in the training of market agents of the Agency for Applied Monetics Systems (ASMA Group) in Benin;

Consultant-Trainer for the animation of a training module on business models in digital finance in Yaoundé, Cameroon for the benefit of microfinance institutions. This training was funded by UNDP;

Consultant-Trainer for the animation of a training module on financial education in digital finance for the staff of the Permanent Secretariat for the Promotion of Microfinance. This training took place in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso;

Consultant member of the team of experts recruited for the launch of Togocel’s digital finance activities (TMoney) in Lomé, Togo.

Ethel Chiwara Mupambwa

Harare, Zimbabwe

Ethel is the founder and Executive Director of MoneyMart Finance. She has nine years’ experience linking finance to business operations, and five of them specializing in Micro-finance focusing more on innovative ways in digital finance. Ethel grew up in rural Gokwe in Nembudziya Zimbabwe, where she experienced first-hand the devastating effects of financial exclusion, especially the exclusion of women. She is passionate about financial inclusion through digital platforms and has focused the efforts of MoneyMart Finance to the provision of micro-credit to excluded micro and small business with a strong focus on female entrepreneurs. To date, MoneyMart has served over 2,500 micro-entrepreneurs, 70% of the women, and disbursing over $3.5 million in loans over a 5 year period.

She is on her CDFP journey with DFI and is one of the members working to form a digital finance professionals association in Zimbabwe. She strongly believes she has a role to play in the Sustainable Development Goals, in the fight against poverty, in creating wealth and in changing lives through digital finance.

Ear Mohammad

Bangladesh Digital Finance Forum

Chattogram, Bangladesh

Mr. Ear Mohammad is serving Bangladesh Bank (central bank) since 2012 and currently in the position of Deputy Director. He was responsible for, monitor the Lead Bank Scheme which is aimed at forging a coordinated approach for providing agricultural credit to achieve overall development of rural areas in the country, for last three and half years. He was an adjunct faculty member of Economics and Banking Department in a leading private university.

Mr. Ear Mohammad obtained his Bachelor Degree in Statistics from the University of Chittagong and Master in Business Administration from Bangladesh University of Professionals, Dhaka. He had completed Professional Masters in Banking & Finance from Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok. He was an admin and supervised the regulatory issues of an online based agricultural credit project under the Ministry of ICT. The project aims to simplify the process of agricultural credit available to farmers namely “Online Krishi o Polli rin Sohozikorn” (http://onlinekrishi.gov.bd/en). Currently, Chattogram is the pilot area of the project to be implemented.

He had completed Certificate in Digital Money (CIDM), Leading Digital Money Markets (LDMM) and Regulation in Digital Financial Services.