The Ethiopian Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa was abuzz with energy and innovation on August 14th, 2024, as the 15th Edition Connected Banking Summit – Ethiopia Innovation & Excellence Awards 2024 brought together more than 300 global executives, industry leaders, and experts. This year’s summit, themed
“Bolstering the Economy with Digitization and Financial Inclusion,” emphasized the critical role of digital transformation and inclusive financial services in driving economic growth in Ethiopia.
Exploring the Future of Ethiopian Banking
The summit provided a dynamic platform for exploring the future of the banking sector in Ethiopia, with in-depth discussions on topics such as Digital Transformation, Financial Inclusion, Customer Experience, Cybersecurity, and the impact of AI and Machine Learning on banking services. The summit’s focus was on harnessing technology to foster economic growth and create an inclusive financial landscape.
A Gathering of Visionary Leaders
Featuring over 20 distinguished speakers, the summit facilitated meaningful exchanges on the latest industry trends and innovations. Among the prominent speakers were:
• Dr. Yeshurun Alemayehu Adde, State Minister, ICT and Digital Economy Sector, Ministry of Innovation & Technology
• Clayton Hayward, Group CEO, EFT Corporation
• Moses Munguti, Lead Technical Expert East Africa, Kaspersky
• Endalish Woldemichael, Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer, Amhara Bank • Martin Kimani, Associate Director, KPMG East Africa
• Temesgen Busha, Chief Transformation Officer, Awash Bank
• Naresh Bhanotra, Head – Solution Consulting, Middle East & Africa, Infosys Finacle • Fikru Woldetensie Aschalew, Chief Strategy Officer, Ahadu Bank
• Amir Yazdanpanah, Chief Business Development Officer, Mobifin
• Saminas Seyfu, Director – Stakeholders Engagement, National ID Program • Roy Kimathi, Technical Consultant | Africa, Middle East and GCC, OpenText • Belay Gezahegn, Director, Strategy and Innovation Dept, Enat Bank
• Mengistu Gemechu Worku, Director, Corporate Strategy Management and Transformation, Cooperative Bank of Oromia
• Tilahun Esmael Kassahun, Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX)
• Dr. Andualem Hailu, Deputy CEO – Strategy & Technology, Hibret Bank S.C. • Mengistu Endalamaw, Director Mobile Money, Commercial Bank of Ethiopia
• Nohaila Ibn Elfarouk, Regional Sales Executive, Backbase
• Temesgen Taye Lamesa, Director, IS Security Management, Cooperative Bank of Oromia
• Moses Kipchirchir, Associate Director, Technology Risk, KPMG East Africa • Seyoum Damtew Metaferia, Director Information System Security, Commercial Bank of Ethiopia
• Yonas Lemma, Director IT Risk & Cyber Security Depts., Hibret Bank • Endashaw Tesfaye, Digital Financial Services Expert, United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)
• Babeksingh Khalsa, Vice President Sales – Africa, Mobifin
• Mekdes Bekele, Director Digital Banking, Global Bank Ethiopia
Inspiring the Future of Banking
The Connected Banking Summit not only recognized excellence but also inspired future leaders and innovators to continue driving change in the Ethiopian banking sector. As the industry evolves, the summit encouraged all participants to embrace innovation and foster inclusivity in their strategies.