.Be inspired by women making waves in the Canada payments industry and beyond. Join us at the 2024 Symposium! Our theme for this year is "Women Leading the Generative Era".
Our keynotes, panels, and break-out sessions will help strengthen your skills while keeping you on top of industry trends. Hear from women leaders on a variety of subjects including current payments issues and initiatives, fintech, and leadership. You'll also have the opportunity to network with women at all levels and with diverse backgrounds in payment and fintech. This is a must-attend event for any woman who's serious about accelerating her career in the payments industry.
The Women in Payments symposium is a unique event that provides perspectives from key women leaders in payments, supports diversity and gender parity, and includes topics impacting all aspects of the payments ecosystem. The format includes keynote addresses, executive panel discussions, career development breakout sessions and networking breaks. This forum is an unparalleled opportunity that is empowering, current and immediately relevant to any woman pursuing a career in payments.
The registration for Women in Payments 2024 CANADA Symposium is now closed.
We do not have a contracted room block nor special rate with any hotel during the symposium. There are a number of accommodation options near the Arcadian Court, including:
Sheraton Centre Toronto
Cambridge Suites Toronto
Hilton Toronto
One King West
Pantages Hotel Downtown
Marriott Downtown at CF Toronto Eaton Centre
Agenda
Networking Break/ Main Foyer
14:30 - 15:00REGISTRATION
15:45 - 16:15NETWORKING BREAK
Fireside Chat / LOFT 5
15:00 - 15:45BUILDING BRIDGES: COMMUNITY, EQUITY, AND PERSONAL GROWTH
Join us for a candid chat on thriving through bridging community, resilience, and authentic leadership. Learn how resilience, authenticity, and community-building shape career success in high-performing workplaces. Gain insights on leveraging personal strengths and advocating for gender equity and inclusivity. Listen to personal stories of fostering diversity to build a more inclusive and empowered payments community.
Janet Lin
Vice President, Lending and Payment Technology at EQ Bank
Violeta Rangel
Executive Director of MSCI
16:15 - 17:00BUILDING YOUR CIRCLE - WOMEN EMPOWERING WOMEN
This session will discuss our unique experiences, highlighting leadership and career opportunities for women in payments. The panel will reflect on their own career paths and what the future looks like for careers in payments. The discussion will also emphasize the power of finding your own circle of women who push boundaries and thrive on the art of the possible through community building, coffee chats, networking, mentoring, and sponsorship.
Shruti Awasthi
Director, Open Banking Strategy of CIBC
Sarah Gowdy
Advisor, Digital Crimes Consortium at Equifax Canada
Rachelle Hildyard
Vice President, Global FIG & Correspondent Banking, Global Transaction Banking at Scotiabank
Bhavna Kaushal
Consulting and Advisory Services at Independent
Ann McDow
Chief People Officer at Peoples Group
Workshop / LOFT 3 & 4
15:00 - 15:45THE JOURNEY TO DIGITAL IDENTITY
As we propel into an increasingly digital era, the significance of secure and inclusive digital identities in the payments landscape cannot be overstated. However, achieving universal access to digital identity remains a challenge, particularly in ensuring completeness and accuracy across diverse client types globally. This workshop endeavors to explore the journey to digital identity, the growing influence of consumer trends on corporate digital identity, and the value of innovation and digitization of clients in the payment and financial services ecosystem.
Amanda Estiverne-Colas
Founder of AGE Advisors
Veronica Genao
Business Development Director of Encompass
Abi Mondal
Senior Product Manager, Enterprise Open Banking at TD Bank
16:15 - 17:00THE FACE OF TOMORROW
The session will introduce you to the “Face of Tomorrow” and the transformation it can inspire. We will delve into three major trends: the macroeconomic shift that is driving buyer behaviour, the importance of empathizing with the unique needs and challenges faced by women, and the rich cultural tapestry and transformation that power the economies and ideals of Canadian society.
Amanda Fraga
VP, Insights at Mastercard
Main Stage/Arcadian Court
18:15 - 18:20WELCOME REMARKS
Julia Streets
Founder & CEO of Streets Consulting, Host/Presenter, Senior Executive Leadership Coach
18:20 - 18:25OPENING REMARKS
Kristy Duncan
Founder and CEO of Women in Payments
18:25 - 19:30AWARDS DINNER
19:50 - 21:05AWARDS PRESENTATION
Kimberly Kuzmak
VP, Lifestyle Benefits, Partnerships & Brand at American Express
Suman Sidhu
VP, Global Payments Engineering at Scotiabank
Panel / LOFT 1 & 2
15:00 - 15:45LEADERSHIP IN 2025: THRIVING AMID WORKFORCE EVOLUTION
By 2025, over 25% of the workforce will be Gen Z, posing new challenges and opportunities. Leaders must learn to navigate multi-generational dynamics, tackle return to office challenges, deliver tough news, and foster connections. Discover essential soft skills for payments executives, current hiring insights, innovative retention strategies, and the impact of fintech and payments innovation on executive recruitment and talent strategies. This session is a must for leaders aiming to adapt and thrive in a rapidly evolving labour market.
Deborah Bottineau
Managing Director of Robert Half Canada
Emilija Businskas
Vice President, Communications at Mastercard
Megan Henning
Head, North American Receivables & Trade Finance Product at Bank of Montreal
Malini Mitra
Director Communications, UK, Northern Europe & Canada of PayPal
16:15 - 17:00ALLYSHIP: A CATALYST FOR EMPOWERMENT IN THE PAYMENTS INDUSTRY
As the payments industry evolves and diversifies, allyship emerges as a force in propelling the careers of women forward. In a realm historically dominated by males, allyship becomes a sign of solidarity and a strategic imperative for fostering an inclusive ecosystem. This session delves into how allyship serves as a springboard for career advancement, innovation, and empowerment. In an era of rapid technological advancement and shifting industry dynamics, there is a need for inclusivity.
Maria Hornak
Executive Director, Treasury Services for Global Corporate Banking of J.P. Morgan
Aileen Kheraj
VP, Emerging Payments and Enterprise Payments Capabilities at TD
Jude Leclerc
Managing Director, Head of Treasury Services Canada at J.P. Morgan
Sheri Levy
Vice President, Financial Institution Account Management at Mastercard Canada
Sherrie O’Doyle
Director, Sustainable Procurement & Value Growth, Global Chair for Alliance for Women of BMO
Arcadian Gallery
17:00 - 18:00REGISTRATION & AWARDS RECEPTION
Networking Break/ Main Foyer
08:00 - 08:45REGISTATION & NETWORKING BREAKFAST
10:15 - 10:45NETWORKING BREAK
14:40 - 15:10NETWORKING BREAK
Fireside Chat / LOFT 5
10:45 - 11:25THE FUTURE OF CURRENCY - CBDC'S EWALLETS, AND MORE
CBDCs is a complex process influenced by various economic, technological, regulatory, and societal factors. While Canada has shown interest in exploring the possibility of a CBDC, the timeline and specific details of its implementation remain uncertain. As with any new form of currency, regulatory frameworks need to be established for AML, KYC, consumer protection, and financial stability. Canada will need to collaborate with other countries to address cross-border payments and regulatory harmonization. This fireside chat discussion will lay out tipping points that have led to shifting adoption and what triggers to watch for over the next five to 10 years.
Lois Tullo
CFO/CRO/CCO, EIR, Professor at KuberMIC, Global Risk Institute, Schulich School of Business
Allison Walsh
Director, NAM Product Head for Banking as a Service (BaaS) of Citibank
11:30 - 12:10THE ART OF VULNERABILITY: CULTIVATING AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP
Purposeful vulnerability refers to the intentional and strategic decision to open oneself up emotionally, mentally, or socially. It involves sharing genuine thoughts, feelings, or experiences with others in order to build trust, foster deeper connections, and create opportunities for growth and learning. This is, in fact, a vital trait for business leaders to possess and is key to building high-performing teams. By purposefully demonstrating vulnerability, you cultivate successful teams.
Heather Lamont
SVP, Global Customer Experience & Operations at Caf.io
Carolyn Anderson
SVP, Head of Marketing, Point of Sale Lending at Elavon
14:00 - 14:40FUELING DATA DRIVEN INNOVATION - BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN INTEREST & USAGE
Canada is on the path to operationalizing a Consumer-Driven Banking ecosystem. Consumers will be empowered to choose innovative products and services to improve their financial outcomes. The trust Canadians place in providers when they use payment services today will grow even more essential as Open Banking takes shape, and the market opens to new players. In the run-up to 2025, as providers prepare to roll out new and innovative services, how do we prime the ecosystem for strong adoption among consumers, and help them reap the benefits of Open Banking? How will we enable participants to achieve strong growth? In this fireside chat, industry experts will explore various strategies to manage risk while fostering a successful Open Banking system in Canada.
Nik Batheja
Director, Global Head of Open Banking at BNY
Saba Shariff
SVP Chief Strategy Product & Innovation Officer at Symcor
Louise Carter
Director, Retail Payments Supervision of Bank of Canada
Workshop / LOFT 3 & 4
10:45 - 11:25UNLOCKING EXECUTIVE-LEVEL PRESENCE: STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS
Join us for an interactive workshop where you’ll uncover the essential elements of projecting executive-level presence. Explore three key strategies to enhance your professional image, communicate with authority, and boost your confidence in the workplace. Participate in exercises designed to develop your speaking style and master techniques for expressive speeches, stage presence, and audience interaction. Connect with your audience on a deeper level to make your talks memorable and impactful. Discover how to craft compelling narratives that engage and inspire, all while finding your authentic voice.
Michele Balcom
Senior Vice President, Enterprise Business Development, North America at Worldpay
Sammie Walker Herrera
Public Speaking & Confidence Coach at Speak Y'all
Janet Lalonde
Vice President, Business Program Delivery at Payments Canada
11:30 - 12:10EMBRACING CHANGE - PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE
It's been 18 months since the industry ‘go-live’ for ISO20022. The adoption of real-time payments and Open banking is in full swing, but how is this translating to value for banks and their clients, especially when it comes to B2B payments? In this workshop we will have an open discussion about the possibilities and importance of a modern payment ecosystem.
Maureen Jarvis
Managing Director, Head of Business Banking Sales, Global Payments Solutions at Bank of America
Kellie Johnson
SVP Payments, Americas at RedCompass Labs
Tamara Silvera
AVP, Treasury Operations at Manulife
14:00 - 14:40NETWORKING SESSION VISA
Discover the power of positive relationships at our networking session, designed to unite and empower women through industry connections. The session will feature an interactive Ambition Board Workshop, designed to empower, and inspire through the sharing of personal ambitions. The aim is to foster self-belief and belonging as attendees create profound connections with like-minded women, exchanging contact details and building a supportive network that extends beyond the symposium. Join us in an atmosphere of camaraderie, empowerment, and inspiration. Together, we can inspire change, foster inclusion, and empower each other to reach new heights.
Main Stage/Arcadian Court
08:45 - 08:50WELCOME REMARKS
Julia Streets
Founder & CEO of Streets Consulting, Host/Presenter, Senior Executive Leadership Coach
08:50 - 09:00OPENING REMARKS
Kristy Duncan
Founder and CEO of Women in Payments
09:00 - 09:30OPENING KEYNOTE FIRESIDE
Rania Llewellyn
Former President and Chief Executive Officer at Laurentian Bank
Tanya van Biesen
President & CEO of VersaFi
09:30 - 10:15EXECUTIVE PANEL
Addressing imposter phenomenon involves acknowledging and challenging negative thought patterns, building self-confidence, and seeking support from mentors, peers, or mental health professionals. Focusing on one's strengths and accomplishments and setting realistic goals can also help individuals overcome imposter feelings and achieve their full potential. Do male allies play a role in advocating for fairness in the workplace by promoting equal opportunities for all individuals? This mixed panel will share insights on the importance of male allyship.
Lyndsay Langford
Managing Director, Treasury Sales Manager of Bank of America
David Berube
Executive Director, Program & Project Team, Chase Payments Solutions, Merchant Services of J.P. Morgan
Matthew Parker-Jones
Senior Vice President, Global Transaction Banking at Scotiabank
Victoria Patterson
Director, Global Solution Sales of Citi
Cassie Wong
Head of Payments and Partnerships, Canada at PayPal
12:10 - 13:05NETWORKING LUNCH
13:05 - 13:15LUNCH REMARKS
Olivia Tang
Senior Vice President โ Legal & Corporate Affairs at Peoples Group
13:15 - 13:55HOW BIOMETRICS & AI ARE INFLUENCING FRAUDS & SCAMS
Why are sophisticated frauds and scams difficult to detect? The answer is simple: they mimic human behaviour using bots, scripts, and a variety of other tools. By relying on biometric data such as fingerprints, facial recognition, iris scans, or voice patterns, organizations can add an extra layer of security to their authentication processes. Sophisticated fraudsters may attempt to deceive biometric systems by presenting fake or stolen biometric data. How is our industry and our regulators preparing to protect against sophisticated attacks?
Carol Ann Northcott
Chief Risk Officer at Central 1
Phil Hogg
President at Worldpay Canada Corporation
Ainsley Johnston
Director, Product Management of Mastercard
Ute Miller
Senior Vice President, Identity Verification Products at Mastercard
Carleigh Watts
Vice President, UX and User Strategy - Omnichannel Biometrics at J.P. Morgan
13:55 - 14:00CLOSING KEYNOTE INTRODUCTION
15:10 - 16:00UNICORN CHALLENGE - Generative AI- The New Frontier
The Women in Payments Unicorn Challenge gives female-run fintech start-up the opportunity to present their concept to a panel of judges and an audience of payments professionals. This year’s challenge will give one challenger the opportunity to pitch to a panel of judges, followed by a deeper conversation on their cutting-edge technology and its impacts on payments industry. The conversation will also delve in to both the successes and obstacles experienced by women within payments, AI and technology.
Phuong Dang
Vice President, Payments at CIBC
Sarit Daniel
Sr. Director, Payments & FX of RBC
Mia Huntington
EVP, Digital & Associations at Elavon
Patricia Thaine
Co-Founder & CEO of Private AI
16:00 - 16:05KEYNOTE INTRODUCTION
Annette Kingsley
VP, Colleague Experience Group at American Express Canada
16:05 - 16:50CLOSING KEYNOTE
Laugh, Think and Play More for Business and Career Success - In our fast paced business world it is vital that we allow ourselves to reconnect with being human. When we Laugh, Think and Play (three most deeply human attributes) we open ourselves up to connections on a deeper level, more engagement and more productivity at work and life. In this engaging, thought provoking and funny talk Em will guide you on how you can allow yourself more time to do these three things and why they matter now more than ever.
Em Stroud
Spark, Laugh Think Play
16:50 - 17:05CLOSING REMARKS
Kristy Duncan
Founder and CEO of Women in Payments
Panel / LOFT 1 & 2
10:45 - 11:25OPEN BANKING - PAY BY BANK
Global markets are enacting openness in financial services via Open APIs. In EU, the PSD3 regulation will enable mass growth by developing a competitive and innovative payments market. In other international regions, Saudi Arabia is introducing legislation, Colombia and Mexico are on their way, while countries like Brazil and India, with low credit card penetration rates, have fast adopted the Pay by Bank concept. How does Canada compare?
Shruti Awasthi
Director, Open Banking Strategy of CIBC
Karen Budahazy
Board Member at Open Finance Network Canada
Buffy Duke
SVP Client Coverage Group at Caspian One Open Data
Julie Falardeau-Moghaddam
VP, Product Management, Acquiring Platform and Rails at J.P. Morgan
Bhavna Kaushal
Consulting and Advisory Services at Independent
11:30 - 12:10PAYMENTS AROUND THE WORLD
Our panelists will bring a global perspective on payments around the world. Canada and the U.S. share many commonalities due to their geographic proximity. The panel will explore similarities and regulatory differences between these two countries. Discover some of the unique and innovative products that are being developed around the globe to meet the needs of customers. India ranks number one in digital payments globally. Our expert panel will provide insights into global payments and market adoption of evolving technologies.
Shobana Hariprasad
Senior QA Manager, Commercial Banking Technology at CIBC
Sarit Daniel
Sr. Director, Payments & FX of RBC
Katherine Scrivener
Director, Multinationals, Global Transaction Banking of Scotiabank
Fintech innovation in Canada has been notable in recent years, with a growing number of startups and established financial institutions exploring new technologies to improve financial services. However, there have been challenges related to the adoption of fintech solutions in Canada. AI is just one of the many transformative solutions that can enhance both consumer financial health and institutional stability. This workshop will explore the challenges to adoption: regulatory, market structure, consumer behaviour, and infrastructure.
Bernice Cheung
VP Financial Services & Cultural Markets Research at Environics Research
Jamie Chomas
SVP, Digital Strategic Partnerships at Ria Money Transfer
Roya Kachooei
CEO of Walletifai
Claire Robinson
VP of Product at FISPAN
Laurence Boudrias
Associate, Venture Capital at National Bank of Canada
Arcadian Gallery
17:05 - 18:30CLOSING COCKTAIL
Speakers
Rania Llewellyn
Former President and Chief Executive Officer at Laurentian Bank