PROGRAMME
THEMES & TOPICS

Cutting Out the Noise Around Financial Technology

Fintech trends and pointers to success for financial services firms.

Technology presents many wonders but with the rapid rate at which tech changes, it’s difficult for financial services firms to keep up. Paul shares insights into the latest trends in fintech and how companies can successfully implement them to stay on top.

Paul Mitchell
Fintech and Blockchain Lead, PWC Consulting

Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, and blockchain benefits for financial services firms.

Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, blockchain… What does it all mean? On the one hand, they are seen as buzzwords, but on the other hand, they point to important forces in the information and financial services industries. To help you make sense of it, Simon Dingle will debunk the myths surrounding Bitcoin and blockchain, and outline what the new era of money means for you and your business.

Simon Dingle
Keynote Speaker

The future of digital identification technology.

Fraudulent identification documents cost the financial, retail, and related industries trillions of dollars a year. The manual identification systems currently used by most companies are laborious and costly, are sensitive to human error or additional criminal activity. David Thomas will highlight how digital identification technology will help now and in the future.

David Thomas
Co-Founder & Head of Product, This Is Me

Advanced Analytics for Financial Services

Analytics to improve debt counselling payment collection ratios.

Through the use of predictive analytics, Benay is talking about improving debt counselling payment collection ratios by reducing non-payments before they occur, and improving recovery of missed payments after they occur.

Benay Sagar
COO, IDM Group

Empowering cybersecurity practitioners with advanced analytics and machine learning.

Digitalisation brings many improvements to our lives and businesses, but with it comes an entirely new threat – cybercrime. Eleanor will present how advanced analytics and machine learning are empowering the ways cybersecurity practitioners detect and manage cybercrime intrusions.

Eleanor Weaver
Director Middle East and Africa, Darktrace

The application of internet chat bots for financial services firms.

The huge increase in active online users means financial services firms have experienced high volumes of requests. Traditionally, to address this issue companies use call centres, which are costly, have high employee turnover and aren’t always reliable – depending on the agent. Craig’s solution is chat bots! Using the latest in human-computer interaction technology, these bots handle the mundane tasks that bog down call centres, freeing your employees to do the tasks computers can’t – yet!

Craig McLeod
Operations Director, GotBot

Economics for Financial Services

Economic and political outlook of financial services for 2018 and beyond.

Annabel is presenting the expected medium-term business cycle forecast, while also analysing structural changes and emerging trends in the economy, including GDP growth, consumption spending, fixed investment, inflation, interest and exchange rates.

Annabel Bishop
Chief Economist, Investec

Pricing and optimisation in credit.

One of the most difficult challenges for a company is pricing, especially in the credit industry which carries the burden of debt. Pricing in the lending industry needs to take into account what the consumer is willing to pay, limitations regulated by legislation, and whether or not the pricing is optimised for the lender’s profit margins. Xolani and Louis discuss the dynamic between pricing and optimisation in the credit industry.

Xolani Nkosi
Manager, Pricing and Profitability, African Bank

Louis Pienaar
Manager, Pricing and Profitability, African Bank

Protecting Your Firm from Risks

Why and how to implement PEPs and sanctions screening.

Day-to-day customers aren’t the only people who pose risks to companies. Politically exposed persons, those entrusted with important public functions, and their acquaintances carry the potential of being involved in bribery and corruption, both of which can impact companies and governments. In his talk, Joel emphasises why it is important to screen for PEPs and sanctions, and how companies can implement such processes.

Joel Lange
MD, C6

An employee screening strategy to manage people risk.

A company is only as good as the talent they hire. New employees carry unknown risks that could have a significant impact on a company. Jenny will talk about how having an employee screening strategy can help protect employers and ensure they hire honest, ethical and dedicated employees.

Jenny Reid
Social Media Risk Analyst, iFacts

Social media screening as a risk mitigation tool.

All companies carry risks when dealing with customers or business owners. Determining that risk can be difficult for companies without the right tools. Farhad is presenting how social media can be used to help companies screen those with whom they are doing business in order to mitigate risks and avoid the financial implications of those risks.

Farhad Bhyat
Social Media Risk Analyst, iFacts

Credit Health in the workplace: managing people risk and contributing to a fair and accessible credit market.

Employee wellness programmes include employees’ financial health as well! Magauta will present how employers are using various interventions to improve employee credit health and in the process, prevent fraud and other behaviours from manifesting in employees.

Magauta Mphahlele
Founder and CEO, Ithuseng Credit Solutions (ICS)

Leveraging the Power of Alternate Credit Data

How to leverage the predictive power and financial inclusion ability of readily available alternative data.

Most companies, big and small, are looking towards data to help augment their business practices or mitigate risks. Data is powerful in that predictive models can be created that allow companies to make more informed business decisions based on these predictions. But what happens when there isn’t traditional credit data available? Jacobus presents a solution – using alternative data for powerful predictions and enabling financial inclusion.

Jacobus Eksteen
Scoring Analyst, Compuscan

The application of psychometric scoring for other industries including collections, fraud and insurance.

With customers, come risks. Determining the degree of risk in multiple industries is complicated, especially if there isn’t enough industry data on a consumer to establish the risk or predict risky behaviour. Gary presents a solution that uses psychological profiles, determined by psychometric scoring, to understand the consumer and to apply these scores to companies in the collections, fraud and insurance industries.

Gary Brown
Business Development Director, Creditinfo

Tenant score using rental payments data.

Renting property to those without credit histories is very risky and a difficult obstacle to overcome. Knowing your tenant and their payment history is one of the best indicators of future payment behaviour. Louw tells us how companies can use rental payments as alternate data to obtain a tenant score to predict tenant payment behaviour.

Louw Liebenberg
CEO, PayProp

Information Sharing and SME Financing in South Africa

SME repayment information sharing.

Reducing information asymmetry and access to finance is cited as the biggest impediment to SME finance. Karl will be presenting an initiative underway to improve SME repayment information sharing.

Karl Westvig
CEO, Retail Capital

Loyalty and Rewards Management: Being Passionate about Customer Experience

Turning rewards programmes into key business tools to drive profitability and reduce expenditure.

Customers are not always easy to please, and will quickly jump to another company if they feel unappreciated or if they can obtain the product or service elsewhere. The shift of customers moving to another company has significant financial implications. Sonja explains why a loyalty and rewards programme is an integral business tool to drive profitability and reduce expenditure to get real ROI.

Sonja Fourie
Head of Absa Rewards & VAS

Customer experience and rewards.

Are companies doing enough to give their customers the best experience they can? It’s difficult for companies to understand each and every customer’s needs, wants and expectations. If one of these aren’t satisfied, the company risks losing a customer and, due to the viral nature of social media, many more. Fraser is talking about the importance of delivering good customer experiences and rewarding your loyal customers.

Fraser Lamb
Executive Chairman, Africa, McCann

Staff rewards programmes that drive customer experience.

Customer acquisition and retention isn’t only affected by your product. Companies struggle to address employee happiness and work satisfaction, which play a significant role in how your customer experiences your company. Leigh will present a way to drive customer experience by implementing programmes that reward staff.

Leigh Moon
Managing Executive, Client Experience, SA Home Loans

Law and Regulation for Financial Services Firms

The practical impact of the Cybercrimes Bill on financial institutions.

The Cybercrimes Bill will have a significant impact on many organisations and individuals. Unfortunately, the impact is mostly negative and frankly quite daunting. It has serious practical implications for everyone, including all internet users. Which is why Lisa is discussing the implications the Cybercrimes Bill and what it means for you.

Lisa Emma-Iwuoha
Associate Attorney, Michalsons

Must I comply with GDPR?

The deadline to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has just passed. People all over the world are rushing to comply and are working hard to implement the required controls. The big question is: do you have to comply with it? Who does the GDPR apply to? What is the territorial scope of the GDPR? John’s talk will help you understand what GDPR is and if you should be complying with it.

John Giles
Managing Attorney, Michalsons

Direct marketing under POPIA: Q&A panel discussion.

The Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) has raised many questions across a wide range of industries with regard to how companies can utilise direct marketing techniques within the scope of the new Act. John and Lisa discuss the implications POPIA has on direct marketing and will field questions audience members have regarding the Act and how it affects their marketing strategies.

John Giles
Managing Attorney, Michalsons

Lisa Emma-Iwuoha
Associate attorney, Michalsons

The Prescription Bill and its impact on the credit industry.

The credit industry is sensitive to many factors; one of the biggest factors is regulation and legislation. The Prescription Bill has a significant impact on the industry. Michelle explains how the Prescription Bill, which aims to regulate the period of time a debtor is responsible for their debts under certain circumstances, challenges the mechanisms of the credit industry.

Michelle Kelly-Louw
Professor of Law, Department of Mercantile Law, University of South Africa