Judging Panel 2025
Jonathan Easton, Editor, FStech
Awais Sher Bajwa, Head of Data & AI Banking, Bank of America
Ben Hammond, MD Consulting & Insight, The Lang Cat
Chiedozie Hez, Founder/CEO, ChakaPay
Janthana Kaenprakhamroy, CEO, Tapoly
Ian Kilpatrick, Entrepreneur, Founder of the Wick Hill Group, Director at Stem Generations, Strategic advisor at Nuvias Group, Author, Speaker and Consultant
Arturs Kokins, Managing Principal, Capco
Joe McHale, Investor, Finch Capital
Ian McKenna, Director, Financial Technology Research Centre
Yusuf Ozdalga, Partner, QED Investors
Nick Rudd, Director of Consulting, MMT
Awais Sher Bajwa, Head of Data & AI Banking, Bank of America
Awais Sher Bajwa is a leader in Data and AI banking, as well as a tech entrepreneur and angel investor. With a career spanning over 15 years, Awais has led over 60 strategic deals, including IPOs, M&A, and capital raises, with a total value exceeding $60 billion. Awais founded Bank of America’s global AI banking practice in Palo Alto. His unique insights into AI adoption within financial institutions as well as the broader AI landscape position him as a distinguished strategic advisor on AI. Prior to his current role, Awais established the software investment banking practice at Bank of America and the digital infrastructure banking practice at Barclays in London. Awais holds a Master’s degree in Engineering from the University of Oxford.
Ben Hammond, MD Consulting & Insight, The Lang Cat
A proven financial services expert with over 20 years of experience spanning both business and technical aspects of platforms and wider financial services. I have had a recent focus on advisory and strategic development, product development capabilities, AI tooling, and platform implementations and migrations. I work with a wide range of clients across the UK and other parts of EMEA and have a track record of delivering software and outsource service partner selections, product and operating models and compelling user experiences and solutions. I also help firms analyse the future of the financial services landscape, the impact change will have on running their businesses and how they can improve the efficiency of their operations. Brings strong interpersonal and networking skills and a proven ability to interact with all levels of stakeholder including those at board level.
Chiedozie Hez, Founder/CEO, ChakaPay
Chiedozie is the Founder/CEO of ChakaPay®, financial services provider for higher education institutions. He is an award-winning FinTech Transformation Consultant and Speaker with over 15 years’ experience. He has worked with brands such as Visa, VocaLink - MasterCard, RBS, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Financial Conduct Authority and London Clearing House and delivered digital transformation projects. Chiedozie has successfully managed teams of up to 400 consultants and budgets of over £50m, delivering desired outcomes with high ROI and solving complex business problems across geographies using his 5D Transformation Model™. After successfully running UK BACS Payment Platform Maintenance for 2 years, he is now focusing on ChakaPay® and also helping FinTech Startups, big and small banks adopt new technology through proof of concepts, pilots and new product development.
Janthana Kaenprakhamroy, CEO, Tapoly
Janthana is the CEO of Tapoly, an acclaimed on-demand insurance provider for SMEs and freelancers. Recognized as Forbes' 6th Top Woman Founder to Watch and a Top 10 Insurtech Female Influencer by The Insurance Institute, she recently won Innovator of the Year at the UK Fintech Awards 2023 and Insurance Broker of the Year at the British Business Awards 2023. Janthana is also a board member at BIBA (British Insurance Brokers' Association) with a solid finance background from UBS, Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan, and BNP Paribas.
Ian Kilpatrick, Entrepreneur, Founder of the Wick Hill Group, Director at Stem Generations, Strategic advisor at Nuvias Group, Author, Speaker and Consultant
Ian’s roles include heading up the Nuvias cyber security practice, with overall responsibility for cyber security strategy, as well as being a Nuvias board member. He was one of the founding members of the Wick Hill Group, leading the company through its growth and development to become an international, value-added distributor focused on security. Wick Hill was acquired by Nuvias in July 2015. Ian is a thought leader, with a strong vision of the future in IT, focussing on business needs and benefits, rather than just technology. He is a published author, regular speaker at IT events, and business advisor. Before Wick Hill, Ian qualified as an accountant, was financial controller for a Fortune 50 company, and was a partner in a management consultancy.
Arturs Kokins, Managing Principal, Capco
A strategy and transformation expert with nearly 20 years of experience in driving growth, shaping customer-centric business models, and enhancing the operational capabilities of leading players across a wide range of industries, including Banking, Insurance, Asset Management, Telecommunications, Consumer Goods, Technology, and more. For over a decade, Arturs has specialised in the insurance sector, collaborating with prominent (re)insurers, brokers, MGAs, and InsurTechs across the UK, continental Europe, North America, East Asia, and the Middle East. His expertise covers a broad spectrum of product lines, from personal insurance (home, motor, pet) to commercial and specialty products such as property & casualty, cyber, credit risk and reputational harm. Arturs works closely with executive teams to transform business models through technology and advises product teams in developing next-generation value propositions. He has also worked extensively with investors, providing insight into Fintech investments, and directly with Fintechs, supporting them in scaling their businesses effectively.
Joe McHale, Investor, Finch Capital
Joe is a member of the investment team at Finch Capital, a leading European growth equity fund specializing in finance and business technology. As part of the investment team at Finch Capital, Joe is heavily involved in sourcing and evaluating new investment opportunities, as well as working closely with existing portfolio companies such as eflow Global. Joe has a background in Private Equity and holds a Master's degree in Economics from the London School of Economics.
Ian McKenna, Director, Financial Technology Research Centre
After working for insurance companies and financial advisers, including a decade at an independent advice firm he founded in 1995, Ian McKenna set up Financial Technology Research Centre anticipating the FinTech wave by well over a decade. In 2017 he established Digital Wealth Insights to provide consistent analysis of emerging WealthTech firms, with a particular focus on regulatory compliance and how such services expand consumer access to financial advice and guidance. Ian travels globally seeking out transformational WealthTech and AdviceTech solutions, as well as leading start-ups in the InsurTech and RegTech sectors.
Yusuf Ozdalga, Partner, QED Investors
Yusuf Ozdalga is London based Partner at QED Investors with a focus on European financial technology and consumer finance companies. Ozdalga joined QED in 2017, and his career has spanned roles as an operator, advisor, entrepreneur and investor. His current portfolio of investments include Wagestream, GetGround, Wayflyer, Fidel API and Weavr. He started his professional investing career in 2006 funding speciality finance and consumer credit companies in Europe, including early fintech plays such as some of the first online loan originators in Sweden. Prior to joining QED, Ozdalga was an Investment Director with a growth fund helping emerging companies and entrepreneurs build lasting consumer franchises by leveraging the power of data analytics.
Nick Rudd, Director of Consulting, MMT
As Director of Consulting at MMT, Nick Rudd helps our enterprise clients achieve their digital ambitions and realise the value of their innovation initiatives at speed and scale. Nick is an active advocate of sustained digital transformation and agile best practice, and is keen to connect with people who are looking to embrace technology and push the boundaries of digital engagement.
