Our 2024 speakers

Jinhong is a highly skilled cloud and platform architect, with a strong passion for DevSecOps practice and cloud-native technologies. She holds an MSc. in Software Development and Technology, and is certified as a Kubernetes application developer, administrator, and security specialist. Currently serving as the Chief Cloud Architect & Global Head of Cloud and Container Platform Engineering at Saxo Bank, Jinhong works to bridge the gap between platform and application teams, with a focus on strengthening infrastructure platform offerings, improving the developer experience and maximizing productivity. She is a strong advocate for sustainable and secure ways of developing and managing applications and integrations. Jinhong’s passion for open source technology and community building has led her to become the organizer for the Kubernetes Community Days and Cloud Native Copenhagen groups, where she helps to spread awareness of open source technologies and grow the cloud-native community in Denmark.

Mark Kandborg works as the Group Chief Risk Officer at Nordea. He has previously held several positions within Nordea, here among as Group Chief Financial Officer, Deputy Head of Large Corporates & Institutions and as the Group Treasurer. He has an educational background as an economist from the University of Copenhagen and as Captain in the Danish Army.

Lucilla responsibile for Sustainability, Strategy & Data for Large Corporates at DNB, the largest financial institution in Norway. Lucilla has previously led strategy and projects in the international side of DNB, and formerly spent a decade as a Senior Economist at the World Bank where she led public finance projects in Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. Lucilla also has a background in research and teaching on statistics, poverty and inequality, as well as in consulting on competition and regulatory economics. Lucilla has a Masters in Development Economics from Harvard University, and both Masters and Bachelor in Philosophy & Economics from the London School of Economics.

Ragnar Toomla serves as the Chief Product Owner for Digital Channels at SEB, a position he has held since 2021. With over 25 years of experience in digital banking, Ragnar has been instrumental in developing various digital customer service solutions. His work includes contributions to internet and mobile banking, ATM network development, open banking solutions, e-commerce and the creation of electronic invoicing standards and digital identiy services like Smart-ID​. He holds an MBA from the University of Tartu and MSc degree in Information Systems Analysis and Design at Tallinn University of Technology​.

Kåre Kjelstrøm has a Master’s degree in Computer Science and +25 years of industry experience working in Denmark, Canada, and the United States as a software engineer and manager. His resume includes work at Uber, Cloud Kitchens, Concordium, and at the consulting company Silverbullet which he co-founded and where he helped digitize the Danish Public Sector for 10 years.

Hoskuldur Hlynsson is the Chief Risk Officer of the Central Bank of Iceland, where he has expanded and developed the Bank’s risk management framework. Under his leadership, the risk function encompasses a comprehensive suite of security practices including information security, physical security, and business resilience, alongside traditional operational and financial risk management activities. Prior to his tenure at the Central Bank of Iceland, Hoskuldur held roles in the commercial banking sector as the Chief Security Officer and Chief Data Officer.

Ville Sointu is the Chief Strategist for digital currencies at Nordea Bank. With a career spanning since 2002 in fintech, Ville has held pivotal roles globally, innovating in financial services and connected devices. His expertise is recognized in influential circles, including the European Central Bank’s former Digital Euro Market Advisory Group, the board of Mobey Forum and the advisory board of GSMA’s Inclusive Tech Lab. Ville has also contributed to a number of key industry and policy organizations like the EBF, OECD and EBA and in his free time enjoys co-hosting the ‘Fintech Daydreaming’ podcast, sharing his insights into fintech’s evolving landscape.

Stephan has more than 20 years of top level industry transformation experience and holds the role as Chief Digital Officer at Handelsbanken since September 2016. He has been with Ericsson for 10 years where he was Director of Strategic Marketing and Networked Society Evangelist. Prior to his work at Ericsson, Stephan was the Senior Executive Vice President of Strategy and Sales Coordination at T-Systems in Germany, Deutsche Telekom´ s ICT Service Provider unit. Stephan had also served in a variety of roles within Deutsche Telekom including Sales, Executive assistant to the CEO, Strategy and Business Development. Stephan holds a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from KTH/Stockholm, Sweden and RWTH/Aachen, Germany and has completed post graduate executive programs at London Business School, Boston University, European School of Management and Technology (ESMT), and Kellogg School of Management.

Martin Clausen is a distinguished expert in information and cyber security, boasting extensive experience in the field. As the former Global Head of Cyber Security at Saxo Bank, he has showcased his exceptional ability to transform cyber security into a strategic organizational priority. Renowned for his strategic vision and leadership, Martin has significantly contributed to the growth and success of every organization he has been part of. With a robust background in security architecture, Martin merges technical proficiency with a deep understanding of strategic initiatives, industry trends, and cutting-edge technologies. His innovative contributions and thought leadership have firmly established him as a respected authority in the realm of cyber security.

Malin Lignell has over 20 years of experience working with advisory services for both individual customers and corporates within Handelsbanken. More than ten of these years were spent in leadership roles at several Handelsbanken branches. In 2018 Malin joined the team for Technology & Innovation strategy, where her work now encompasses communications both within the organisation and externally at the strategic and operational levels. The team identifies and evaluates important trends within emerging technologies and explores these in practice. Insights built through dialogue internally and externally, as well as from field experience, are used to drive, inspire and challenge the organisation to become more innovative and focus on the opportunities and challenges that come with the bank’s digitalisation journey. Focus areas are understanding changes in customer behaviour and business models following trends in emerging technologies. Published author in Journal of Digital Banking and Journal of AI, Robotics and Workplace Automation. Both journals by Henry Stewart Publications.

Mikko Turunen is the Business CIO of Retail Bank at OP Financial Group, where he bridges the gap between business and IT to drive strategic initiatives and customer value. With a background in OP Group since 2008, he has held various key roles, contributing significantly to the company’s growth and digital transformation. His most recent accomplishment includes leading the successful launch of OP Financial Group’s new core banking system, demonstrating his expertise in driving complex projects and fostering innovation in the financial sector.

Dave has worked in the world of fraud for over 20 years, leading strategy, analytic, operational and change teams.

At Nordea, my mission extends beyond just leading strategic initiatives on connectivity; it’s about forging pathways that redefine our customer experiences and streamline business processes. With a career deeply rooted in transaction banking, my focus has been on nurturing innovation through digital transformation, especially in the realm of open banking and API-driven solutions. My tenure as VP Product Manager of Commercial APIs saw the successful launch of cash management services that not only met but anticipated corporate customer needs, bolstering satisfaction and retention. Championing the cause of digitalisation, I’ve harnessed the power of automation and collaboration to drive both performance and cost-efficiency, aligning with Nordea’s commitment to excellence and customer-centricity.

Experienced IT leader with focus on business outcomes. Passionate about digital innovation, product development, AI, process automation, security and operational excellence.

Joachim Schwerin is Principal Economist in the unit responsible for the Digital Transformation of Industry within the Directorate-General Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) of the European Commission. He is responsible for developing the policy approach of DG GROW towards the Token Economy and Distributed-Ledger Technologies as well as their applications for industry and SMEs. His current focus lies on developing positive framework conditions for Web3 and DAOs. In 2020, he contributed to the Digital Finance Strategy, including the MiCA Regulation. Previous responsibilities included the coordination of industrial and competition policy, the design of policy measures to improve SME access to digital finance and conceptual work on strategic aspects of the EU’s competitiveness in the global economy.

Benny Boye Johansen is Head of APIs and Partner Trading at Saxo Bank. He is responsible for all APIs supporting Saxo Banks many partnerships, including our FIX APIs and the OpenAPI which he took from the initial design phase to a full commercial offering. He has been with Saxo Bank since 2004 in various roles, from developer, to department manager, enterprise architect, product manager and IT department head.

A seasoned Fraud and Financial Crime Leader, Ketil has over 18 years’ experience in financial services, including Banking and Big 4 Consultancy. Most recently as Head of Global Fraud Strategy and transformation at SEB, he is responsible for driving the global fraud strategy, governance, data alignment and technology journey. Ketil has been leading several fraud teams everything from Fraud Operations, Data Analytics, Risk Management and Special Investigation. Ketil brings with him great regional experience within the financial services and banking industry across the entire Nordic and Baltic region leading teams. Within Fraud and Financial Crime in particular, Ketil holds deep subject matter expertise across Fraud, AML, Sanctions, Risk Management and Risk Assessments. In addition to his direct management experience, Ketil has a breadth of expertise in technical software solutions, having operated in the software industry as Head of the Centre of Excellence for Fraud and Financial Crime at SAS Institute; implementing Nordic Anti-Fraud and Financial Crime software/solutions across the banks, insurances and in the public sector.

Eric Ducoulombier is, since 1 January 2019, Head of the Retail and Payments Unit in the European Commission (DG FISMA). Prior to that he was Head of the Unit dealing with Inter-Institutional affairs and Planning in DG FISMA. Eric joined the European Commission in 1992, after having worked a few years in the private sector. He holds a Master Degree in Law from the University of Lille (France).

Bio Annet Steenbergen After many years working in international border management Annet co-founded/co-initiated the Aruba Happy Flow project in 2013 that created the world’s first seamless passenger facilitation uniting the public and private stakeholder at the airport in one identity management system using a single biometric token. Ever since digital Identity and innovation for the travel eco-system have been at the centre of her work. She is currently a consultant for the travel and tourism industry and works on projects with focus on implementing digital identity and digital travel credentials to create true Seamless Travel while preserving data privacy and data protection. She is a participant in the EU Digital Identity Wallet Consortium. Annet has been actively involved in IATA OneID working groups and task forces and in 2020 she was awarded the Women in Biometrics Award. She is also often asked as a public speaker and moderator.

Mārtiņš Bērziņš is experienced digital business development leader, skilled in Mobile, User Experience, Agile, Strategy and Innovative Thinking. Prior Citadele bank created first licensed payment institution in Latvia. Joined Citadele in 2017 and for last 7 years Mārtiņš has led all digital channel development at Citadele focussing on mobile banking and Customer Experience development. Since August 2020 Mārtiņš is Head of Digital Customer Experience and Deputy Business Development.

I had the chance to work in different industries (Retail, Manufacturing, Banking and Insurance mainly), coping with several challenges of complex IT transformation programs as Executive and Advisory. Since 2016 I’m sharing my experience and vision on Cloud Computing, helping Medium and Large Enterprises on their journey. Strongly convinced that IT should enable business, enhancing the potential of the underlying technology stack that must be a commodity.

Full focus on corporate strategy development, business analytics and driving our engagement towards EU Commission regarding the EUDI Wallet. Love all things data and how digital identity can unlock the unlimited number of use cases – circa 100 new companies adopt BankID each month.

Product manager BankId, responsible for product security. Architect for the BankOd solution in Sweden, held CSO role for BankId for 10+ years. Manager for building internet bank somition for one of sweden main banks

Jenny Winther has more than 25 years’ experience in working with payment infrastructure. She is currently working at Handelsbanken as Head of Payment Schemes. She is a member of the EBA Clearing Board. Jenny also participants in several committees and working groups in the European Payments Council (EPC) and Nordic Payments Council (NPC) as well as the Swedish Bankers’ Association and the Swedish central bank.

Soeren Rode Jain Andreasen has held various leadership roles in the financial sector and is known for his expertise in digital transformation and driving the adoption of new technologies in the banking industry. Andreasen’s professional journey includes working at prominent financial institutions where he has played a pivotal role in leading transformative change and innovation. He spent over a decade at Danske Bank, where he served as the Chief Digital Officer and was responsible for the bank’s digital transformation efforts in the United Kingdom. During his tenure, he played a crucial role in implementing innovative solutions, launching Open Banking, and improving the backend systems of the bank. In 2024, Andreasen made a significant career move and joined the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) as the Enterprise Digital and Innovation Officer. This appointment came after CIBC signed a multi-year agreement with Microsoft to migrate many of its operations to the cloud. Andreasen’s role at CIBC involves leading the bank’s digital strategy and driving innovation in the organization. Notably, Andreasen currently heads Digital Customer Engagement at Nordea, the largest bank in the Nordics. In this role, he oversees a dynamic team responsible for Digital Channels, Onboarding of clients, the origination and servicing of everyday banking products, digital money transfers, and the optimization of the retail payments experience. Andreasen’s influential presence extends beyond his professional achievements. He is a sought-after speaker at prestigious conferences and events worldwide, where he shares his invaluable insights on revolutionary topics such as open banking, customer experience, legacy systems, and the paramount importance of enhancing backend operations in the banking sector.

As newly appointed Chief Commercial Officer and former Country Manager for Norway and Sweden Mats has spearheaded Lunar’s impressive growth, democratising financial services in the Nordics. With a substantial fintech background and as chairman for Swedish Fintech Association, Mats’ expertise is unparalleled. Don’t miss the chance to hear from a leader who’s reshaping how we bank, pay, and invest.

Saira Khan is the Head of Innovation and Partnerships for First Direct Bank(HSBC), was recognised in Innovate Finance ‘Women in FinTech Powerlist 2023 & 2022’. Having led the creation of innovation teams and centres in the United Kingdom, Asia, and the United States, while building and testing data management and open banking through global hackathons, she has developed a unique vision and reputation for being a catalyst for transformation around the world on leading deliveries with commercial impact. She is known as a key connector and championing moves towards a digital-first culture, enabling greater collaboration and connectivity between startups and corporations with proven results. While her passion and advocacy for change sets her apart from her peers in the finance sector, it is her work mentoring and supporting global talent in Africa, Asia, and the United States that drives Saira as she focuses and champions efforts around diversity, inclusion, education, and sustainability.

Peter has extensive experience from the banking and consulting industry, with a strong footprint in solving complex customers challenges through collaboration between banks and 3rd parties. His passion is to find new ways of doing business in the financial industry, working closely with customers and partners. Peter works with commercial API management in Nordea’s Nordic unit responsible for ensuring PSD compliance and proactively embracing commercial opportunities based on banking APIs.

As Head of Sustainability and Governance at Econans, Sarah supports banks in accelerating the transition of their real estate portfolio through data and tools. Sarah has worked with sustainability in International Organizations and in the Real Estate and Banking sectors and is passionate about the role of data and technology to meet Europe’s ambitious climate goals.

Originally a Commercial Banker, Helene is an Associate Director with the Centre for Digital Banking and Finance in LIBF, an experienced FinTech Programme Director, exited entrepreneur, educator and author. Her career boasts a number of ‘firsts’, including the creation of the FinTech Scale Colab Programme for Rainmaking, the Inaugural Programme of Education and Events for Innovate Finance, the FinTech on the Entrepreneurship Masters’ for UCL. Board and advisory roles include the Spanish digital identity scale up, Biid, the UK safeguarding RegTech, Kalgera, and the SME payments company, TomatoPay.  Helene was named on the Computer Weekly 100 Women in Tech Award, the Innovate Finance Women in FinTech Power List, and the Fintech Magazine 100 Women in Fintech list. She was also part of the FCA 2020 Data Sprint on SME Lending, and the recipient of the FT/Google Digital Pioneer Award. Her new book ‘Reinventing Banking & Finance: Frameworks to navigate global fintech innovation’ (Kogan) came out in November 2020, and was named the number one banking book for 2021 by Investopedia.