Judges

Andy joined techUK in August 2022 as head of programme—financial services. His role includes leading techUK’s work in building a greater understanding of the ‘technological art of the possible’ in order to apply it to the reform and evolution of financial systems.

Before joining techUK, Andy worked for a number of other bodies in the financial services sector, including the British Insurance Brokers’ Association, where in addition to owning policy and public affairs, he was also responsible for fostering insurtech in the sector.

Ben is chief executive officer of The Payments Association, a leading trade body, exclusively serving the payments industry. It helps to connect the ecosystem, encourages innovation and collaboration, and runs over 50 events each year. Through insights and connections, The Payments Association is at the heart of the payments sector and supports the interest of its members; developing their reputation, enhancing their network and providing new opportunities to partner and do business.

Ben is passionate about supporting the payments industry and ensuring it is open to all, to truly realise the positive impact of technology and services on how we pay and get paid.

An experienced leader and business transformation specialist, he has held senior positions at Clarion Events, Informa and Datacenter Dynamics. He has more than 15 years of experience in leading businesses within financial services, telecoms and media, and defence and security.

Deborah is a fintech expert with 17 years of experience in technology and finance. She has worked across the private sector for Citi, MoneySuperMarket.com, Dixons Carphone,  lastminute.com and Zuto. Deborah also launched a startup telco and finance company.

Deborah is a regular face in the national press, providing expert comment for The Times, Express and Independent, among others. She has also produced thought leadership features on personal finance topics, including women in finance, Brexit, budgeting and energy prices.

Gillian Painter is head of membership and Engine at The Investment Association (IA) and a senior member of the IA Enterprises management team. Engine is the IA’s innovation hub and fintech accelerator. Since its launch in October 2019, Gillian has managed the growth of Engine which now encompasses an ecosystem of over 150 firms, innovator programmes, as well as a regional co-working hub in Birmingham and a Global Partners Programme.

Engine is focused on innovation and transformation for the investment management and wealth sectors providing an extensive programme of thought leadership, resources and connectivity.

Gillian also has strong experience in technology having worked in technical and operational roles for global IT and telecom firms.

Currently a NED and involved in various Fintech projects as he is a firm believer in the power of Open Banking and digital tools to help businesses. Formerly Guy was Co-Founder and CEO of Finpoint, a successful finance platform, and championed “access to finance” for SMEs. Working in partnership with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) he delivered the FSB Funding Platform for their members and a similar service for UK Finance.

Prior to Finpoint he held various senior positions at a number of leading financial institutions, including RBS, BNP Paribas and HSBC before moving into the fintech world.

Jack brings over a decade of experience in the financial services industry to his current role as the owner of account experience for business customers at the high-growth fintech, Wise. With nearly three years of dedicated service, he has been instrumental in delivering impactful solutions for businesses on a global scale. 

Before joining Wise, Jack spent a significant portion of his career at Barclays. During his eight-year tenure there, he initially engaged with customers face-to-face through the branch network, telephony and relationship management. Drawing from this extensive customer-facing experience, Jack transitioned into a role where he leveraged his insights to create digital experiences within the Barclays app. These digital innovations were designed to empower consumers in managing their finances effectively. 

Furthermore, Jack’s commitment to the financial sector extended beyond traditional banking. During the challenging times of the pandemic, he collaborated with other industry experts to launch SaveMyLocal, an initiative that enabled UK businesses to offer vouchers to their customers, redeemable once the pandemic subsided.  

In addition to his professional endeavors, Jack has made a notable presence in the media, advocating for the fair treatment of small and medium-sized enterprises by their financial services providers.  

Janine Hirt is the chief executive officer of Innovate Finance (IF), the industry body representing the world-leading UK fintech sector. Having joined the founding IF leadership team in 2015, first as head of membership, then ecosystem director, she moved into the chief operating officer role in 2017, before stepping up to lead the organisation in 2021.

Janine is passionate about driving transformation to create a more democratic, transparent and inclusive financial services sector for all. Her professional career has been marked by roles that sit at the intersection of policy, international relations and industry. Including senior positions at Chatham House, (the Royal Institution of International Affairs) and the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce.

Janthana Kaenprakhamroy is the chief executive officer and founder of Tapoly, winner of Innovator of the Year at UK FinTech Awards 2023 and winner of Technological Development at the European Business Awards 2021.

Tapoly is a digital managing general agent providing tailored commercial lines insurance to micro SMEs and freelancers. Tapoly also works globally, building end-to-end white labelled SaaS solutions that utilise emerging technologies to connect insurers with their distribution partners across the world.

Janthana was named Insurance Woman of the Year at the Women in Finance Awards 2021, was listed by Forbes as number 6 of the Top 100 Women Founders to watch and was named in the Insurance Business UK’s Elite Women List 2021 and 2022. Janthana is a chartered accountant and former internal audit director at top-tier investment banks.

Joe is a business development and marketing professional with experience in the professional services, legal services and FinTech sectors working across the North since 2016. Joe joined FinTech North as its first full-time employee in September 2019, having previously worked for the Institute of Directors and a global law firm. As engagement manager for FinTech North, Joe manages all event, marketing and commercial activity, and regularly supports Northern FinTech entrepreneurs and new market entrants.

FinTech North is the focal point for FinTech in the Northern Powerhouse. Since 2016 FinTech North has brought the northern FinTech community together via events, conferences, virtual seminars and trade missions. FinTech North’s objectives are to bring the community together, to develop the northern FinTech economy, align with development of the national FinTech sector and to promote the North of England as an international destination for FinTech.

Nicola Anderson is the CEO of FinTech Scotland, the independent cluster enterprise focused on delivering positive economic outcomes through financial innovation. 

Nicola has led FinTech Scotland since 2021, advancing the fintech ecosystem and fintech innovation in Scotland to be recognised as one of Europe’s top fintech centres of excellence and now formally accredited as a cluster of excellence. 

This economic and innovation progress has been achieved by bringing together diverse participants such as entrepreneurs, large businesses, government, citizen and universities to drive positive economic outcomes whilst contributing to the global fintech movement. 

Through her career in financial services Nicola has been an influential advocate of making finance work well for customers, society, business and markets. She has been directly engaged in digital and data transformation, regulation, and policy development, with an emphasis on innovation, collaboration, and customer focused outcomes.   

Nicola’s experience spans large and small enterprises, and regulatory bodies. This includes the FCA where her experience includes collaboration with HM Treasury, the Bank of England and other bodies, on banking reform, digital transformational changes and complex regulatory issues following the financial crisis. Her entrepreneurial experience comes from a variety of industries including retail, hospitality, and financial services, and involves a practical understanding across different stages of the business lifecycle. 

In addition to the FinTech Scotland role, Nicola is also a non-executive director at Advice Direct Scotland, a member of the Scottish Taskforce for Green and Sustainable Financial Services, and a member of the Scottish Government’s Financial Services Advisory Board.   

Phillip is director of digital technology and innovation at UK Finance, the trade body for the financial services industry. His portfolio extends across the technology change in banking and finance and includes digital identity, payments innovation, new digital money and open banking and data.

Previously, Phillip worked at UK Finance and Payments UK on payments regulation and strategy, and industry change programmes.

Prior to this he worked on public policy at the Local Government Association leading on local government finance and public service reform. And also at HM Treasury in a variety of policy roles, including leading policy reviews and as the budget project manager.

On secondment from the Treasury, Phil was chief executive officer of the Giving Campaign, a national partnership between government and the voluntary sector to encourage charitable giving.

Sarah is chief executive officer at Fintech Wales, a members collective focused on empowering fintech and financial services in the country. It also supports the advisory board in implementing its vision for the future by establishing Wales as a globally recognised fintech hub of excellence.

Prior to this, Sarah spent 17 years at IBM, latterly as government affairs director working with government departments, and working on commercial and innovation projects.

Sarah was also a founding member of the team behind the challenger bank Starling. Since leaving Starling in 2019, Sarah held an interim chief executive officer role at charity Hope for Children. She also worked in the market, consumer insights and product design team at Fair 4 All Finance.

Stuart’s entire career has been focused on working with high tech startup businesses which includes joining Oracle when it was first set up in the UK.  

After being both part of and advisor to many software and services firms, he founded FinTech West in 2018, which is now the representative body for fintech in the South West and part of the FinTech National Network.  

He’s passionate about facilitating the regional cluster growth and working with the community to drive social impact. 

Alderman Vincent Keaveny was Lord Mayor of the City of London in 2021/22, having served as Sheriff of the City of London for the year 2018/19.  

Vincent is a partner in the international business law firm, DLA Piper, where he advises on finance and debt capital markets transactions in the UK and Europe. Until 2019 he was International Co-Chair of the Financial Services Sector at DLA Piper. In 2014/15 he served as President of the City of London Law Society.  

Since his election to the City of London Corporation in 2013 he has served on a number of City of London Committees, including the Policy & Resources, Committee. He is currently the Chair of the Samuel Wilson’s Loan Trust and a Governor of the City of London School.  He also chairs Progress Together, the financial services membership body promoting greater socio-economic diversity in the financial services industry. 

Vincent was awarded a CBE in June 2023.