Theme: Driving African Fintech Leadership Innovation, Inclusion & Regulatory Evolution
Date: July 21, 2026
Venue: Johannesburg Marriott Hotel, Melrose Arch, South Africa
Website: https://sa.finnovex.com/
Finnovex South Africa 2026 concluded on a high note, delivering a resounding success and firmly establishing itself as one of the most powerful and outcome-driven financial services gatherings on the continent.
Organised by Exibex Group, the summit brought together an influential community of 400+ senior decision-makers, 40+ renowned speakers, and 10+ strategic sponsors, creating a dynamic ecosystem of banks, fintech innovators, regulators, and technology leaders all under one roof.
Far more than a traditional conference, Finnovex South Africa 2026 became a catalyst for real conversations and real outcomes. It was a space where ideas were not just discussed—but challenged, refined, and transformed into actionable strategies shaping the future of Africa’s financial landscape.
From the very first interaction to the closing networking session, the energy throughout the day reflected a shared urgency: to accelerate innovation, strengthen resilience, and unlock inclusive growth at scale.
The summit delivered a power-packed agenda featuring visionary keynotes, high-impact CXO panels, strategic fireside conversations, and deep-dive discussions—each designed to move beyond theory and focus on execution, scalability, and measurable impact.
What truly set this edition apart was the quality of dialogue and level of engagement. With a highly curated audience of senior leaders, every session translated into meaningful insights, strategic alignment, and tangible business value.
Finnovex South Africa 2026 was not just well attended—it was deeply felt, actively participated in, and widely recognised as a defining moment for Africa’s financial services ecosystem.
Key Highlights — A Day of Strategy, Innovation & Leadership
The summit opened with a networking breakfast and structured icebreaker session, setting the tone for meaningful engagement and peer collaboration.
Opening remarks by Lindi Choma (African Bank) highlighted South Africa’s critical role in powering Africa’s financial transformation, setting a strong strategic direction for the day.
Visionary Keynotes That Set the Agenda
The summit featured powerful keynote sessions that explored the intersection of AI, innovation, and financial inclusion:
- Dr. Thabiso Njongwe (Absa Group) delivered a compelling keynote on “Own the Intelligence”, emphasising how AI is reshaping inclusion and decision-making across financial ecosystems.
- Naresh Bhanotra (Infosys Finacle) explored the transition from traditional banking models to composable, platform-driven architectures.
- Dido wa Kalonji (FNB Eswatini) highlighted the importance of early adoption of emerging technologies to unlock exponential growth.
- Punki Modise (Absa Group) spoke on building future-ready institutions beyond technology.
- Premal Dave (Azilen Technologies) introduced a forward-looking perspective on voice-led banking and the future of human-machine interaction.
- Grant Kelly (Nedbank) delivered a powerful keynote on financial inclusion and social responsibility, emphasising the role of banking in driving equitable growth.
CXO Panel — Intelligence at the Core
Moderated by Lindi Choma (African Bank), this high-impact panel brought together industry leaders including:
Dido wa Kalonji (FNB Eswatini), Nkateko Mabunda (Nedbank CIB), and Ricardo Smith (Absa Group).
The discussion explored how AI, data, and advanced technologies are reshaping financial services, with a focus on scalability, resilience, and sustainable growth.
Payments & Ecosystem Transformation Take Centre Stage
Leader’s Confab Panel — Rebuilding the Payments Ecosystem
Moderated by Tryphine Zulu (Rand Mutual), the session featured leaders from Absa, Nedbank, African Bank, DBSA, Tether, and Kyriba.
The panel unpacked the future of payments infrastructure, liquidity optimisation, and cross-border innovation, highlighting Africa’s unique opportunity to lead in real-time and inclusive payment systems.
Fireside Chat — Transformation at Scale
A compelling fireside conversation between Khomotso Molabe (Standard Bank Group) and John Barber (Infosys Finacle) explored large-scale banking transformation in the age of AI, sharing real-world insights on modernisation, agility, and enterprise-wide change.
Power Panel — Digital Banking Rewired
One of the most engaging sessions of the day, this panel was moderated by Chuma Qwalela (Rand Mutual) and featured leaders from: Nedbank, Old Mutual, Standard Bank, Hollard, and FNB.
The discussion focused on how financial institutions can drive growth through customer-centric strategies, operational excellence, and digital innovation, redefining the
future of banking across Africa.
Powered by Industry Leaders Driving Innovation
Finnovex South Africa 2026 was made possible with the support of leading organisations shaping the financial ecosystem:
- Lead Sponsor: Infosys Finacle
- Silver Sponsor: Azilen Technologies
- Bronze Sponsors: Kyriba, Tether
- Networking Sponsor: SASWORK
These partners played a pivotal role in driving innovation, enabling collaboration, and shaping meaningful industry conversations.
A Platform for Impact, Collaboration & Growth
From AI-driven banking to payments transformation and financial inclusion, the summit delivered practical insights and actionable strategies that will influence the next phase of Africa’s financial evolution.
The event concluded with Chair’s Closing Reflections, followed by a vibrant Networking Extravaganza, reinforcing connections and fostering future collaborations.
Looking Ahead — Finnovex Africa
As Finnovex South Africa 2026 comes to a close, one message resonates clearly:
This was not just a conference — it was a strategic convergence of ideas, leadership, and execution.
The conversations initiated here will continue to shape boardroom strategies, innovation roadmaps, and financial ecosystems across Africa and beyond.
To our speakers, partners, sponsors, and delegates:
Thank you for being part of this journey and for shaping the future of finance in Africa.
About Finnovex
Finnovex is a globally recognised platform dedicated to transforming the financial services landscape.
Through its presence across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, Finnovex brings together regulators, innovators, technology leaders, and financial institutions to reimagine the future of banking and financial ecosystems.
Each Finnovex chapter is more than an event — it is a platform for collaboration, innovation, and impact.
For sponsorship, speaking opportunities, and upcoming events, visit: https://sa.finnovex.com/
For enquiries: info@exibex.com
