TEAM

Bio:

Simone is the Co-Founder and Co-Head of the Cambridge SupTech Lab. He is a public policy specialist and frontier digital economy and financial market leader with 15 years of high-impact engagement in the fields of banking, payments, telecoms, and technology. His passion is evidence-based, data-informed policymaking, as well as the use of technology and innovative processes to pursue economic efficiency and social equality. He has extensive experience in regulatory and policy development, private sector partnership, advocacy, and academia.

Simone's specialisation is the creation of new processes and solutions to address complex problems, strategizing synergies of multiple stakeholders to enhance their individual and collective impacts. Always with an emphasis on reducing digital and economic divides to pursue inclusiveness and social justice.

Among the ground-breaking initiatives that Simone has conceived and led in the past are the RegTech for Regulators Accelerator (R2A), the GSMA Code of Conduct for Mobile Money Providers, and the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) Consumer Empowerment and Market Conduct working group. Simone has previously held roles at the GSMA, the World Bank, the United Nations, AFI, the International Development Law Organization, and the consulting firm BFA Global. He has led engagements with clients such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Omidyar Network, USAID, the Better Than Cash Alliance, Facebook, the World Bank, the Bank for International Settlements, the New York Department of Financial Services, and countless fintech startups, banks, central banks, and finance ministries. For two years he taught a course on "Digital Citizenship & Approaches to Development" at the Fletcher School, Tufts University.

He holds a PhD in Law & Economics.

Bio:

Matt is the Co-Founder and Co-Head of the Cambridge SupTech Lab. He is a seasoned leader in expanding the frontier of the digital technology space, with over 15 years of broad-ranging, global experience to draw from. His driving passion throughout has been maximising impact through effectively applied technologies, with an emphasis on meeting the needs of otherwise excluded or vulnerable people. This pursuit has led him into roles as a pioneering fintech entrepreneur, startup acceleration fund lead, hackathon & techsprint organiser, innovation gallery curator, academic lecturer, and strategic advisor for myriad financial innovation and digital transformation initiatives.

Matt’s specialization is in the collaborative design, deployment, and integration of digital technologies. Within the bounds of financial services and supervision, he often serves as a translator in cutting through the intimidating jargon and hype that can plague cutting-edge tech, and instead guides an earnest exploration of the real value of these tools through practical demonstration cases.

The programmes that Matt has collaboratively led in the past include the RegTech for Regulators Accelerator (R2A), the Catalyst Fund Startup Accelerator, the GSMA’s Mobile Money Profitability 2.0 model, and the Target Product Profile framework for development of inclusive payments products. He previously founded Bytemark, a mobile payments and transit ticketing platform, LDLN, a decentralised communication platform for underserved communities, and What Is Up Labs, a creative cooperative focused on rapid prototyping. Prior to the Lab, he most recently served a Principal Consultant at BFA Global.

Matt holds a degree in Aerospace Engineering and formal certifications in Data Science, Social Entrepreneurship, Machine Learning, and Humanitarian Innovation.

Bio:

Juliet is the Senior SupTech Specialist at the Cambridge SupTech Lab. She has over 15 years of experience working with government entities and financial institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia in developing, deploying, and positioning innovative, large-scale regional and retail digital payment systems from ideation to execution. Her areas of expertise include policy design, DFS strategy development, product innovation, and design using Human-Centred Design approaches, data analytics, and responsible finance.

Juliet has previously held roles at MicroSave Consulting and Musoni Microfinance where she undertook various roles, from identifying strategies, business opportunities, and new technologies in order to develop new capabilities and architectures to converting data into insights that inform innovative, commercially viable solutions and streamlining business processes with a strong customer focus. She has also served for more than ten years in the Central Bank of Kenya in the modernization of payment systems and drafting payment systems policies and regulations for, among others, the CBK RTGS system, East African Payments System (EAPSS), and the COMESA Regional Payment and Settlement System (REPSS).

She holds a PhD from the University of Manchester.

Bio:

Rochelle is the Senior SupTech Learning Manager at the Cambridge SupTech Lab. She has over six years of experience in the development of executive education from ideation to design and delivery of dynamic eLearning, blended, and instructor-led training to global senior leadership teams and emerging business leaders. She has over ten years of experience in pioneering research and advancement of innovative solutions working with government entities, startups, and financial institutions, including RegTech for Regulators Accelerator (R2A) and Insight2Impact. Her areas of expertise include financial inclusion, digital identity and the digital economy, Digital Financial Services strategy analysis, and financial transparency driven to inspire vision for innovative decision-making that disrupts inequality and enables a culture of sustainability. Rochelle previously held roles at the South African Financial Intelligence Centre and Social Security Agency where she undertook various roles, from generating strategic vision, research development, and integration of cross-functional teams and knowledge with a focus on the illicit economy and quantifying illicit financial flows while increasing governmental understanding of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies to producing financial insights for informing grant policy development and the SASSA-Mastercard biometric debit card initiative. She co-authored “Quantifying the extent of the Illicit Narcotics Sector in South Africa” and “Adopting SupTech for Anti-Money Laundering: A Diagnostic Toolkit”. 

Bio:

Jose Miguel is a Senior Suptech Specialist of the Cambridge SupTech Lab. He is a subject matter expert on financial consumer protection, market conduct supervision, digital financial services, and financial inclusion.

Before joining the Lab, he worked for nine years as Market Conduct Supervisor at the Superintendence of Banking, Insurance, and Private Pension Funds of Peru. Among his main contributions to the Superintendence are the improvements in the regulatory framework to enable digitisation, the development of the risk-based market conduct supervision framework, and the formulation of market conduct rules to protect consumers affected by the pandemic. In addition, he represented the Superintendence in international forums organised by the Alliance for Financial Inclusion, the Bank for International Settlements, the International Association of Insurance Supervisors, and the World Bank, sharing the Peruvian experience in market conduct supervision. 

Jose Miguel’s main motivation is to help financial authorities around the world leverage the potential of technological developments to escalate the impact of their policies, regulations, and supervisory actions. He is strongly committed to protecting consumers, improving market efficiency, and boosting financial inclusion.

He holds an MPA in Economic Policy Management from Columbia University.

Bio:

Nathalie Lenehan is the Technical Program Manager of the Cambridge SupTech Lab, bringing decades of diverse technical expertise into this crucial role within the Lab. She brings her leadership and passion for efficiency and transparency to bear across several facets of the Lab, including development of working prototypes through the Launchpad, management of our Digital Tools offering, and ecosystem-wide hackathons and tech sprints.   

Prior to joining the Lab, Nathalie spent over eight years working with the New York State Department of Financial Services along with regulated financial institutions, consumers, providers, advocates, vendors, and third-party stakeholders, managing development of custom IT solutions for large-scale initiatives. She has led the design, development, roll-out, and adoption of numerous software applications that have resulted in real-time collaboration between internal and external stakeholders, improved data analysis capabilities, and streamlined business processes to support the digital transformation and workforce adoption of these solutions. Some of her main contributions include the design and development of a cybersecurity risk assessment platform, an end-to-end consumer complaints/appeals management system, improved data analytics of the paid family leave and frauds programmes, and regulatory compliance filings intake, case management, reporting, and publishing platforms.

Throughout her career, Nathalie has specialized in managing strategy and development by connecting diverse teams, coordinating with technical specialists, product owners, and leaders, to execute scalable suptech applications through effective communication, collaboration, and documentation. These have improved consumer protection as well as regulation and supervision of regulated financial entities.

She holds an Electrical Engineering degree from New York Institute of Technology, and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. 

Bio:

Samir is a senior researcher at the Cambridge SupTech Lab. He is a seasoned economist with over 15 years of diverse experience in academic, public, private, and multilateral organisations. His expertise lies in financial regulation, digital finance, and development economics. Notably, he served as Deputy Director of Research, Innovation, and Development at the Government of Colombia's financial supervisory authority, where he led a multidisciplinary team to manage risk analysis, regulatory impact evaluation, and supervisory methodologies.

More recently, his experience at the European University Institute's Florence School of Banking and Finance has further solidified his position at the forefront of cutting-edge financial research and policy development, as he has been designing and teaching capacity-building programs to the European Central Bank and European national competent authorities. His multifaceted background positions Samir to provide insights into the intersection of academic research, public policy, and financial sector development, drawing from his extensive contributions to different jurisdictions. Samir earned a Master’s Degree from Cornell University and a Doctorate from Bocconi University.

Bio:

Leslye Sihuay is a Senior Suptech Specialist at the Cambridge SupTech Lab. She has over 15 years of experience in the financial industry and is an expert in financial technology, risk management, cybersecurity, and digital finance innovation.

Her career began at the Peruvian Financial Authority-Superintendency of Banking, Insurance, and Private Pension Funds (SBS). Leslye played different roles in fostering digitisation and innovation in the financial ecosystem. Her expertise was central in shaping key fintech projects, including developing regulatory approaches for risk management, cybersecurity, electronic money, and regulatory sandbox. Beyond her regulatory expertise, her leadership experience encompasses oversight and supervision of operational and Money Laundering risks, business continuity, and information security at top-tier Peruvian financial institutions and insurance companies, yielding an in-depth understanding of risks in digital transformation.

Leslye's expertise also extends to the global stage, where she has represented SBS in various national and international forums. Her engagements with organisations like the Pacific Alliance's Innovation Hub, the Alliance for Financial Inclusion, and the World Bank highlight her proficiency in navigating the dynamic fintech regulatory environment and her insights into prudential supervision and financial inclusion.

Her tenure at the CITRIS Policy Lab at the University of California-Berkeley involved pivotal research into the national security risks posed by artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes. Furthermore, as a consultant for the World Economic Forum, she delved into global policy development for Digital Payments & Trade Finance Innovation, underscoring her ability to influence global financial strategies.

She is driven by a commitment to empower financial authorities globally, focusing on harnessing technological advancements to enhance financial policy efficacy. Her approach is centred on promoting market efficiency, integrity, and sustainability while steadfastly advocating for consumer protection and financial inclusion.

Leslye holds an MSc in Corporate & Financial Risk Management from the University of Sussex, and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of California-Berkeley.

Bio:

Abhisekh is the Senior Data Scientist at the Cambridge SupTech Lab. He has worked on a wide range of machine learning/artificial intelligence solutions across different domains, including those related to natural language processing (NLP), computer vision, simulation, and anomaly detection.  

Abhisekh previously worked for the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Center for Criminal Investigations and Network Analysis, using NLP to extract knowledge graphs of different criminal entities. He also optimized mitigation strategies to counteract these entities by implementing simulation models of supply chains for companies such as Lockheed Martin and Pfizer. Abhisekh has also worked on computer vision problems such as noise cancellation and anomaly detection for the Naval Research Laboratory. He is currently completing his PhD in Computer Science at George Mason University.

Bio:

Kalliopi Letsiou is an academic lawyer and researcher with a rich blend of legal and compliance expertise in financial regulation, AML/CTF compliance, and AI governance. Nearing the completion of her PhD, she has specialised in leveraging advanced technologies for AML/CTF supervisory purposes, contributing valuable insights into regulatory challenges such as data quality and offering policy recommendations.

In addition to her academic pursuits, Kalliopi consulted with international organisations and firms, implementing AML/CTF strategies utilising advanced technological tools, and advises on AI Regulatory Compliance matters. She also shares her knowledge as a lecturer, teaching modules on Fintech and AI Governance in Financial Services, bridging the gap between theoretical frameworks and practical applications in the evolving landscape of financial compliance and technology.

Bio:

Maryeliza is a Researcher in Knowledge Management. Before joining the Lab, she supported the CCAF Fintech Ecosystem Atlas with primary data collection, entry, and analysis on more than 700 fintechs in different global regions. Her research helped expand the continuously evolving knowledge and understanding of fintech and regulation on the Cambridge Regulator Knowledge Exchange site. She also has experience in social work, accounting in the county government of Kakamega's treasury & health offices, and in spearheading health insurance uptake in Kenya. She holds a Master of Science in International Economics & Public Policy from the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and is also a CFI certified Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst.

Bio:

Adriana is the Head of Communications for the Cambridge SupTech Lap. She has 20 years of experience in tech and finance, leading marketing and communications teams in crafting brand strategies for organisations that bring their core mission and vision to life. She has built and transformed marketing and communications departments for fintech firms as well as tech-led finserv firms. Adriana is passionate about the Lab’s mission to accelerate the digital transformation of financial supervision in order to create a financial sector that is more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient. She collaborates across the suptech ecosystem to generate engagement and energy behind this common purpose, and to share learnings and successes. Her approach is audience-centric and data-driven. In life and in work, she values humor, integrity, empathy, and curiosity. She has a degree in English Literature from New York University.

Bio:

Akshi is skilled in project management, e-learning and leading innovative learning strategies for new technology. She joined Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance as a part-time account manager before moving to pursue her passion to work on e-Learning systems as a Learning Technologist. She holds a master’s degree in computer science and a bachelor’s degree in commerce. Her background in Information and Communications Technology as an Educator allowed her to deliver comprehensive training and development programs for academic staff and students with topics ranging from IT systems, productivity tools and learning management systems. Her work also involved mentoring teachers to develop the use of technology within teaching, learning and assessment.

Bio:

Amina is the Learning Technologist at Cambridge SupTech Lab. With a passion for continuous growth and exploration, she has established herself as a learner and an enthusiastic professional in the field of educational technology. She possesses a deep understanding of both educational theories and cutting-edge technologies.

Driven by the belief that education should be accessible, engaging, and learner-centred, Amina works to design, implement, and optimize technology-enhanced learning experiences. She constantly seeks opportunities to leverage emerging technologies, such as virtual reality, gamification, artificial intelligence, and adaptive learning, to create personalized and effective learning environments for diverse audiences. Amina has collaborated with educators, instructional designers, and administrators to develop and support educational initiatives. She learns the specific needs of learners and tailors technological solutions that facilitate knowledge acquisition and skills development. By fostering a culture of continuous improvement, she encourages the adoption of best practices and ensures that the learning experiences are both evidence-based and forward-thinking. She stays updated on the latest trends, research, and advancements in the learning and development field.

She holds a Master of Science in Big Data and Business Intelligence from Greenwich University.

Bio:

Cynthia Oshiro is a Project Manager at Cambridge SupTech Lab. She worked for ten years, primarily in the technology industry at Cisco, developing growth strategy for its global education program and its digital products to help close the digital skills gap in Latin America. Her experience extends to business development, project and program management, change management, organizational transformation, product development and strategy, and stakeholder management.

Before joining the Lab Cynthia was the Corporate Social Responsibility Manager and Key Account Manager for Latin America at Cisco, leading its Networking Academy program on key national and regional projects in Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, and Mexico. She has worked on joint projects with organizations such as the Ministries of Education and Defense, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO).

Cynthia played a key role in reaching multi-level organizational alignment at Cisco between its software development and education programs while connecting externally with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), commercial, and ecosystem partners. These collaborations refined software product strategy and go-to-market strategy to position Latin America at the top of Cisco’s global CSR rankings. 

Cynthia’s current work at the Cambridge SupTech Lab is driven by her commitment to make a positive impact on society by creating a more sustainable financial industry through the digital and cultural transformation of financial supervision.

Cynthia holds an MBA from Imperial College London.

Bio:

In previous roles, David coordinated the upgrade of the New York State Department of Financial Services, working with regulated financial institutions, in-house development, external vendors, and State stakeholders to manage the custom development of their modernised IT solution. David consulted on the user infrastructure upgrade and data modernisation of the New York State Worker’s Compensation Board, taking a decisive role in the movement of their $65 million project from a failing, outsourced vendor to a successful, in-house IT provider. David also consulted on the New York State Department of Labor’s IT upgrade. There he led design sessions, documentation creation and audit, development tracking, quality assurance, and user acceptance testing for the flagship gubernatorial initiative. In addition, David has rolled out and seen the adoption of countless software applications in the private sector resulting in real-time collaboration between internal and external stakeholders, improved data analysis capabilities, and streamlined business processes to support digital transformation, change management, and workforce adoption. 

Throughout his career, Dave’s focus has been on project communication and team collaboration, quality assurance testing, test automation, improved data analytics and dashboarding, efficient customer case management, coordination, and communication platforms.

Bio:

Dayna is the Graphic Designer for the Cambridge SupTech Lab. She brings more than ten years of experience as a graphic design and marketing professional in the private sector and infrastructure spaces. 

Bio:

Elisabeth Anna is the Programme Lead for Secondments and Innovation Leaders at the Cambridge SupTech Lab, aiming to facilitate knowledge exchange, foster leadership development, build partnerships, and grow the suptech movement globally. She has over ten years of experience leading multi-stakeholder initiatives and projects to advance sustainable development. Her areas of expertise include corporate sustainability, gender equality, and human rights due diligence.

Elisabeth Anna has previously held roles at the World Bank Group, Global Citizen, and most recently the United Nations Global Compact, the world's largest voluntary corporate sustainability initiative, where she led the design and rollout of global accelerator initiatives engaging thousands of companies across all regions to set ambitious targets for gender equality and women’s leadership. Previously, Elisabeth Anna was able to contribute to the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals while working at the Executive Office of the UN Secretary General. She was recognised for her sustainability leadership as a 30 under 30 honoree by GreenBiz and received an award by the Government of Lower Austria for her leadership in driving inclusive climate action. Elisabeth Anna is fluent in German, English, and Spanish and is continuously learning other languages.

She holds an LLM in International Law from Georgetown University and is admitted to the New York State Bar.

Bio:

Susu Smaili is a marketing and communications expert with over 21 years of experience. She has worked in various industries across three countries

Bio:

Rose is a researcher at the Cambridge Suptech Lab. She is an L.L.M candidate at Strathmore University pursuing International Financial Law and regulation. She has over four years experience working within the digital financial services sector. She previously worked as an analyst for a regulatory technology (regtech) company relying on machine learning and Natural Language processing.

She is passionate about increasing inclusivity and incorporating gender intentionality and equality within the digital financial services eco-system and has a keen interest in AI ethics and governance. She prides herself in being able to bring her research work into actionable insights.

Bio:

Christiane Abou Taan is a researcher at the Cambridge Suptech Lab. With a strong background in marketing and project management, she specializes in creating impactful strategies that meet both customer needs and regulatory standards. Her experience in Australia’s public education sector has honed her skills in compliance, data analysis, and reporting.

Bio:

Lara Sousa Faria is a researcher at the Cambridge SupTech Lab. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Information Management at Universidade Nova de Lisboa, where she also completed her MSc and BSc.

Her previous experience includes roles at the Bank for International Settlements, the European Central Bank, and Banco de Portugal. She has worked on several topics, ranging from financial stability, monetary policy, financial regulation, and Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) supervision.

Bio:

Alejandra Silva is a researcher at the Cambridge SupTech Lab and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. She holds a Financial Risk Manager (FRM) certification and has over six years of experience in the financial sector.

Her previous experience at the Peruvian Financial Authority — Superintendency of Banking, Insurance, and Private Pension Funds (SBS) — included banking supervision, regulatory alignment with international standards, and the development of macroprudential tools. She played a key role in creating a deposit insurance fund for local savings and credit cooperatives and implementing COVID-19 relief measures for financial institutions.

Most recently, at the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office, Alejandra worked on enhancing financial products and advancing financial education initiatives. Her main motivation is to apply her expertise in financial regulation and innovation to help develop supervisory technologies, fostering more resilient and inclusive financial systems.

Bio:

Manish brings 15 years of extensive experience in India’s banking and financial sector. Holding a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and a postgraduate qualification in Data Science, he specializes in credit and risk management as well as data analytics. For the past eight years, he has been part of a rapidly growing Fintech NBFC in India, where he established and managed the company’s Credit, Risk, and Operations functions.

Currently, he is pursuing an LLB from Osmania University.

Bio:

Bio:

Tatiana Lorena Chaparro Pineda is a Business Administration professional specialising in fintech with expertise in suptech. She has experience in data management, process improvement, and automation. Known for her resourcefulness and analytical skills, she is goal-oriented with strong communication and teamwork abilities. She has also participated as a guest lecturer at Universidad de La Sabana and Universidad Externado de Colombia.

Bio:

Owaka is a senior consultant with 11 years of experience at the Scholars Chat Limited and doubles as the Coast Region Program Officer at the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), where he has made significant contributions to enhancing TVET graduate placement through strategic employer partnerships and linkages. With expertise in finance management, program coordination, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement initiatives, he has successfully connected trainees to industrial placements and fostered sustainable relationships with over 3500 private sector companies.

With a rich background in digital skills training, Owaka previously served as a Digital Skills Lead Trainer for the Ajira Digital Programme, impacting over 15,000 youths through training and mentorship. His diverse professional experience includes roles in finance and administration, where he honed skills in financial management, compliance, and reporting.

Owaka holds a Master of Arts in Project Planning & Management from the University of Nairobi and a Bachelor of Commerce with a Finance Option from Multimedia University of Kenya. He has also earned several certifications in digital skills, business analysis, data analytics, financial analysis, and project management.

Passionate about youth empowerment and skills development, Owaka is dedicated to creating innovative solutions that bridge the gap between education and employment in Kenya.

Bio:

Director of the Sandbox Unit, Financial Regulatory Commission of Mongolia 

Batchimeg is the Head of the Sandbox Unit at the Financial Regulatory Commission of Mongolia and is currently participating in the Secondment Program at Suptech Lab. With over seven years of experience in financial regulation, her work primarily focuses on financial markets and macroeconomic research. Batchimeg played a pivotal role in initiating Mongolia's regulatory sandbox framework and now leads a team dedicated to testing innovative digital financial services.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the National University of Mongolia and a Master's degree in Public Economics from Hitotsubashi University in Japan. A fellow of the Fletcher School Leadership Program for Financial Inclusion, Batchimeg represents her institution as a member of the Financial Inclusion Data Working Group at the Alliance for Financial Inclusion. Additionally, she serves as a guest lecturer on money and monetary policy at the University of Finance and Economics.

Bio:

Bryan is a Co-Founder and the Executive Director of the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School. He has led and co-authored more than 50 high-impact national, regional, and global fintech market and regulatory reports covering a wide range of topics from digital lending, digital assets, and green finance to digital financial inclusion and regulatory innovation. He was appointed by the UK Joint Regulatory Oversight Committee as the Independent Chair of a Strategic Working Group (SWG) that looks at the future development of Open Banking in the United Kingdom. Bryan is a member of Bank of England’s CBDC Engagement Forum, IMF’s FAS Advisory Group, OECD’s Steering Group on SME & Entrepreneurship Finance, and Dubai International Financial Centre’s (DIFC) Innovation Panel. He co-chairs the Future of Global FinTech initiative in collaboration with the World Economic Forum. He was trained in economic geography and public policy at Cambridge and Oxford Universities.

Bio:

Hunter’s research interests are in digital payments, financial inclusion, open banking, and broader frontier market investing. Prior to joining the Centre, Hunter worked in the finance industry, beginning his career in corporate banking in the United States, later transitioning to Rwanda to facilitate a turnaround plan and digital transformation strategy at a microfinance bank as Head of Credit. This included the implementation of a USSD-enabled digital payments platform enabling the disbursement and collection of credit via an agent network to 200,000+ clients across the country. Hunter holds an MBA from the University of Cambridge with a Concentration in Finance.