Speakers
DG Chuchi Fonacier
Head of the Financial Supervision Sector
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
Jino Noel
CTO
UnionDigital Bank
Barani Sundaram
Chief Technology Officer
EastWest Bank
Suraj Ramchandani
Chief of Growth
CIMB Philippines
Sateesh Reddy
Group Chief Technology Officer
Tonik Bank
Rahul Rasal
EVP and Retail Banking Segment Head
Security Bank
Wanda Pascua
Head of Marketing
Tonik Bank
Jonah Dunca
CISO
Philippine Veterans Bank
Jallain Marcel S. Manrique
Partner, Advisory Head, Technology Consulting
R.G. Manabat & Co. (KPMG in the Philippines)
Catherine de Joya Urtola
SVP & Chief Compliance Officer
Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited Manila
Julian Cua
Managing Director and Partner
Boston Consulting Group
Francesca Barcelona
Global CISO Chapter Lead
ING Hubs Philippines
Anna Marie Pabellon
Country Assurance Leader and Financial Services Industry Leader
Deloitte Philippines
Christian “ Ian” Lauron
Partner and Leader in EY Philippines/SGV’s Financial Service Consulting Practice
Russell Hernandez
CISO
UnionDigital Bank
Rafael Francisco amparo
Executive Director
Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines
Rey Lugtu
Founder, CEO and CTO
Hungry Workhorse
Mike Tagle
Assistant Director for Solutions Consulting and Architecture
Globe Business
Ashley Pereira
Solutions Consultant
Iproov
Maria Donna Beech Ramos
VP and Head of the Operational Excellence Group
City Savings Bank
Ron Salamanque
Lead, Customer Experience and Consumer Insights
GoTyme Bank
Ice Sison
Head of Financial Crime Intelligence & Analytics and Product Security
UnionDigital Bank
DG Chuchi Fonacier
DG Fonacier is the head of the Financial Supervision Sector (FSS), which is mainly responsible for the regulation of banks and other BSP-Supervised Financial Institutions (BFSIs). Under her direct supervision are five subsubsectors which handle onsite examination and offsite surveillance (or integrated supervision) of BFSIs including specialized supervision of specific areas (i.e., anti-money laundering, trust, financial market operations and information technology), oversight of the public credit registry, policy studies/research, and supervisory data management.
DG Fonacier joined the BSP in 1984 as a bank examiner and worked her way to become the deputy governor of FSS in 2017. In 2008, she headed the BSP’s primary supervisory unit that handles specially-challenged banks. Under her watch, a record number of bank issues and developments were successfully resolved and implemented. She also led the development of various programs, in coordination with the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC), aimed at strengthening the thrift, rural, and cooperative banking sectors by encouraging mergers, consolidations, and acquisition involving weak banks.
DG Fonacier recently served two extended terms as Chair of the Executives’ Meeting of East Asia Pacific Central Banks Working Group on Banking Supervision (EMEAP WGBS), composed of central bank and supervisory authorities from 11 countries in the East Asia and the Pacific which focuses on bank supervision matters that are relevant to EMEAP WGBS members. She also served as Chair of the Global Standards and Policy of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion and the Consumer Protection and Education Committee of the Financial Sector Forum.
She is currently the BSP’s representative to the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) Plenary and Workstream 1 (Supervision/Micro-Prudential Practices) and the permanent alternate of the BSP Governor in the Board of Directors of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC). She previously served as an alternate Member of the National Development Corporation (NDC), as well as the Agricultural Credit Policy Council - Governing Council.
DG Fonacier has served as panelist/resource person in various international conferences/fora on banking supervision, sustainable finance, financial technology and digitalization, financial inclusion, shadow banking, microfinance, bank resolution and
crisis management, financial stability, capacity building, etc. organized by international bodies such as the United Nations (UN), IMF/World Bank, Bank of International Settlements (BIS), Financial Stability Institute (FSI), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Asian Bankers Association (ABA), South East Asian Central Banks (SEACEN) and central banks and monetary/supervisory authorities of various countries.
DG Fonacier took up her Bachelor of Science in Commerce major in Accounting degree at University of St. La Salle - Bacolod. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a holder of a Career Service Executive Eligibility (CSEE). She obtained her Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) at the Ateneo de Manila University. She attended the Program on Rethinking Financial Inclusion: Smart Design for Policy and Practice organized by the Harvard Kennedy School.
Jino Noel
I am an experienced data and technology leader with multiple experiences of building data teams and practices across different organizations.
I am currently the Chief Technology Officer of Union Digital Bank, focusing on developing products that enable financial inclusion of our users.
Previously, I was currently the Chief Data Officer of Angkas, building up the data teams and and providing real-time operational analytics. I was also previously the Chief Data Officer and was previously interim CTO at Data Analytics Ventures, Inc. I have also completed a consulting engagement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as the Chief Data Scientist of the Pintig Lab, conducting trainings and workshops with government agencies and LGUs as well as implementing proof of concept machine learning projects.
I am co-inventor of 2 patents, and have published 4 papers in peer-reviewed journals in the field of data science and AI. I am currently taking my PhD in Data Science at the Asian Institute of Management. I finished my Master of Computing in Artificial Intelligence at the Australian National University and also completed a BS Computer Science degree at the Ateneo de Manila University.
Barani Sundaram
With a career spanning over two decades, Barani has established himself as a
visionary leader in the field of technology and digital transformation. His journey
is marked by significant achievements and contributions to the financial
technology sector, making him a prominent figure in the industry.
Prior to joining EastWest Bank, Barani held various leadership positions in
Singapore & Vietnam where he demonstrated his expertise in delivering
complex technology projects and driving innovation.
This role marked a significant milestone in his career, as he took on the
responsibility for modernizing banks tech stacks. His efforts have been pivotal in
positioning EastWest Bank as a leading consumer bank in the Philippines.
Since joining EastWest Bank, Barani has spearheaded several key initiatives
aimed at transforming the bank's technology landscape.
His strategic vision and ability to navigate complex technological challenges
have earned him recognition within the organization and the industry at large.
Barani Sundaram's journey as the Chief Technology Officer of EastWest Bank,
Philippines, is a testament to his expertise, dedication, and visionary leadership.
His contributions to the financial technology sector have not only transformed
EastWest Bank but have also set a benchmark for innovation and excellence in
the industry. As he continues to drive technological advancements, Barani
remains a key figure in shaping the future of digital finance in the Philippines.
Suraj Ramchandani
Suraj currently drives New Business Development, Key Account Management and Monetization for the Bank as it’s Chief Growth Officer. He previously also managed the Mobile App & Digital Channels for the Bank.
Prior to this, Suraj ran Buy Now Pay Later, Fintech-as-a-Service, and B2B Wallet Growth for some of the leading fintechs in the Philippines.
After completing his Engineering in Information Science, Suraj started his career in Management Consulting with KPMG and led IT Risk Management, Program Management & Process Improvement initiatives across their India, UK, and US practices. Subsequently, he led National Expansion for a Leading Social Enterprise in India backed my Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and after that for a Global HealthTech startup funded by Google, Tencent & Sequoia. He also drove global growth for a US based AI startup and co-founded a retail e-commerce startup in the Philippines.
Suraj has completed his Entrepreneurship from Stanford University, Business Sustainability from Harvard University on a full scholarship, and International Business, Sales & Marketing from IIM Calcutta. He was selected as one of the Top 100 Young Leaders by The Economic Times, India in 2016. He recently successfully completed his CEO Program from the Asian Institute of Management, Manila
Sateesh Reddy
Sateesh Reddy is the Chief Technology Officer at Tonik, where he plays a pivotal role in driving the bank's technology strategy and automation efforts. As part of the founding team, he was instrumental in building Tonik's banking platform from the ground up, ensuring a robust and innovative digital foundation for the bank's operations. With over 12 years of extensive experience in Digital transformation across India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, he has a proven track record in setting up Fintech/banking platforms and leading digital transformation initiatives. His expertise and leadership have been crucial in positioning Tonik Bank as a front-runner in the digital banking landscape. In his current role, Sateesh continues to spearhead technological advancements, focusing on enhancing the bank's digital capabilities and ensuring seamless and efficient banking experiences for customers.
Rahul Rasal
Rahul Rasal is Security Bank’s Retail Banking Segment (RBS) Head. He is responsible for leading RBS’ strategies and plans—resulting in business growth, operational efficiency, and profitability. Rahul ensures the Bank’s market presence through the delivery of new and refreshed, digitally enabled, and customer-centric value propositions.
He joined Security Bank as Retail Product Group Head in May 2021 and became Retail Banking Segment Head in January 2023. Prior to joining Security Bank, Rahul held senior leadership roles in banking and insurance across India, Japan, Taiwan, the Middle East, and the Philippines.
Rahul has experience in setting up, growing & turning around large and complex businesses as Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President at Generali Insurance (2018-2021) and Managing Director at Citibank, N.A. (1995-2017).
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and a Master’s degree in Management Studies.
Wanda Pascua
Wanda Pascua is a seasoned marketing leader renowned for her ability to propel brands across diverse sectors. As the Head of Marketing at Tonik Bank, the Philippines' pioneering digital bank, she plays a pivotal role in shaping the brand's identity and steering its strategic expansion. Her responsibilities include orchestrating marketing campaigns and strategies and guiding cross-functional teams to drive customer experience. She has a rich professional background in advertising, e-commerce and blockchain; where she held leadership roles. Her dedication to the field is evident in her consistent delivery of creative data-driven solutions that yield results.
Jonah Dunca
Experienced Information Security Officer with a strong background in the banking industry. Skilled in Network Security Administration and Risk Management, with extensive experience in Information Security. A Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) passer and a Certified Ethical Hacking (CEH) passer, with expertise across various security platforms. Previously worked in IT Security roles at other banks and is currently the Chief Information Security Officer of Philippine Veterans Bank.
Jallain Marcel S. Manrique
Jallain drove substantial growth in KPMG's Tech Consulting function in the Philippines, introducing services in Cybersecurity, Data Privacy ERP implementation, Robotics Process Automation, SOC or IT Attestation services, Technology and Third Party Risk Assessment, and Digital Strategy and Transformation.
Selected by the Chairman and COO for the INSEAD Global Executive Education Program, Jallain established the firm’s expertise in Cybersecurity and Data Privacy, leading to accreditation as a Service Provider for Vulnerability Assessment, Penetration Testing, and ISMS Assessment by the Philippine Government's Department of Information Communication Technology.
He also developed an Automated Report Engine for streamlined reporting processes and led internal transformation projects in Robotics Process Automation, yielding significant efficiency gains and cost savings. These efforts secured a multi-year contract with an energy subsidiary of a Philippine conglomerate.
Catherine de Joya Urtola
Catherine currently serves as the Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited – Manila Branch. She brings with her extensive experience in regulatory compliance, having previously held leadership roles as Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) at several prominent financial institutions. Notably, she was the very first CCO of UNO Digital Bank, and also served as CCO at Home Credit Philippines and Mega International Commercial Bank, where she additionally held the role of Data Protection Officer.
Earlier in her career, Catherine worked in the Compliance Department of BDO Unibank as a Compliance Officer, FATCA Officer, and AML Officer. Her professional journey also includes tenures at major international institutions such as JP Morgan Chase & Co., Deutsche Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, and State Investment Trust Inc.
In recognition of her leadership and contributions to the financial sector, Catherine received the Women Influencer Award in Financial Services in 2023 and earned her DPO Ace Certification in 2019.
She is a respected voice in the industry and has been invited numerous times as a speaker, panelist, host, and moderator in various banking and financial forums and seminars both locally and internationally. Catherine is also actively involved in industry organizations and currently serves as the Sports and Fellowship Committee Head of the Bankers Institute of the Philippines (BAIPHIL).
Julian Cua
Julian Cua is a Managing Director and Partner at BCG Manila. He specializes in digital transformation programs leveraging data and AI. He also leads the firm's Center for Consumer Insights in the Philippines. Julian also carries and MBA from London Business School and has worked previously at Amazon in the UK.
Francesca Barcelona
Francesca Barcelona, also known as Butch, is the current ad interim WB CISO and IT Area Lead for Global CISO in ING Hubs PH. Her interests lie in global cybersecurity approaches and how it differs per country depending on regulations. She has various experiences with IT Security; from DevSecOps to Governance. She specializes in cloud security and has been an advocate for zero trust. Butch currently holds a CISSP and CCSP
Anna Marie Pabellon
Anna is a cybersecurity expert with an impressive 24-year career in cyber risk management, IT security strategies, and technology implementations tailored for clients in financial services, utilities, and power sectors. She currently serves as both the Assurance Leader and the Financial Services Leader at Landicho Abela & Co. (Deloitte Philippines), a member firm of the Deloitte network. Prior to this role, she was the Country Risk Advisory and Cyber Leader – the first woman to hold this position – helping banks and financial services clients navigate the complex requirements of data privacy, cybersecurity and emerging risks brought by new regulations, technologies, and business trends.
Prior to joining Deloitte, she headed the Technology Information Security Group of the Philippines’ largest telco, where she was responsible for the management of strategic initiatives to preserve the availability, integrity,and confidentiality of information assets and resources.
Before that, she was also one of the youngest Vice Presidents of the Philippines' largest universal bank and the head of its Information Systems Audit Department. In her earlier years, she was with a consulting company performing various IT risk services here in the Philippines and in Australia.
A recognized thought leader, Anna is a sought-after resource speaker at various FSI and industry events, where she delves into topics such as data security, governance, risk and compliance (GRC), and cyber audit. Drawing from her extensive practical experience, her talks provide invaluable insights and forward-thinking approaches to today’s most pressing cybersecurity challenges.
Christian “ Ian” Lauron
Christian 'Ian' is a Partner in SGV's Financial Services Organization (FSO) Consulting practice, which encompasses Banking and Capital Markets, Insurance, and Asset Management (including Pensions). He has over 11 years of experience in assessing Enterprise Risk Management and providing risk management consultancy services.
His expertise includes assisting in the implementation of Risk Management programs and activities, as well as measuring and managing financial risks (including market, credit, and concentration risks), operational risks, and liquidity risks for both government and private financial institutions. As the Head of the Financial Services Office Consulting group, he oversees areas such as enterprise risk management (covering strategic, financial, compliance, and operational aspects), valuation and modeling, quantitative analysis and data analytics, capital planning and management, scenario planning, strategic forecasting, stress testing, governance, regulatory management, and compliance with Basel, IFRS, and Solvency standards.
Additionally, he conducts macro-prudential policy reviews for the government and public sector and has experience in impact investing, entrepreneurship, and microfinance.
Russell Hernandez
is currently the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Vice President at UnionDigital Bank, with over 12 years of leadership in cybersecurity across industries like critical infrastructure, banking, insurance, fintech, and healthcare sectors. Honored as the 2022 ISOG Best CISO of the Year in Insurance, Russell is a trailblazer in aligning robust security strategies with business objectives and driving transformative initiatives.
Previously, as Head of Information Security Governance and Data Protection Officer at Insular Life Assurance (InLife), Russell established enterprise-wide security frameworks and ensured compliance with ISO 27001, NIST CSF, and Philippines DPA. Concurrently, as CISO at InLife Health Care, he fortified the security of sensitive healthcare data, implementing stringent controls to protect patient information and mitigate cyber risks in a highly regulated environment. His dual role as Data Protection Officer across these organizations saw him champion data privacy compliance, aligning with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and GDPR principles, reducing privacy risk through proactive governance.
Russell’s career also includes pivotal roles at TrueMoney Philippines, where he led information security and data protection efforts, and at EY, where he provided cybersecurity consulting. Earlier career at Hewlett-Packard, Russell supported critical infrastructure for the UK, delivering application support and incident management analyst and later as an Incident Manager. His work ensured rapid resolution of high-priority incidents, maintaining the integrity of essential energy infrastructure through ITIL practices and effective third-party coordination.
Holding a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) credential, Russell combines technical expertise with strategic vision. A graduate of De La Salle Lipa with a Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communications Engineering, he leverages his engineering foundation to innovate in cybersecurity.
Rafael Francisco amparo
A Certified Public Accountant and seasoned leader in the banking sector, Rafael currently serves as Executive Director of both the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines and the Rural Bankers Research and Development Foundation. He also plays key roles as a Director at the Credit Information Corporation, Member of the Banking Industry Tripartite Council, and Banking Sector Representative to the DTI MSME Development Council.
Rey Lugtu
He is the Founder, CEO, and CTO of Hungry Workhorse, a digital, culture, and customer experience transformation consulting firm. He is also the Chairman of MyLegalWhiz, the first subscription-based, cloud-enabled legal knowledge and research assistance platform in Asia.
He is an Institute Fellow at the US-based Institute for Digital Transformation, and Graduate at the Institute of Corporate Directors. He is the Chair of the Digital Transformation: IT and Enterprise Governance Program Committee at the FINEX Academy.
He is a Professional Lecturer at the De La Salle University MBA program where he teaches strategic management and digital transformation. He is also a Digital Transformation Consultant for De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
He is a business columnist and writer for The Manila Times, Manila Bulletin, Business World, and Pilipino Mirror; contributing author of the recently launched global book, Digital Transformation Demystified and Editor-in-Chief and Contributing Author of the book, “Ethics: Enduring or Evolving?”.
Mike Tagle
A seasoned telecommunications and ICT professional with over two decades of expertise across product management, solutions design, service management, pre-sales, systems engineering, network planning, project management, and operations. With a strong leadership background in various management roles, Mike excels in delivering innovative solutions and driving strategic initiatives in the ever-evolving tech landscape.
Ashley Pereira
Ashley Pereira is an experienced Solutions Consultant specializing in identity, IDV, and
biometrics technologies with expertise in technical discovery, solution architecting, and bid
management. Ashley's passion is helping organizations leverage cutting-edge technologies to streamline processes and enhance security. In his iProov role, Ashley helps APAC customers implement solutions that prevent digital injection attacks such as deepfakes.
Ashley has a MSc from the University of Edinburgh and is currently a member of the ISC2
Singapore Chapter.
Maria Donna Beech Ramos
Maria Donna, also called Boom by her peers, is the Vice President for Operational
Excellence at City Savings Bank. She specializes in the integration of physics, technology
and business strategy, to exploit and utilize mathematical rigor for real-world impact.
She started off with a degree in BS Applied Physics at the University of the Philippines,
Diliman, where her work focused on computational simulation of complex systems. She
then earned her Postgraduate Certificate in Application Development and Master of
Technology Management, equipping her to bridge technical knowledge with strategic
leadership. This enabled her as she spearheaded global software and infrastructure
development projects at Ayala Systems, Safeway Manila, Indra Philippines and
Macquarie Bank.
This experience later on became foundational for her work as AVP for Financial
Engineering at Deutsche Bank, where she led teams for rapid application development,
robotic process automation, and process transformation. She eventually moved on as
Enterprise Program Management Head at UNO Digital Bank where she set-up the
framework and policies for technology implementation for this next-generation financial
institution.
Now pursuing her Doctorate in Business Administration at Excelia Business School Paris,
she is developing a framework in Operational Excellence that offers a paradigm shift and
bring about new insights to optimize transaction processing and address non-linearity in
banking ecosystems.
Ron Salamanque
Ron Salamanque leads the Customer Experience & Insights at GoTyme Bank since October 2022, where leadership focuses on fostering a customer-centric culture and developing the bank's customer experience and insights capabilities. This role involves leading a high-performing CX Design and Research team dedicated to enhancing the experiences of over 5 million customers and implementing data-driven strategies to identify growth opportunities. Prior to GoTyme Bank, Ron Salamanque held various managerial positions at LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) from May 2014 to March 2022 and served as Senior Manager of Customer Solutions at Concentrix in 2022. Educational qualifications include an MBA from the University of Santo Tomas and a Bachelor's degree in Marketing from Wesleyan University.
Ice Sison
Isiah Sison is a strategic leader with over 15 years of experience in fraud investigation, cybersecurity, and data analytics across diverse industries including banking, mining, and government. He has investigated over 1,000 fraud cases, including high-stakes incidents involving multi-billions of pesos. Recognized for his expertise, Isiah was chosen as a Data Scientist Scholar by the Philippine government's Department of Science and Technology. He is a proven expert in protecting enterprise assets and driving significant operational improvements.
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