EXCELLENCE IN DIGITAL BANKING 7.0 2026 – INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT

Opening Words from the Chairperson

Davor Gašparac Digital/AI Transformation Leader | Executive Advisor | Keynote, Former Erste Digital Bank

Re-architecting the Bank Around AI

Frans Van Bruggen Independent Expert (Ex Senior Policy Officer Fintech and AI at DNB)

Moving from AI pilots to enterprise-wide transformation Embedding AI into strategic decision-making at board level Aligning data, talent and technology for AI-driven banking Redefining leadership in an AI-native financial institution

GPTs Before AI: Tackling Cultural Lag Before the Next Crisis

Fabio Turel Information Technology Strategy Manager, Generali Switzerland

A strategic lens on the speed gap between technology and organisations. Why regulation, strategy and risk management are one conversation. Culture as the most underrated risk instrument in the age of AI.

Ambition to Architecture, what vision really demands

Ashtha Bajaj Data, Analytics & AI Leader, Bank of Ireland, UK

Ambition creates direction, but architecture determines whether transformation can scale securely, sustainably, and at speed. Vision in banking demands more than innovation, it requires resilient data, technology, governance, and operating models working as one ecosystem. The institutions that win will be those that simplify complexity, build adaptable platforms, and turn strategy into repeatable execution.

From AI Hype to Real Control: Deterministic System Intelligence for Safe Legacy Evolution

Ohad Kotler CEO & Co-Founder, Tweezr

AI can accelerate delivery - but in banking, it must also prove its value. This session explores how combining deterministic system intelligence with AI enables teams to move faster without losing control. By grounding every insight in source code, banks can safely evolve legacy systems, reduce risk, and meet growing regulatory expectations - without big-bang modernization.

Deliver Personalised Experiences While Automating Onboarding at Scale

Carla Sobral Head of Clients Onboarding, Société Générale Securities Services

Deliver personalized experiences while automating onboarding at scale Accelerate onboarding without sacrificing trust, transparency, or quality Establish secure and compliant foundations for responsible innovation

Customer facing AI that acts

Michael Zambiasi Tribe Lead - Mobile Evolution Tribe, RB International, Austria

Evolution from Chatbot to Virtual Assistant Implementation steps to enable the VA to act Challenges & opportunities (organizational & technical)

Moving Money: How Banks Think

Viktoria Soltesz Founder, The Soltesz Institute

Understand how money actually moves through banks, payment providers and financial institutions. Optimise both costs and risks of various payment and banking decisions. Learn the real risks around FinTechs, including neobanks, EMIs and wallets.

Islamic Banking and Future Digital Transformation

Wan Norhaziki Wan Abdul Halim Director - Head of Shariah Governance, Global Compliance, Crédit Agricole, UAE

As the global financial industry undergoes rapid digital transformation, Islamic banking faces unprecedented opportunities and challenges in adapting to emerging technologies while upholding Shariah principles. This presentation explores the evolving landscape of Islamic banking, highlighting the transformative roles of artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, financial technology (FinTech), digital banking, and smart contracts. It also examines the implications of digital innovation for Shariah compliance, regulatory frameworks, operational efficiency, financial inclusion, and institutional competitiveness. Drawing on global developments and emerging industry practices, the presentation offers insights into the future of Islamic banking and the strategic priorities necessary to build a more innovative, resilient, sustainable, and Shariah-compliant digital financial ecosystem.

Payment systems regulation, consumer protection and future payment rails

Andrew Wigston Head of Supervision and Compliance Monitoring, Payment System Regulator

Managing Change Risk in an Age of Uncertainty

Edgars Sedovs Head of Risk, Rietumu Banka, Latvia

Risk Culture as an Enabler of Change Effective Change Risk Management Selecting Appropriate Risk Treatment Strategies Adapting to Uncertainty and Emerging Risks

Supervising the Intelligent Bank: Trust, Resilience and AI in Next-Generation Banking

Nina Schweighofer JST Coordinator / Head of Section, European Central Bank, Germany

Understanding how European supervisors assess AI-driven business models, governance and digital transformation Translating regulatory expectations — SSM priorities, DORA and the AI Act — into practical design choices for the intelligent bank Building board-level accountability and meaningful human oversight as AI enters core decision chains Managing the resilience challenge: cloud concentration, third-party AI models and legacy evolution Positioning trust and supervisability as competitive advantages, not constraints, in the platform economy