Biography

Alejandro Alegre (57) is General Director of Currency Issuance and Main Cashier at the Banco de México. He has been with the bank since 2001 and has held different positions including Advisor to the Board of Governors, Security Director, and General Director of Planning and Budget. Previous to this, he spent 14 years working in Civilian Intelligence Services in Mexico. He was General Director of the Planning Center for Drug Control, the Intelligence Agency of the Office of the Mexican Attorney General and General Director of the National Security Intelligence Center (CISEN). He is a qualified lawyer.

About the company

Banco de México is the central bank of Mexico.

Presentation

Currency management in crisis: the Covid-19 pandemic

The Covid 19 pandemic came as a surprise to the world.

This panel session will debate how well prepared central banks were to deal with the pandemic at the outset, what the main challenges were, and how they were overcome. The panelists will also discuss the key lessons learned and actions taken after nearly 2 years of the pandemic.

Biography

Eckhard Braun (Dipl.-Ing. FH) has a comprehensive industry and technology background, especially in the field of business and product development. More than 30 years of international project experience and proven specialisation in the field of high-security printing form a broad foundation of knowledge. Familiar with IT/software applications for decades, he and his FALCON team are particularly valued as competent project partners in times of digital transformation.

About the company

An experienced engineering team is a competent partner for strategy and concept development as well as holistic, intelligent and future-oriented process and factory planning. Industry-specific customer orientation and professional advice on digital transformation issues are success factors for achieving far-reaching integration and automation potential. Successful project implementations worldwide confirm FALCON as a professional industry specialist.

Presentation

Operational excellence in high security printing

Biography

Mike Chambers is the former CEO of Bacs, Faster Payments and CHAPS – the UK’s systemically important payment systems. Mike now holds a portfolio of roles including Chairman, CEO, payments advisor, Non-Executive Director, ambassador and awards judge. Mike also publishes the Payments:Unpacked newsletter (www.payments-unpacked.com) and blogs at www.northeypoint.com.

About the company

Northey Point provides payments advisory services to Payment Service Providers, Payment System Operators, Central Banks, financial institutions, trade bodies, infrastructure providers and corporates.

Presentation

Analogue money enabling digital payments

It is well known that cash is being used less for day-to-day spending as people increasingly use cards or mobile phones to make payments, or are shopping more online and less on the high street. As in many areas of life, digital payment options are replacing traditional analogue payment methods. Let's explore how analogue money can enable digital payments.

Biography

Toby Davies is Head of Notes Operations at the Bank of England with responsibility for the production and distribution of Bank of England banknotes, its anti-counterfeiting strategy and the regime to back Scottish & Northern Irish banknotes. Previously, he was responsible for the operation of the Bank’s Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) payment system and its securities operations. Toby has also worked at Euroclear UK and Lloyd’s of London.

About the company

Bank of England

Presentation

Currency management in crisis: the Covid-19 pandemic

The Covid 19 pandemic came as a surprise to the world.

This panel session will debate how well prepared central banks were to deal with the pandemic at the outset, what the main challenges were, and how they were overcome. The panelists will also discuss the key lessons learned and actions taken after nearly 2 years of the pandemic.

Biography

David has worked in payments since 2015 when he joined Cash Services UK as Head of Policy and Research. He was part of the transfer to UK Finance, where he took the role of Principal (Payments) in 2019. Prior to this, he worked at the innovation foundation Nesta and Rachel Reeves MP.

About the company

An independent consultancy designed to support the financial services industry as it navigates times of change.

We offer support and guidance by providing agile and innovative solutions to:

• Research & education
• Stakeholder & political engagement
• Risk & resilience planning

Presentation

New ideas are essential to stay ahead in today’s fast-paced world, and with the payments landscape in a constant state of change, it’s vital that the cash industry thinks outside the box to stay competitive. This presentation will put forward 8 ideas that can support cash in this environment. Are new operating models the answer? New technology, further collaboration, or could a few simple tweaks make a huge difference?

Biography

Scott Hendry was appointed Senior Director of Financial Technology for the Bank in 2016. He oversees the Bank’s efforts to monitor and research developments and implications of new technologies affecting the economy. This includes serving as the business lead on the Bank’s CBDC and blockchain research programs. 

About the company

Bank of Canada is the central bank of Canada.

Presentation

Cash and CBDC : how will they co-exist?

Most central banks around the world are working on a CBDC project, and a few have implemented a CBDC in their jurisdictions. No less important is the fact that almost all central banks confirm that CBDCs are not intended to replace cash but to complement it. Thus, the fundamental question is how will cash and CBDCs co-exist? This panel will address this question.

Biography

David is is an experienced financial services leader and public speaker, interested in improving, understanding and disrupting the status quo in the payments industry. He is former CEO of Cash Services UK and Co founder of Onebanks the agnostic banking platform.

About the company

Enryo is an independent consultancy designed to support the financial services industry as it navigates times of change. We offer support and guidance by providing agile and innovative solutions to:

• Research & education
• Stakeholder & political engagement
• Risk & resilience planning

Presentation

New ideas are essential to stay ahead in today’s fast-paced world, and with the payments landscape in a constant state of change, it’s vital that the cash industry thinks outside the box to stay competitive. This presentation will put forward 8 ideas that can support cash in this environment. Are new operating models the answer? New technology, further collaboration, or could a few simple tweaks make a huge difference?

Biography

Dr. Stefan Huch, Head of Payments & Blockchain D/A/CH/NL has been with Capgemini Consulting since July 2007. After studying business administration at the University of Leipzig and the Technical University of Lisbon, Dr. Huch gained two years of experience in financial services as a trainee at the HSH Nordbank.

About the company

Capgemini Consulting is the Global Strategy and Transformation Consulting brand of the Capgemini Group. Capgemini Consulting specializes in advising and supporting enterprises in significant transformation, from innovative strategy to execution and with an unstinting focus on results. With the new digital economy creating significant disruptions and opportunities, a global team of over 3,000 talented individuals work with leading companies and governments to master Digital Transformation.

Presentation

World payments report 2021

Payments are entering a new experience-driven era, ushered in by an accelerated transformation timeline due to Covid-19 and the growing digital appetite of customers. With the Asia Pacific region leading the global trend, the demand for digital payment options is greater than ever before, along with the expectations for fast transaction settlements, instant payments, e-money, failsafe security, and wow-factor customer experience.

Biography

After graduating from the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague I became a technologist at a private printing company. In 2013 I moved from the private sector to the public sector, taking on the role of director of a state production plant (producing PC and PVC cards).

About the company

STC is producing all security documents for the Czech government, including passports, banknotes, Czech ID's, Driving Licenses, Resident Permit Cards, tax stamps, etc. We also offer digital solutions, for example a track and trace system for tobacco.

Presentation

Transforming a state printing works into a system provider

The State Printing Works of Securities (SPWS) is a company with a history spanning 90 years, which has accompanied the printing of banknotes since its inception. The world is changing – and with it the SPWS, too. Banknotes still play an important role, but the SPWS has also expanded its product portfolio over the years to include identity documents and other securities, plus, most recently, digital services. Today, identity documents account for more than 65% of the SPWS’ production and the company has become the supplier of the entire solution. The digitalisation of identity documents is another of SPWS’ visions. The combination of classic security printing and digitalisation is the direction that the SPWS would like to take in the coming years.

Biography

Barbara has been working at Narodowy Bank Polski (NBP) for eight years. She began work at Poland’s central bank as Deputy Director of Cash and Issue Department, where she currently holds the position of Director. During her work for the central bank she was involved in the introduction of a new series of circulation banknotes and coins, the change of denominational structure, and the introduction of new regulations regarding cooperation with the cash market. Before she joined the central bank, for seven years she had held the position of Sales Director at the Mint of Poland. The professional experience gained at the central bank and the mint allowed her to optimise many processes along the supply chains. She is the chairwoman of the Polish Cash Circulation Council and is active in the NBP and Polish Security Printing Works research and development group, which was established on her own initiative. She specialises in product development, and in addition to cash management, she is also responsible for collector values issued by NBP. She is considered an expert in this field in Poland. She graduated from the University of Szczecin and completed postgraduate studies at the Faculty of Management of the University of Warsaw.

About the company

Narodowy Bank Polski (NBP) is the National Bank of Poland.

Presentation

Currency management in crisis: the Covid-19 pandemic

The Covid 19 pandemic came as a surprise to the world. This panel session will debate how well prepared central banks were to deal with the pandemic at the outset, what the main challenges were, and how they were overcome. The panelists will also discuss the key lessons learned and actions taken after nearly 2 years of the pandemic

Biography

Ms. Sencia Kaizemi-Rukata is the Director of Banking Services at the Bank of Namibia, where she oversees the provision of Currency, Banking and Security Services at the Bank. She is a seasoned banker with over 22 years of experience in the corporate, retail (commercial) and central banking environment. Ms. Sencia Kaizemi-Rukata holds a Master of Commerce degree in Business Management (Cum Laude), Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree and Bachelor of Commerce in Strategic Human Resources Management from the University of South Africa (UNISA).  Ms. Kaizemi-Rukata, is a highly sought-after professional, who plays a very instrumental role in the Banking industry, cemented by the specialised training in the areas of banking, payments and currency.  She has notable exposure in corporate governance evidenced by her service as on the Boards of the Payments Association of Namibia and Namibia Post and Telecom Holdings Company.

About the company

The Bank of Namibia (BoN) is the central bank of Namibia. It is located in the capital city of Windhoek. The Bank of Namibia was established in 1990 by the Bank of Namibia Act, 1990 (Act 8 of 1990). The objective of the Bank of Namibia, according the Namibian Constitution, is to “serve as the State's principle instrument to control the money supply, the currency and the institutions of finance, and to perform all other functions ordinarily performed by a central bank”.

Presentation

Currency management in crisis: the Covid-19 pandemic

The Covid 19 pandemic came as a surprise to the world.

This panel session will debate how well prepared central banks were to deal with the pandemic at the outset, what the main challenges were, and how they were overcome. The panelists will also discuss the key lessons learned and actions taken after nearly 2 years of the pandemic.

Biography

John "Kiffmeister" Kiff was a Senior Financial Sector Expert at the International Monetary Fund from 2005 until he retired in April 2021. Prior to that, he worked at the Bank of Canada for 25 years, where he spent most of his time managing the funding and investment of the government’s foreign exchange reserves, including running its interest rate and currency swap book.

About the company

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organization of 190 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world.

Presentation

What is a retail Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)? A definition

A clear definition and a solid understanding of the term "Central Bank Digital Currency" is an indispensable basis for discussions on this topic. In this presentation, the basics of retail CBDC will be examined from different perspectives and the relationship between different aspects will be explained.

 

A global view of retail CBDC

Most central banks around the world are conducting studies or have a project about retail CBDC underway. This presentation gives an overview of the stage of the ongoing activities on this topic on a world-wide level.

 

Offline digital currency and smart banknotes – bridging the gap between physical and digital money

One of the challenges retail CBDCs are facing are « offline » payments, i.e. how can a money transaction be executed when there is no internet connectivity, e.g. following a natural disaster. Offline payments can easily be achieved with banknotes, but it is rather challenging with digital money. Several initiatives are underway, to combine the advantages of the two and bridge the world between banknotes and CBDC.

Biography

Guillaume Lepecq is a globally recognized expert in the subjects of payments and cash. Working primarily as a consultant over the last fifteen years, Guillaume was appointed Chair of the CashEssentials Think Tank in February 2019. Guillaume has specialized particularly in retail transactions, including both cash and electronic payments.

About the company

CashEssentials is as an independent initiative, which aims at offering a platform for debate about the payments and monetary ecosystems, to conduct and foster high-quality research on cash and its future.

Presentation

The future of cash: A novel approach to re-imagining the future

This presentation challenges the notion of a singular future and frames the much needed discussion around the future of cash not only as a technological issue, but as a societal question with fundamental implications for inclusion, equality, resilience, efficiency and privacy. Covid-19 has marked a notable return of more diverse futures thinking into organisations. It has highlighted the need to retain agency via identifying multiple plausible futures, recognizing different pathways and, importantly, imagining desirable societal futures.

Biography

Franklin Noll, PhD, is a recognized authority on the history of monetary technology, from banknotes to cryptocurrency, providing consulting services to government agencies and private cryptocurrency companies. Noll was elected to the Association of Cryptocurrency Journalists and Researchers and the Digital Euro Association. He is President of Noll Historical Consulting.

About the company

Noll Historical Consulting was established over 20 years ago to provide advice on monetary developments from a unique, historical perspective. Focused on the technology of money, the company provides knowledge, innovative technology, and heritage management services to agencies and private companies interested in payments technologies, especially banknotes and cryptocurrencies.

Presentation

Offline digital currency and smart banknotes – bridging the gap between physical and digital money

One of the challenges retail CBDCs are facing are « offline » payments, i.e. how can a money transaction be executed when there is no internet connectivity, e.g. following a natural disaster. Offline payments can easily be achieved with banknotes, but it is rather challenging with digital money. Several initiatives are underway, to combine the advantages of the two and bridge the world between banknotes and CBDC.

Biography

Ms Sharmyn Powell, is a Certified Accoutant, and  has been employed at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank for the past 24 years. She currently holds the position of Chief Risk Officer and leads the Office of Corporate Strategy and Risk Management. Ms Powell is the Chairperson of the Bank’s internal Fintech Working Group, which is leading the implementation of the pilot project for the issuance of a block-chain based digital version of the EC Currency. 

About the company

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) was established in October 1983. It is the Monetary Authority for a group of eight island economies namely - Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Presentation

Cash and CBDC : how will they co-exist?

Most central banks around the world are working on a CBDC project, and a few have implemented a CBDC in their jurisdictions. No less important is the fact that almost all central banks confirm that CBDCs are not intended to replace cash but to complement it. Thus, the fundamental question is how will cash and CBDCs co-exist? This panel will address this question.

Biography

Paolo has graduated in aerospace engineering in Milano and just after graduation worked as a project manager in the military aircraft industry. After a 5 years experience in international sales in the mechanical industry, he joined PARVIS in 2016 to manage the increasing sales and marketing activities of the company.

About the company

PARVIS is the market leader, in the high security printing industry, for MES, track and trace and quality measurement systems. The company, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year, has been constantly growing and today has installations in more than 30 coutries worldwide.

Presentation

Digitalization in modern printing works

Biography

Dr. Schabauer has an engineering diploma and a doctorate in Chemical and Process Engineering from the Vienna University of Technology. He started his professional career in 2004, working in design and commissioning of special purpose machinery and chemical plants. Since 2008 his focus shifted increasingly to research activities in the areas of gasification of solid residues from wastewater treatment, thermal utilization of residual fuels, industrial wastewater and sludge treatment, and energy recovery projects. In 2014 he took responsibility for WTG‘s R&D activities such as the continuous improvement of the ultrafiltration technology or the development of their spray drier system.

About the company

WTG Water Treatment GmbH is an Austrian company, market leader in ultrafiltration plants for the treatment of intaglio effluents. The company has been successfully serving the high security printing sector since 2012. Furthermore, it has developed a unique Spray Drier System, which allows to reduce 80% of the mass of the remaining’s in powder form.

Presentation

Closing the cycle - Sustainability starts from design

A holistic overview on the way to cradle-to-cradle processes from the waste streams point of view. Going from the environmental advantages and economical savings from the ultrafiltration of intaglio effluents and drying of the slurry into powder, over to possible further uses of valuable components in the powder. The importance of banknote design and treatment of effluents to close the sustainability cycle.

Biography

Thomas Scholler graduated in Vienna as Prepress and Printing technology engineer. After several senior positions in commercial and security printing companies, he joined OeBS in 2008. His experience includes security printing technology aspects, product development and best practice models. He is a member of various Eurosystem-related working groups.

About the company

OEBS is a 100% subsidiary of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank. The company has evolved from pure banknote printing to a unique combination of know-how and experience, being a competent partner in terms of innovation, sustainability and technical developments.Located in Vienna, Austria, OEBS prints all Euro denominations and other currencies.

Presentation

Implementing an efficiency improvement project in a printing works

Biography

Professor of Economics at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Free University of Brussels), where he teaches courses in monetary economics, IT economics, and research methods. His current research interests include payment instruments, network effects, e-commerce, and access to finance.

About the company

Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) originated from the French speaking Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), that was founded in 1834 by a Brussels’ lawyer with Flemish roots, Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen. It was his intention to create a university independent of church and state at which academic freedom would roam. Although ULB would already teach in Dutch at the law faculty as early as 1935, it wouldn’t be until 1963 before practically all the faculties would teach in Dutch.

Presentation

COVID-19 and cash usage in Belgium: have we reached an inflection point?