Submitted by Lukonga Lindunda on Tuesday, 14th February, 2012 — Event
Lusaka's Technology and Innovation Hub
The presentation will provide an overview of the mobile financial services industry and an introduction to MTZL, a highly innovative Zambian company with a vision of a Cashless Africa. The program will begin with Chrissy Martin taking a look at the state of mobile money worldwide, as well as its development in Zambia over the past few years. Following, Thulasy Balasubramaniam, Customer Experience Manager for MTZL, will provide an overview of the company and its overall approach to mobile payment solutions. Hans Hesse will then provide a more in-depth look at MTZL agricultural products and e-vouchers that are targeting smallholder farmers. The presentation will last approximately 30 minutes and will leave 1 hour for discussion.
Profiles:
Chrissy Martin has several years of experience in technology solutions for development and a specialty in mobile and branchless banking. Her work at MEDA focuses on using technology to expand rural access to a range of financial services in countries including Zambia, Haiti, and Nicaragua. Prior to joining MEDA, Chrissy was based in Haiti, working as the Product Manager for Mobile Financial Services at Digicel, the first carrier to launch a mobile money product in the country. She has extensive experience as a consultant on issues related to effectively implementing technological solutions for various organizations, including Ushahidi, the Carter Center for Human Rights, and Open Revolution, in addition to policy work including organizing mBanking 2009 in Nairobi, a conference which brought together a wide variety of stakeholders to discuss the balance between regulation and innovation in the emerging mobile financial industry. In addition, she has worked as a technical advisor on monitoring and evaluation for Twaweza in Tanzania and the International Center for Transitional Justice. Chrissy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia and a Master of Arts Degree from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
Mobile Transactions Zambia Limited is a highly innovative Zambian company with a vision of a Cashless Africa. It has a range of products to move money electronically targeting Zambian individuals and organisations that move money and don’t like waste. It works closely with both the development sector and private sector to build the Zambian economy and extend access to financial services to everyone
Thulasy Balasubramaniam, Customer Experience Manager, graduated from the University of Alberta with a BSc in Chemical Engineering. After working in Calgary, Canada for two years in risk management for oil field equipment, she began work with Engineers Without Borders Canada (EWB) in Zambia. She worked with CARE Zambia to implement a sorghum marketing project and with IDE Zambia as an output market advisor for small-scale vegetable farmers. She first joined MTZ in March 2010 to manage a farmer payment pilot project with Zambia’s largest cotton company and then transitioned to work on developing and scaling MTZ’s ordering and supplier payment system. Now Thulasy oversees product and service development to meet customers' needs.
Hans Hesse, VP e-Vouchers and IT Integration, has served as VP e-Vouchers and IT Integration since July 2010 he is responsible for managing the e-Vouchers unit, helping firms and organizations provide flexible payments, subsidies and services to their clients; and working with clients to understand and exploit new IT opportunities. Hans has 3 years experience working with market development organizations and investment firms in Africa. He holds a degree in Engineering Science from the University of Toronto.
