Brazilian Fintech Pismo Launches in Australia

"We are the most modern financial services platform on the planet."

Vishal Dilal, Pismo

Dexter is joined by Vishal Dalal, CEO International Business for Brazilian Fintech, Pismo. Pismo hit the headlines recently after it was announced Visa is acquiring the business for US $1bn.

Pismo offers Next-gen banking and cards technology through a truly cloud-native API platform. Pismo was founded in 2016 by experienced entrepreneurs and techies. They are a global company headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil, with offices in the United States and the United Kingdom. Vishal shares Pismo's plans for the region after they recently announced details of a partnership with Australian SME lender Grow Finance.

Dexter and Vishal also discuss:

- Pismo's rapid growth 🚀
- The rise of Brazilian Fintech 🇧🇷
- The attraction of Australia to Fintechs like Pismo 🤝
- How Australia is perceived as a Fintech nation 🇦🇺
- Does Australia have the best coffee in the world ☕️

About Vishal Dalal

☕️ According to Vishal, Australia has the best coffee in the world! As an Australian resident himself, he can confirm that nothing beats the coffee here. #FintechChatter

Vishal has a distinguished career in global financial services including stints with Citi and Barclays in London.

Vishal spent 5 years in Australia with McKinsey on major banking transformation programs. He joined Pismo in 2021 and is passionate about bringing Pismo's innovative technology to the Australian market.

For more information https://www.pismo.io/

Fintech Job Market Advice With Claire Alexander

Dexter Cousins is joined by Claire Alexander, founder of Coach Claire. She's here to share her secrets on how to navigate the fintech job market. 

About Claire Alexander

Claire is a Global HR and Tech Talent Executive, Career Coach and ex-Employment Lawyer. She's also the founder of Thinktechstartup, an HR advisory business supporting tech startups turning into tech scaleups. Claire was previously Global Head of talent for Fintech unicorn Zip.

A Break Down of the current Fintech Job Market

Claire shares her top tips on how to stand out in the job hunt, from engaging with potential employers online to the power of networking. We'll also be breaking down the pros and cons of LinkedIn's 'Open to Work' badges, the role of recruiters, and the art of approaching companies strategically. 

But that's not all. We're also addressing the tricky path of job applications and interviews. How do you follow-up without annoying recruiters? How do you handle rejection? And, most importantly, how do you determine your worth when evaluating a job offer? 

With Claire's expert advice, we discuss how understanding your motivations for wanting a job can aid in salary negotiation. This episode is an absolute treasure trove of practical, actionable advice – don't miss out!

Breaking New Ground in Procurement with Anility

Dexter chats to Patrick Connolly, the founder and CEO of  Anility, an innovative SaaS business helping procurement and contract managers to evaluate the financial health and corporate structure of third-party service providers.

About Anility

Anility is a software-as-a-service company that is innovating in the financial viability space. We produce reports that are used by procurement and contract managers to assess the financial health and corporate structure of third-party service providers that tender on public and private works.

Financial viability assessments are a mandatory part of most procurement processes. Our value proposition is to levearge technology to offer a faster, affordable and more user friendly solution than our competitors.

Find out more - https://www.anility.io/

About Patrick Connolly

With 10 years of experience in the financial viability space and 5 years as CEO of Anility, Patrick Connolly is a seasoned professional in the industry and a thought leader within the space. In his free time, Patrick challenges himself with ultra endurance events that test his mental toughness and help strengthen his entrepreneurial mindset.

Patrick sees a parallel between the sacrifice, resilience, and determination needed to succeed in these events and the qualities required to succeed as an entrepreneur. He combines his financial expertise with his well-rounded perspective to bring a unique approach to financial viability.

How to make the Fractional Executive concept work for your Fintech startup.

What is a fractional Executive?

I’ve recently seen the term Fractional Executive marketed as the panacea to a fintech founders growth challenges. And whilst the term seems to be gaining steam on LinkedIn, it is yet to fully hit mainstream.

Over the past decade I’ve been a big advocate for startups engaging executives on a project basis to deliver specific outcomes. I even coined the term ‘Gig Exec’ back in 2016.

The Fractional Executive - a short history!

The concept is not new, in 2008 I noticed a number of my network switching their title from 'Interim' to 'Consultant' and in 2012 from 'Consultant' to 'Virtual Executive'

Where a 'Virtual' or 'Fractional' Executive may differ from a traditional interim executive is they have asynchronous clients.

Sadly my research indicates that over 80% of founders were/are unhappy with the results when they engaged a ‘Fractional Executive’

On the surface it seems like a great idea, tapping into an experienced executive for a fraction of the cost. But there are some real challenges prohibiting successful outcomes. 

So if you are thinking of engaging or thinking of a career as a Fractional Exec, here are some thoughts to ponder:

10.1 reasons why Fractional Executives fail

1. Fractional execs charge time but are measured on outcomes

2. Fractionalised means your focus is on several missions, not on one mission. Which often results in conflicts delivering client outcomes

3. Startups are demanding, like babies - if you have 3 clients it's like having triplets - the challenges compound 

4. Fires 🔥 have to be extinguished immediately- a client can't wait for your scheduled day in the office or until you log on.

5. Our research indicates presenteeism is essential for the creative phase of company building. People need leadership and as yet the human race is still figuring out how we do that virtually. 

6. Mental exhaustion- startups present complex problems that must be solved under intense pressure. Multiple clients means multiple problems - again there is a compounding effect leading to rapid burnout.

7. People overestimate their ability to deliver and clients underestimate the size of and cost associated with the problem. This creates big expectation gaps.

8. Which leads to expectation gaps. A client will expect you to deliver the same outcome as a full time employee and usually expects the same level of commitment.

9. Lack of experience in startups. Many fractional execs come from corporate land where they are one dimensional and political. Under pressure they don't deliver, make mistakes and then blame other people or simply go awol

10. My Linkedin research shows less than 10% of fractional execs have more than 3 year's experience working this way. Startups have very different challenges in 2023 and many fractional execs may not have experienced these challenges in their careers. 

10.1 Trust or lack of - from board and founders

Here are my tips on how you make Fractional Executives work in fintech startups👇

Lakeba | Giuseppe Porcelli - Building a Successful Fintech Venture Studio

Dexter Cousins chats to Giuseppe Porcelli, the CEO and Co-Founder of Lakeba, a successful Fintech venture studio based out of Sydney.

Giuseppe founded Lakeba with a mission to conceive, create, and commercialise transformative ventures that reshape the future. Under his leadership, Lakeba offers a unique approach to technology investment, fostering disruptive ideas and turning them into profitable businesses.

Giuseppe's shares Lakeba's secret to spotting untapped opportunities which has led to the incubation and scaling of successful startups, across AI, blockchain, IoT, and other emerging technologies.

Dexter explores the Lakeba model from a B2B and B2C perspective and their approach to partnerships with major Australian corporations like Woolworths and Mirvac.

Find out more about Lakeba: https://lakeba.com/

James Foster on EzyPay's Expansion, Partnerships and Opportunities in Asia

"Our success is defined by what we decide not to do because there are so many opportunities." - James Foster


It's been two years since James Foster last appeared on Fintech Chatter. And it has been an incredible two years for Ezypay with 50% year on year revenue growth, going from 60-100 people and now operating in 9 countries across APAC.

Summary:

In this episode, Dexter chats with James about the challenges and opportunities of being a profitable business in the fintech industry. James highlights importance of focusing on solving customer pain points and making money, rather than chasing funding and growth for the sake of it.

James also shares insights on the impact of Payto, a real-time account-to-account payment platform, and how Ezypay is leveraging this innovation to improve collection rates and enhance the customer experience. He highlights the need for businesses to adapt and innovate while staying true to their core values and profitability goals.

About James Foster and Ezypay

James Foster is the CEO of Ezypay, a payment solutions company that specialises in supporting businesses with recurring customer payments. With over 27 years of experience, Ezypay helps merchants optimise collection rates, improve the customer experience, and enhance cash flow. 

James has led the company through significant growth and profitability, navigating the challenges of the fintech industry while staying focused on solving customer pain points.

Follow Ezypay: https://www.ezypay.com/


Key Takeaways:

  1. Being profitable and solving customer pain points should be the primary focus for businesses, rather than chasing funding and growth.
  2. Payto is a game-changer in the payment industry, offering real-time account-to-account payments and improved customer protection.
  3. Ezypay's success is attributed to its ability to focus on its niche market, make data-driven decisions, and adapt to the evolving payment landscape.
  4. Doing business in Asia requires understanding the unique cultural and regulatory differences in each country, as well as being open to learning from failures and making course corrections.

Chapters

00:00:00 About EzyPay

00:14:17 Navigating Complexity and Collaboration Across Locations

00:18:05 PayTo Impact and Benefits Australia

00:25:00 Expansion Strategies and Challenges in Asia 

00:40:45 Opportunities for Australia in Fintech

Decoding Remote Work - Tips on Productivity and Performance Management

Mark Lewis of Crewmojo shares his hacks on making remote work effective for startups and scaleups

Making remote work, work!

In the age of remote work, organisations are challenged to maintain productivity and engagement while navigating the complexities of virtual work environments. This insightful interview Mark Lewis from CrewMojo chats to Dexter Cousins about the evolution of performance management as we spend more time leading our employees from afar.

The traditional model of performance management has been disrupted by the shift to remote work. Employees no longer operate in close proximity, and feedback is often delayed or nonexistent.

As we navigate the choppy waters of remote work and productivity, Mark offers valuable insights. We debate the challenge of managing remote workers, the shift from daily face-to-face interactions to asynchronous communication, and the importance of carving out a clear divide between work and home life.

They also ponder the role of leadership in setting clear expectations and helping to grow their teams, the disconnect between high and low performers, and even the potential of a four-day work week.

Mark and Dexter explore the evolution of performance management within hybrid work models, and how to build a mutually beneficial relationship in your organisation. The chat dissects the power dynamics between employers and employees, and discuss how to get work done effectively as if there was no hierarchy. Looking at the design of a flexible work policy, Mark highlights the importance of aligning individuals, teams, customers, and company, and how to negotiate in a way that benefits all parties. Join us on this insightful journey, where we rethink traditional work norms and discover new paths to productivity and staff engagement.

Chapters

About Mark Lewis

Mark is a people focused entrepreneur with a passion and curiosity for discovering new approaches to traditional ways. He likes a good challenge and has a need to continually improve himself but he really gets his kicks when he sees the team around him truly succeeding.

That's why Mark started Crewmojo, Performance development for the modern workforce. The Crewmojo platform helps leaders engage and motivate  employees with a real-time continuous approach to employee performance.

Previously a co-founder of IP Payments which rapidly became the go-to organisation for complex corporate payment solutions. In 2015 IP Payments was successfully acquired by Bambora Group, an entity of Nordic Capital.

To find out more about Crewmojo go to: https://www.crewmojo.com/


Australian Fintech News - July

Dexter Cousins is joined by cohost Simon Lee of Patona, our newest member of the Fintech Chatter crew, to bring you our new monthly Fintech News show.

As England and Australia thrash out the most hotly contested Ashes in decades a Geordie and a Kiwi are bringing a Baz ball approach the Fintech News!

Dexter and Simon discuss the biggest Australian Fintech News:

- Parpera and Prospend on the Wise Platform
- Revolut launching in NZ
- The state of Aussie Fintech funding
- Why so many Fintech CEO's are resigning

Plus Dexter and Simon quiz themselves on their command of the Aussie language!

Join us every month as we discuss the latest news, insights, hiring, firing, capital raises, product launches and more.

Brought to you in partnership with Patona - The #1 platform to hire, manage and pay teams

The Impact of Generative AI on Startups - Sam Zheng of Curious Thing

About Sam Zheng

Sam Zheng is the CEO and co-founder of Curious Thing, an AI startup that specializes in automating phone calls for businesses. With a background in statistics and actuarial work, Sam has extensive experience in the AI field and has previously co-founded another AI company called Hyper Anna.

"Start with your most painful problem, analyze that, and identify whether AI is your solution."

- Sam Zheng

About Curious Thing

Curious Thing started in July 2018 after the three founders asked each other, “What if we can make an AI curious?”

Seeing the limitations of today's intent-matching AI framework, they sought to build an AI that is designed to ask open-content questions and derive insights from people.

Today, the platform allows businesses to redefine how they communicate with their customers through proactive engagement. Curious Thing has processed over 3 million minutes of AI-human conversations and the team has grown to over 30 members.

Episode Summary

In this episode, Sam discusses the current craze around AI and the impact it is having on various industries. He also shares his journey as a founder, from his previous AI company to his current venture. Sam talks of the importance of solving real problems with AI and the need for a pragmatic approach. He also discusses the evolution of AI technology, particularly in the field of natural language processing.

The conversation touches on the potential impact of generative AI on jobs and the workforce, as well as the role of creativity in the age of AI.

Dexter and Sam also explore the challenges of transitioning from a CTO to a CEO and the importance of continuous learning and development.

Key Takeaways:

Fintech Partnerships | Anthony Jones of Visa

Visa's Anthony Jones Discusses Fintech Partnerships and Global Expansion Opportunities with Dexter Cousins in this new series of Fintech Chatter Podcast.


Visa's Head of Digital Partnerships for Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific, Anthony Jones, joins Dexter Cousins on Lets Chat... - a new series where we bring in the experts to discuss key founder challenges.

Anthony talks about Visa's role in the fintech ecosystem, the company's focus on digital partnerships, and their support for non-bank financial institutions and scale-up fintechs.

They also cover global expansion of fintechs, the challenges they face, and the importance of market fit. Anthony shares insights on Visa's involvement in the crypto space and their interest in digital assets. He emphasises the need for fintechs to have a strong product-market fit and to consider partnerships and outsourcing to navigate challenging market conditions.

"We've seen some amazing innovation out of the Australian market over the last five or six years."

Anthony Jones - Visa

About Anthony Jones

As the Head of Digital Partnerships for Visa Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, Anthony and his team focus on Visa’s new-to-market partnerships including neobanks and fintechs, as well as the client co-creation process.

Anthony is responsible for leading Visa's strategy on collaborative product design to deliver market-leading payment experiences for clients. As part of this, he works with Visa’s global team to develop the next wave of digital and data-driven payment capabilities.

About Visa

Visa is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement.

Constantinople - The Platform Revolutionising Banking

An Interview With Macgregor Duncan of Constantinople.

By Dexter Cousins

"We were really deliberate in how we described the business and the problem we were solving. We wanted to convince investors that we had the expertise to tackle this complex problem,"

Macgregor Duncan, Constantinople.

In episode 145 of Fintech Chatter, I had the pleasure of speaking with Macgregor Duncan, co-founder of Constantinople. Constantinople is an all-in-one software and operational platform for banks, providing a fully managed service that covers customer experience, product infrastructure, operations, servicing, and compliance.

McGregor and his co-founder, Diane Challoner, founded Constantinople in 2022 and recently announced their launch, along with a record-breaking $32 million seed raise with Square Peg, AirTree, and Great Southern Bank.

In our conversation, McGregor shared insights into the massive problem Constantinople is solving, the challenges they faced in raising capital, and his personal journey from a global banking executive to a fintech founder.

Let's dive into the key themes discussed and explore the implications and potential impact of Constantinople's innovative approach to banking.

Solving the Complex Problem of Banking Infrastructure and Operations

Constantinople aims to revolutionize the banking industry by providing a complete software and operational platform for banks. McGregor emphasized that their platform is the first of its kind, offering both infrastructure and operational services.

While other fintech companies focus on specific aspects of banking, Constantinople takes a holistic approach, addressing the entire range of infrastructure and operational needs.

"We saw an opportunity to package up all of the infrastructure and the operational services, do it using software for a fraction of the cost, improve compliance outcomes, and allow our client banks to focus on the things that really matter to their customers and the business of being a bank," McGregor explained.

By automating operational processes and embedding compliance obligations into the product itself, Constantinople enables banks to focus on customer relationships, brand development, and risk management. This approach not only reduces costs but also improves compliance outcomes and minimizes human error.

Overcoming Challenges in Raising Capital

Raising capital in the fintech industry can be challenging, especially during tough times. However, Constantinople managed to secure a record-breaking $32 million seed round with Square Peg, AirTree, and Great Southern Bank. McGregor attributed their success to the unique value proposition they offer and their deep understanding of the banking industry.

"We were really deliberate in how we described the business and the problem we were solving. We wanted to convince investors that we had the expertise to tackle this complex problem," McGregor shared.

Constantinople's ability to gain customer trust was also crucial in their journey. McGregor highlighted their partnership with Great Southern Bank, which allowed them to pilot their platform and launch the bank's business banking services. This partnership serves as a testament to the value and potential impact of Constantinople's solution.

The Journey from Global Banking Executive to Fintech Founder

McGregor's personal journey from a global banking executive to a fintech founder was an important topic of discussion. He emphasized the advantages of having experience within the banking industry, as it provided valuable insights into the challenges faced by banks and the regulatory environment.

"Most banks around the world are under a lot of regulatory scrutiny, and the expectations have risen. But the tools at their disposal are somewhat old school. We saw an opportunity to bring all of this together into one native package, one native platform," McGregor explained.

However, McGregor also acknowledged the need for a different mindset when transitioning from a corporate environment to a startup. He highlighted the importance of being decisive, fixing problems quickly, and maintaining high standards within the company.

McGregor also emphasized the value of fresh perspectives and the ability to approach problems from first principles, which their young engineering team brings to the table.

Implications and Future Outlook

Constantinople's innovative approach to banking infrastructure and operations has the potential to transform the industry. By automating processes, embedding compliance obligations, and providing real-time visibility into a bank's operations, Constantinople enables bank executives to focus on strategic initiatives and customer relationships.

The success of Constantinople's seed round and their partnership with Great Southern Bank demonstrate the market's recognition of the value they offer. As they continue to execute their vision, Constantinople aims to expand globally and onboard more banks onto their platform.

With their unique combination of banking expertise and engineering talent, Constantinople is well-positioned to disrupt the banking industry and create a new standard for operational efficiency and compliance.

In conclusion, Constantinople's all-in-one software and operational platform for banks has the potential to revolutionize the industry. By addressing the complex challenges of banking infrastructure and operations, Constantinople enables banks to focus on what truly matters – their customers and strategic initiatives.

With their recent funding success and strategic partnerships, Constantinople is poised for significant growth and impact in the fintech landscape.

Note: This thought leadership article is based on a transcript from the Fintech Chatter podcast episode featuring McGregor Duncan, co-founder of Constantinople. All quotes used in this article are verbatim and directly from the transcript.

151: Civic Ledger | Katrina Donaghy

It's been three years since Katrina Donaghy last joined Dexter on Fintech Chatter to talk about Civic Ledger. In this episode Katrina shares an update on Civic Ledger and how they are bringing governance to water rights through tokenisation.

"We haven't asked for permission to do this. In the 15 years since the White paper, we've built this entire digital global economy."

- Katrina Donaghy

Navigating the Blockchain Journey with Civic Ledger

In this thought-provoking interview, Dexter Cousins reconnects with Katrina Donaghy, co-founder of Civic Ledger, to discuss the evolution of the blockchain industry and the challenges and opportunities it presents.

With a focus on Civic Ledger's mission to improve transparency and accountability in government through blockchain technology, Katrina shares her insights on the journey of blockchain, the importance of contextualizing the technology within society, and the need for bottom-up governance.

She also offers advice for startups navigating the funding landscape and emphasizes the value of customer-centricity and resilience in building a successful company.

The Ever-Evolving Fintech Landscape

The world of blockchain technology has come a long way since its inception, and few individuals have witnessed its growth and transformation as closely as Katrina Donaghy, co-founder of Civic Ledger.

In this insightful interview, Katrina reflects on the past seven years of Civic Ledger's journey and shares her thoughts on the current state of the blockchain industry.

The Early Days: From Proof of Concept to Public Blockchains

Civic Ledger was founded in 2016, at a time when blockchain technology was still a relatively unknown concept. Katrina, recognised the potential of blockchain to solve efficiency problems in government transactions. She embarked on a proof of concept with the Queensland government, exploring the application of blockchain to issue community liquor licenses. This early success led them to establish Civic Ledger and focus on the civic applications of blockchain technology.

"We were interested in using blockchain to improve transparency and accountability in government transactions," Katrina explains. "We saw the frustration in dealing with paper-based processes and the need for a more efficient and secure way to transact with government."

The Challenges of Early Adoption and the ICO Craze

As pioneers in the blockchain space, Katrina and her team faced numerous challenges along the way. One of the biggest hurdles was the lack of understanding and awareness surrounding blockchain technology. They had to establish themselves as thought leaders and constantly advocate for the value and potential of blockchain beyond the hype.

"We were tired of the constant focus on 'what is blockchain?' and wanted to shift the conversation to 'why blockchain?'" Katrina recalls. "We believed in the power of public blockchains for transparency and accountability, while many others were focused on private blockchains."

Another significant challenge came in the form of the ICO (Initial Coin Offering) craze, where companies raised large sums of money on the promise of an idea or token with little to no utility. This period tested the resilience of Civic Ledger, as they struggled to secure funding and maintain momentum.

"We had a year where no one wanted to work with us," Katrina admits. "We had to weather the storm and stay true to our mission, even when the industry seemed to be moving in a different direction."

The Importance of Contextualising Blockchain within Governance

Throughout their journey, Katrina and her team remained focused on their mission to improve transparency and accountability in government. They recognised that blockchain technology could be a powerful tool for reorganising governance and reshaping how value is shared among citizens.

"I come from a background in government, and blockchain spoke to me because I understood the socioeconomics behind it," Katrina explains. "We saw the potential to transform how governments issue and manage assets, such as water rights and patents."

Civic Ledger's work in the water market sector exemplifies their commitment to using blockchain to address real-world challenges. By digitizing water rights and creating a transparent and auditable ledger, they enable more efficient allocation of water resources and empower stakeholders to make informed decisions.

"We recognized that water is a critical asset, and traditional water markets are often illiquid and inaccessible to smaller players," Katrina says. "Our goal is to democratize access to water markets and optimize the allocation of this precious resource."

Emulating Global Innovators and Fostering Collaboration

When asked about countries that Australia could learn from in terms of blockchain adoption, Katrina highlights the progress made in Asia, particularly Vietnam, India, and China. These countries have embraced blockchain technology and are investing in the development of blockchain talent and infrastructure.

"Asia is leading the way in terms of blockchain adoption," Katrina asserts. "They understand the importance of building internal capabilities and leveraging blockchain to drive economic growth."

She also emphasizes the need for collaboration within the blockchain industry, both at a national and global level. Associations like Blockchain Australia have played a crucial role in facilitating conversations with government and driving regulatory change. Katrina believes that now is the time for the industry to come together and shape the next phase of blockchain's evolution.

"We have an opportunity to solidify our collective voice and work towards a common goal," Katrina says. "By collaborating and sharing knowledge, we can drive the adoption of blockchain technology and create a more transparent and accountable society."

Navigating Funding Challenges and Building a Valuable Company

As the conversation turns to the funding landscape for blockchain startups, Katrina acknowledges the difficulties faced by many founders in securing capital. However, she emphasises the importance of building a valuable company that solves real problems and focuses on customer needs.

"Building a valuable company is not about chasing the latest trends or raising the most money," Katrina asserts. "It's about understanding your customers, doubling down on your product, and constantly listening to the industry you serve."

Civic Ledger's resilience and customer-centric approach have been key factors in their success. Despite not raising capital since 2018, they have continued to grow and deliver solutions that address critical challenges in the water market sector.

"We have stayed true to our purpose and focused on building a valuable product," Katrina explains. "Now, we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel as our customers embrace our technology and recognize its transformative potential."

The Future of Blockchain and Civic Ledger's Journey

As the interview comes to a close, Katrina reflects on the future of blockchain technology and the role of Civic Ledger in driving its adoption. She remains optimistic about the industry's potential to reshape governance and create a more transparent and accountable society.

"We have come a long way in the past seven years, but there is still much work to be done," Katrina concludes. "By staying true to our mission, focusing on our customers, and collaborating with industry stakeholders, we can continue to drive the adoption of blockchain technology and create a better future for all."

As Civic Ledger enters its next phase of growth, Katrina and her team are poised to make a lasting impact in the water market sector and beyond. Their journey serves as a testament to the power of resilience, customer-centricity, and a steadfast commitment to solving real-world problems with blockchain technology.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer, or company.

About Katrina Donaghy

Through Katrina's early years as a sociologist through to her interest in entrepreneurialism, she has extensive experience in public policy and early stage commercialisation. For more than 20 years, Katrina has worked in both public and not for profit sectors with a specific focus on business development, project delivery and revenue diversification with the view to building resilient and sustainable organisations. 

In Australia, she organises Women in Blockchain events and regularly speaks on the topic of why cities and governments should be exploring blockchain technologies. Katrina's interest in blockchain technologies is driven by her curiousity of its potential for governments to create and facilitate new citizen-at-the-centre markets, organisations and economies of the future.

About Civic Ledger

Civic Ledger is a purpose-driven technology company with a mission to build multi-lateral marketplaces with blockchain capabilities to the benefit of all.


They offer a range of digital transformation products and solutions, including blockchain-based platforms for highly regulated real-world and intangible assets, the tokenisation, tracking and tracing the issuance and use of licenses, permits and rights, and secure data sharing for meeting disclosure requirements.

Civic Ledger aims to empower citizens, industries, and governments to streamline operations, reduce fraud, improve auditability, and promote accountable governance.