The New Frontier: Human-Centric AI in the Future of Finance and Payments

The European Women Payments Network (EWPN) Annual Conference 2026 will take place on November 3 in the AI House Amsterdam.

This year’s theme: “The New Frontier: Human-Centric AI in the Future of Finance and Payments” focuses on one of the most important conversations in finance today: how we ensure innovation remains #human, #inclusive, and #responsible.

What makes this event especially meaningful is the strength of the EWPN community. For years, EWPN has continued to bring relevant topics to the table and create space for important conversations across fintech and payments.

This year, we launched a new web platform, welcomed new ambassadors across 10+ countries, and strengthened our executive and advisory board, all thanks to passionate people who volunteer their time and expertise because they truly believe in the mission of EWPN!

MORNING

08:30 – 09:30 | 📍 Registration Arrival & Networking

09:30 – 09:45 | 🎤 Opening Welcome & Opening Remarks

09:45 – 10:00 | 🎯 Keynote

The Human Imperative

Why AI in Financial Services Must Start With People

Why human-centred design is a strategic and moral imperative for financial services.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jingyi-wang-vc/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-vandijk/

10:00 – 10:45 | 💬 Panel Discussion

The Leadership Playbook for the AI Era

Interactive discussion on leadership, integrity, and keeping humans at the center of machine-led decisions.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jolita-strasunskaite-879396225/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/saramaki123/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/handanascioglu/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/msofya/

10:50 – 11:05 | ⚖️ Spotlight Talk

The EU AI Act

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-musch/

11:10 – 11:30 | ☕ Break Coffee & Networking

11:30 – 11:50 | ⚖️ Spotlight Talk

Worldpay Agentic AI report

https://www.linkedin.com/in/voirreychase/

11:55 – 12:30 | 💬 Panel Discussion

Who is the Real Customer?

Designing Payment Rails for AI Agents

Exploring the identity shift in payments when autonomous AI agents become primary decision-makers.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceren-danis/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/srishti-jain-andreasen-b339175/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/isilugurlu/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolinaderwisz/

12:35 – 12:55 | ⚖️ Spotlight Talk

Why UK Financial Services Must Act Now on AI-Era Resilience

Featuring research from Nadia Edwards-Dashti & Sam Emery

https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthaemery/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthaemery/

13:00 – 13:10 | ⚖️ Spotlight Talk

Fintech, By Women

https://www.linkedin.com/in/golestan-soltani-109594131/

AFTERNOON

13:15 – 13:55 | 🍽️ Break Lunch & Networking

14:00 – 14:40 | 💬 Panel Discussion

AI-Native or AI-Washed?

Separating Genuine Innovation From the Hype

What it truly means to build intelligent financial products and cutting through market noise.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kardelenhatun/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robincanderson/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zlatan-letica-b94a3576/

14:45 – 15:00 | ⚖️ Spotlight Talk

Kindlee

AI Fairness as a Performance Metric

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlakerstenscanino/

15:05 – 15:40 | 💬 Panel Discussion

Your Data, Their Model

Who Really Controls the AI Economy?

Data dignity, consent frameworks, and customer control over the data powering financial AI.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christia-evagorou-b2534743/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/inge-den-hollander-9431154/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonefennell/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamala-b-7195a33/

15:45 – 16:00 | ☕ Break Coffee & Networking

16:00 – 16:20 | 🎬 Fireside Chat

The Ultimate Equalizer

Why AI-Enabled Disability & Neurodivergent Inclusion Matters Most When Finance Gets Tough

A candid conversation on leveraging AI to drive accessibility, reduce recruitment bias, and build better financial products through lived expertise.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/goelprerna/

16:20 – 16:50 | 🔥 Debate

AI in Finance: Who Benefits?

AI is changing how financial services work: from fraud detection to lending decisions and customer support. But who is it working for? Are customers getting better access and better service, or are firms simply cutting costs? And when AI gets a decision wrong, who takes responsibility? Join the debate and have your say.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinabagaric/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-ekaterina-safonova-03959830/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauricelisi/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristianrude/

16:50 – 17:15 | 💭 Open Discussion

Wall of Ideas

https://www.linkedin.com/in/conny-dorrestijn-prins-74b365/

17:15 - 18:00| 🎬 Closing Comments + followed by Networking