Breaking Banks Asia

Hosted ByRachel Williamson, Charis Palmer, and Simon Spencer

Breaking Banks Asia gets the inside look at the incredible innovation and technological changes that are setting the standard for the rest of the world. Led by host Rachel Williamson, we talk to the people across Asia about how their ideas came together, what innovations they are bringing to fintech, and the shifts in customer behavior that are forecasting what will happen in the rest of the world.

Rachel Williamson

Host

Rachel is a science and business journalist from New Zealand, writing and podcasting about technology, banking and climate change. As a foreign correspondent, her career has spanned the Middle East, South Asia and the Horn of Africa. Rachel has interviewed Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, politicians and Egyptian revolutionaries, Middle Eastern billionaires, Australian business leaders and former Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. She is the Host of Breaking Banks Asia and Co-founder of Soundcraft Media. 

Charis Palmer

Producer

Charis started her career in banking as head of product for Easy Street Financial Services, a fast follower to ING Direct in Australia. She went on to found Banking Review Media, the only publication dedicated to what was then the emerging online banking market. After a career leading new media startups across business, technology and global news, Charis is now the Producer of Breaking Banks Asia and Co-founder of Soundcraft Media.

Simon Spencer

Cohost

Simon has worked across technology, banking and startups for most of his career, from serving at Telstra Research Labs, to assignments with Oracle, Citibank on Wall Street, Salesforce and closer to home with Nab, ANZ, CBA and Suncorp. Having run engineering and technology teams in Australia, India & Singapore, Simon now serves as the CTO for Digital Engineering at Appscore and Partnerships Director for Breaking Banks Asia.

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All Episodes

Episode 10: The bank staying the crypto course 

Once again it looks like the digital asset house is burning down, but in Asia the smoke is clearing — or so believes the Singapore-based digital asset team at...

Episode 9: China’s CBDC & the new financial order

China continues to forge ahead with its central bank digital currency, notching up millions of transactions through giveaways and lottos. But beyond the consumer headlines lies a long-term strategy that...

Episode 8: Can ChatGPT speak bank? 

Description: The promise of conversational AI has so far been a disappointing series of chatbots helping banks reduce cost but doing little to inspire customers or improve the service...

Episode 7: Neobanks – sifting through the carnage for green shoots

What looked to be an emerging wave of challenger banks has in Australia fizzled, leaving few real challengers to the big 4. And after what was a much needed...

Episode 6: Cyber security fails: it will get worse before it gets better

If 2022 felt like the year of the ‘perfect storm’ for cyber incidents, then it’s likely the weather will not improve in 2023 as banks along with many other...

Episode 5: Startup founders are not like other people

We chat to computer scientist and startup founder Paul McCarthy about new research based on a big data set he’s working on showing just how different startup founders are to regular employees, and...

Episode 4: Bank venture funds: what the recession-proof money is doing in Australia

With a global recession on the cards, capital-rich bank venture funds are in a powerful position. We explore how they are using that power and whether they are capitalizing...

Episode 3: Open banking in India and Philippines: opportunity and inclusion

Open banking in India and the Philippines is opening the door for millions of people to take part in the formal banking sector, be it an individual opening a...

Episode 2: Open banking – when will reality catch up with the promise in Australia? 

Open banking in Australia has stalled. It’s been active for two years, and before that had a three year runway to get the ground rules sorted out, but the...

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