Ep 84: Beyond the Models: Reinsurance and the Future of Risk - Jane March
With the rising pressures of emerging risk, systemic risk and climate risk, Michael Avery was joined by Jane March, CEO of Guy Carpenter South Africa. They unpacked how extreme weather and fragile infrastructure are reshaping insurance markets. Jane shared her insights on a variety of key topics, from the use of facultative reinsurance in high-risk sectors and the potential of AI and parametric cover, to the social consequences of risk transfer and the need for a potential sovereign disaster fund in South Africa.
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24:25
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24:25
Ep 83: South Africa's Reform Promises vs. Progress - Busisiwe Mavuso
South Africa’s reform agenda is full of promises - but is it moving fast enough? Michael Avery sat down with Business Leadership SA CEO, Busisiwe Mavuso, about the new BLSA Reform Tracker, which measures nearly 240 deliverables across the economy, governance, and criminal justice. From progress on exiting the FATF greylist to stalled reforms at Eskom and Transnet, the Tracker highlights wins, bottlenecks, and the politics behind them.
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31:52
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31:52
Ep 82: Weaving Ahead in SA’s Evolving FinTech Landscape - Sean Wibberley
To unpack how Weaver Fintech’s PayJustNow and PayStretch are scaling faster than peers while keeping default rates below global norms, Michael Avery was joined by CEO Sean Wibberley. They discussed how Weaver is monetising beyond the checkout, why merchant analytics and in-app ad products are strategic, and how the company is leveraging AI-driven dynamic coding to enhance developer efficiency.
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24:43
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24:43
Ep 81: Stablecoins, Blockchain, and the Bank Dilemma - Rob Downes & Brenton Naicker
Is Africa leapfrogging banks entirely? Are stablecoins the new reserve currency? And can banks innovate fast enough to avoid becoming irrelevant?
To unpack the Africa Blockchain Report 2024, Michael Avery was joined by Rob Downes, Head of Digital Assets at Absa CIB, and Brenton Naicker, Principal and Head of Growth at CV VC Africa. They delved into why blockchain funding is booming while the rest of Africa’s VC market contracts, how stablecoins are quietly encroaching on the banks, and whether the continent’s financial infrastructure is on the verge of a radical reset.
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30:47
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30:47
Ep 80: Banking’s Next Chapter: Super Apps and Strategic Shifts - Byron Jackson-Miller
Will traditional banks remain dominant, or will they become the back-end infrastructure for a fintech-driven future? Michael Avery was joined by Byron Jackson-Miller from Foord Asset Management to unpack why the era of blanket investment in SA banks is over. They explore how innovations like PayShap and low-cost SME payment devices are reshaping revenue models, the rise of super-apps and non-lending ecosystems as growth engines, and the crucial role of leadership and culture in bank adaptability.
The Monocle Banking Podcast, in partnership with esteemed financial journalist, Michael Avery, will explore the world of banking - beyond the vaults and virtual wallets. This weekly series will play host to some of the top minds in the banking industry from around the world.
South Africa