The Monocle Banking Podcast

Bringing it full circle from the very first episode, Michael Avery met with Monocle CEO David Buckham. David unpacked the moments that shaped Monocle: surviving the global financial crisis, prioritising integrity and culture, and expanding into risk and technology as both were being radically redefined. From Basel II to AI, from cloud migration to geopolitical fault lines, the conversation cut across two decades of banking evolution and asked what comes next.

One hundred episodes in, the Monocle Banking Podcast remains a space for in-depth, forward-thinking conversation in the banking sector.

Gold prices are hitting record highs - not just because of market cycles, but because global trust is shifting. Michael Avery sat down with Craig Brewer, Managing Director and Co-Head of Origination at Absa Corporate and Investment Banking, to examine what this means for mining and global capital. They unpacked why mega-mergers are reshaping the industry, why copper is becoming the backbone of AI and electrification, and how governance and policy certainty - especially in Africa - will determine where capital flows next.

This week, Michael Avery was joined by Niall Kramer, the newly appointed national spokesperson for the Offshore Petroleum Association of South Africa (OPASA), to unpack the country’s high-stakes push for offshore oil and gas exploration - a move hailed by some as a pathway to jobs and energy security, and criticised by others as a step backwards for climate action. They explored what’s driving the renewed interest in offshore drilling, the potential economic upside, and the environmental and legal challenges that sit at the heart of the debate.

In this episode, Professor David Bach of IMD Business School sat down with Michael Avery to take a compelling look at the leadership capabilities CEOs need to navigate today’s new era of complexity. From geopolitical fragmentation and the rapid advance of AI to shifting trade dynamics and climate pressures, they unpacked how these forces are rewriting strategic priorities for CEOs worldwide. The conversation also examined Africa’s rising strategic importance and what these changes mean for markets like South Africa.

To unpack the fast-shifting world of retail banking in South Africa, Michael Avery sat down with Mutsa Chironga, Managing Executive, Personal Banking at Nedbank. Mutsa shared how customer behaviour, data, and AI are reshaping the industry and offered insights into how convergence across retail, telco, and mobility could redefine banking by 2026.