Exclusive Keynotes
Barbara SESSA - Mastercard Europe
Keynote Wednesday 04 December - "Secure and Simplified Payment with 100% Tokenisation"
Today people want payments to be fast and convenient, in the knowledge they are also safe and secure. While contactless has made in-person payments seamless and ubiquitous, there is a significant opportunity for improving online commerce by reducing user friction from manual entries and passwords, addressing concerns about security, combatting fraud and creating a consistent experience across devices, browsers, and operating systems.
Enter tokenization and Mastercard’s vision to make manual card entry a thing of the past by 2030.
Barbara SESSA serves as Senior Vice President and Head of Consumer Products Europe at Mastercard, where she leads the strategic direction and execution of a broad portfolio of innovative payment solutions, including Debit, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), Digital First, and Tokenization. Renowned for her leadership in product innovation, Barbara leverages cutting-edge technologies to drive financial inclusion, streamline access to digital services, and solidify Mastercard’s leadership across diverse European markets.
A visionary executive, Barbara’s leadership is distinguished by her ability to blend technological innovation with a firm commitment to sustainability and inclusivity. As the architect of Mastercard’s ESG Product Strategy for Europe, she spearheads high-impact initiatives such as the Carbon Calculator and Financial Inclusion programs, reinforcing her dedication to using technology to advance sustainable and equitable growth.
With over two decades of experience in digital finance, fintech, and payment ecosystem transformation, Barbara is a recognized authority in her field. She leads a high-performing team of 35+ product managers across Europe, fostering a culture of innovation, operational excellence, and collaboration that consistently delivers exceptional business outcomes. Her strategic expertise, backed by a degree in European Banking & Economy and an MBA in Digital Marketing, enables her to execute complex, market-leading strategies that drive both profitability and purpose.
Beyond her executive role, Barbara is a committed advocate for diversity and inclusion in the fintech space. She actively participates in industry networks, promoting equitable practices and greater representation. Driven by the belief that diversity fuels innovation, Barbara mentors women entrepreneurs and empowers underserved communities through fintech solutions that create lasting social impact.
Luc JULIA - Renault
Keynote Thursday 05 December - "Generative AI: Myths and Reality"
Despite what you might think from reading the news since late 2022, Artificial Intelligence did not appear with ChatGPT. This "Revolution" is merely the fruit of a long maturation, spanning several decades. After a brief historical review, we'll delve into these new AIs, the Generative AIs. We'll look at their limits and potential, and how they can be used for good or ill. Finally, we'll try to understand what the prospects are for us, humans, and for these technologies.
Specialist in human-computer interaction, Dr Luc JULIA led the development teams for Siri at Apple, served as Chief Technology Officer at Hewlett-Packard, and co-founded several startups in Silicon Valley.
He is now the Chief Scientific Officer at Renault. His mission is to assist the car manufacturer in implementing its innovation roadmap in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, human-computer interfaces, and connectivity.
He is the author of the best-seller "Artificial Intelligence Does Not Exist," which aims to demystify AI by replacing it with the concept of augmented intelligence. This book challenges the commonly held ideas and widely propagated by the media and Hollywood regarding the uses of AI and the potential future threat it represents to humans.
United Nations and UNPD
Keynote Tuesday 03 December - "Universal Safeguards for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)"
- Omar MOHSINE, Open Source Coordinator, United Nations
- Chahine HAMILA, eGovernment Senior Advisor, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- Robert OPP, Chief Digital Officer, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)