9-th and 10-th of April,
2025
Radisson Blu Latvija Conferences & Spa Hotel
Elizabetes 55, Riga, Latvia
We are planning that this year we will have:
~ 250 participants and ~ 20 speakers from schemes, banks, fintechs, regulatory, processors…
2 days finding out the latest information on:
and much more...
In order to attend event
you need a ticket
Zane has extensive experience in financial regulatory matters gained throughout her two decades long career in a law firm as well as in-house in one of the leading credit institutions.
She advises banks and other financial service providers on a wide range of complex issues, including market entry, licensing, internal controls, new product launches, compliance, supervisory affairs as well as acquisitions and restructuring within the financial sector. She is particularly passionate about innovative payment solutions and digitalization.
Uldis Cerps is a financial risk professional with over 25 years of experience in leadership, executive and non-executive roles across central banking, regulation and financial market infrastructure.
Uldis currently serves as CEO of Finance Latvia, a financial sector advocacy group. He is also a Vice President of the Employer’s Confederation of Latvia and member of the Executive Committee of the European Banking Federation.
Uldis’ career demonstrates experience across many sectors within financial services, embracing the perspective of regulated companies, issuers, and regulators.
In the early 1990s, he was CEO of the Riga Stock Exchange. For eight years, Uldis served as Executive Director of Banking Supervision at the Swedish FSA. He represented the Swedish FSA at the Basel Committee for Banking Supervision, as well as the European Banking Authority’s Board of
Supervisors and the Management Board. He has also led two working groups at the European Banking Authority. Uldis also has regulatory experience from emerging markets, where he served as the Chairman of Latvia’s Financial and Capital Markets Commission.
From 2015 to 2021 Uldis served as observer of the Audit Committee of the European Development Bank. From November 2017 to July 2024 Uldis served as advisor to the Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE. In 2023 Uldis was appointed as co-chair of the working group of the Financial Stability Board examining the risks posed by stablecoins in Emerging Market Developing Economies.
Since the early 2000s, Uldis has been a board member of several academic institutions, including the Advisory Council of the University of Latvia and the Riga Graduate School of Law. Uldis is currently a member of the advisory board of a think tank Baltic Finance Center. Uldis’ research has been
published by Axel Springer Verlag and the IMF. He is also a member of SNS, the Swedish Centre for Business and Policy Studies. Uldis is a certified compliance professional by the International Compliance Association.
Uldis has graduated the University of Latvia with a university degree in journalism and is currently studying for a DBA degree at the Heriot Watt University (UK).
Malte Krueger is Professor of Economics at the University of Applied Sciences in Aschaffenburg (Germany) and works as a consultant for PaySys Consultancy (Frankfurt).
He holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Cologne (Germany) and has worked as a research fellow for the Bank of Spain, the University of Western Ontario, the University of Durham, the University of Karlsruhe, the University of Applied Sciences in Frankfurt and the European Commission. Consulting projects have focused on payments – including internet payments - and the list of clients includes banks, processors, merchants, card schemes, payment service providers, government institutions and others, in Germany and other European countries. Academic research has focused on payments in general, two-sided markets, monetary economics and exchange rates. Malte has published widely in academic and industry journals.
João Rijo Courinha is a Senior Global Product Manager for Worldline's Fraud Management solutions. Drawing from his years in the financial sector, João develops fraud solutions that focus on current fraud trends leveraging AI for real-time and near real-time monitoring. He tackles fraud problems across issuing, acquiring, and account payments.
João has spent over 15 years working in finance and payments, building his career through roles at SIBS, Barclaycard, Barclays, and WiZink. His work history focus on product management in the payments area but also covers credit management and recoveries giving him a well-rounded view of how banking and payment systems work and what makes them vulnerable.
He earned a Master's in Law from the University of Lisbon and has picked up several certifications in product management, pricing strategies, and AI applications along the way. This mix of technical know-how, strategic thinking, and legal background helps him create holistic multi-rail fraud management solutions that are secure without being complicated for users.
Based in Lisbon, Portugal, João continues to improve how financial institutions defend against fraud, helping them stay one step ahead as digital payments get more complex.
Reinis is working as a chief payments and financial markets analyst at Latvijas Banka with expertise in digital finance and innovation. Since joining Latvijas Banka in 2022, he has focused on the digital euro project, contributing to the future of European digital payments.
Before his tenure at the central bank, Reinis built a strong foundation in economic policy and international cooperation, working at both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economics. His focus on innovation projects in these roles has shaped his approach to payments markets and digital transformation with a forward looking view on policy objectives.
With a passion for the intersection of finance, technology, and policy, Reinis continues to contribute to the digital euro project and payments policy strategies of Latvia.
Luis is the founding partner of NALBA Advisors, a management consulting boutique specializing in Payments, Fintech and Retail Banking, with over 40 professionals.
He has extensive years of experience supporting Financial Institutions in strategic and operational projects, around payments (cards issuing/acquiring, P2P, processing, fraud, gateways, regulation, etc.) and financial innovation (fintechs, neobanks, etc.).
His most relevant experiences include: Strategic plans, Market Entry and Internationalization plans, Sales strategic or tactical improvements, Innovation and Digitalization, Customer Experience, etc.
Prior to founding NALBA in 2014, Luis was Senior Manager within KPMG's financial sector strategy team.
Luis holds a degree in Industrial Engineering and holds a Master in Financial Entities Management by IEB.
Angel joined Visa Europe in 2023 to lead the data science team that supports European internal functions and products.
Previously, he built and led the Data Science practice at Santander UK, focused on implementing Machine Learning solutions to increase the value we offer to our customers, reduce costs, and increase efficiencies. During his time at Santander, he also served as temporary CDO for 18 months. Prior to that, Angel worked at PwC since 2004, both in Spain and UK, where he led one of the advanced analytics teams in the financial services sector, implementing machine learning solutions for European clients and regulators.
Angel is a public speaker on data and analytics events and articles writer, has been speaking on over 40 events during the last 5 years. Angel holds a BS in Physics (University of Madrid - UAM), MBA (UAH).
David has over 30 years experience in the Cards, Payments and Fintech industries. He has worked for giants such as First Data, Fiserv and FIS in Europe, as well as start-ups and fast growth companies such as SecureTrading.com/Trust Payments and Planet Payment, where he led their DCC market entry into CEMEA and LATAM.
He has held roles as Head of Cards at Riyadh Bank, and was the General Manager of Network Internationals Card Issuing and Acquirer processing business across the Middle East, prior to its IPO by ENBD Bank.
Joining Tuum in autumn 2024 David is leading Tuum’s engagement with Third Party Card Processors, Card Schemes and Tier 1 Clearing Banks from Tuum’s London office.
Marine Krasovska is the Head of FinTech Supervision Department at Latvijas Banka. She holdsva Master' s Degree in Finance (University of Latvia) and a professional diploma in management (Open University Business School, UK), as well completed Oxford strategic innovation program (Said Business School), and Innovations and AI from INSEAD.
She built professional experience working at SEB bank, DNB bank and Luminor Bank in managerial positions. In 2020, she became the Director of the Financial Innovation Department at Financial and Capital Market Commission (FCMC). Following the integration of FCMC into Latvijas Banka on January 1, 2023, she assumed her current position as Head of FinTech Supervision Department.
Marine is recognized for her dynamic and proactive work within the FinTech community, contributing significantly to Latvia' s emergence as a FinTech hub. She has also shared insights on financial innovation as guest lecturer in Riga Technical University and Riga business school.
Mr. Tapio Vailahti has extensive experience on secure payments, strong authentication and identification. He has been actively involved in bringing a number of leading-edge secure products and solutions into banking, telecom and government markets, including EMV payments, biometric passports, mobile authentication & digital signatures, tokenization, digital proximity and remote payments as well as sustainability and inclusion in card payments.
Tapio started his career at Setec Oy in various management roles, including Head of Product Marketing and Head of Telecom & Media Business Unit. At Gemalto Tapio was Vice President of Product and Solution Management for Identity before joining Valimo Wireless as Executive Vice President and CEO and then at Giesecke & Devrient as the Regional Head of Global Solutions Sales focusing in digital payments. Currently Tapio is the Head of Innovation for Card Personalization business in Tietoevry Banking.
As the Chief Technology Officer of Blackcatcard, Olegs Cernisevs drives innovation in product development and technology optimization. His extensive background spans banking and payment services, with notable roles at PrivatBank, First Swiss Card, and the Acquiring Committee of the Association of Commercial Banks of Latvia. Olegs has played a pivotal role in shaping IT projects for various European financial institutions. His impact was celebrated by PayTech Awards – in 2023, Olegs received an award in nomination PayTech Leadership. He holds a Doctor of Science degree and has published several scientific papers on fintech-related topics. Furthermore, Olegs is certified in anti-money laundering management and cybersecurity, underscoring his comprehensive expertise in the financial technology sector..
For the past 27 years, I have been involved in the management and moderation of various events. This experience spans a wide range of events, from corporate conferences and seminars to community gatherings and large-scale festivals. While event management is currently an addition to my daily job, it has been a full-time passion and obsession in the past. My dedication to ensuring the smooth execution of events has honed my skills in organization, communication, and problem-solving.
In addition to my experience in event management, I have spent the last 20 years immersed in the world of payment cards and other payment solutions. My career in this field has seen me work in banks, fintech companies, and as part of vendor teams. This journey has allowed me to gain a wealth of knowledge and expertise, working alongside some of the best professionals in the industry. The various roles I've taken have contributed to my comprehensive understanding of the payment industry and have equipped me with a diverse skill set.
I am honored to moderate the Payment Market Conference Riga 2025. This opportunity is particularly meaningful to me as it allows me to merge two facets of my professional interests that have been significant over the past years.
A seasoned financial services professional with over 20 years of experience in payment card issuing, acquiring, and fintech. Currently Head of Issuing Division at WALLETTO, leading performance management, project execution, and market analysis while fostering strong client relationships.
Previously held leadership roles at LPB Bank, including Head of Payment Card Department, overseeing daily operations, compliance with VISA and Mastercard regulations, chargeback processing, and new product implementation. Prior experience at GE Money Bank and SEB focused on payment card risk analysis, acquiring, compliance, and operational management.
An expert in business planning, project management, and financial operations, recognized for driving innovation, optimizing workflows, and enhancing fintech and banking processes.
Since January 2021, Tīna leads the Fintech Latvia Association. The aim of the Association is to unite financial service providers leveraging financial technologies, including alternative financing market players, fintech-driven institutions, and other key stakeholders fostering innovation.
The Association strives to ensure the representation and implementation of their interests at both national and international levels, promoting the sustainable development and growth of the Latvian financial sector.
Currently Head of Partnerships at Fintech Hub LT and Board Member at Monavate (EMI), Anna Pavlovska has extensive experience in both the fintech and traditional banking sectors, as well as in central banking.
Expertise spans payments, digital platforms and the development of innovative financial products such as digital payment and FX platforms, e-commerce solutions and AI-owered payment methods.
With a background in business development, strategy, M&A and relationship management, they have a hands-on leadership style and a proven track record of leading teams through challenging and transformational environments.
I’m a Founding Partner and Chief Editor at Nordic Fintech Magazine, where I turn complex financial topics into content that’s clear and engaging. With nearly 20 years of experience at Gartner and Nordea, I’ve seen firsthand how fintech is transforming the industry. I used to be the Chief Futurist at the Nordics' largest bank, focusing on innovation, disruption, and ethical AI. Now, I also share my thoughts on the future of finance as a guest lecturer at Stanford, Singularity University, and Copenhagen Business School.
Mikko Rieger is an advisor and independent consultant in payments who set up shop and his own consultancy rieger.fi in the spring of 2019.
As a talkative German Finn he collaborates with Nordic FinTechs on market expansion projects, helps larger merchants in their payment strategy, currently builds out the e-receipt infrastructure in the German speaking region and works with banks on their crypto AML readiness.
Mikko is less Fin, more Tech, he's never been a banker, but rather grew up with mobile and cloud tech at Nokia and Microsoft prior to leading the issuing back-end business at the Nets Group and the operations at Enfuce, a Nordic cloud issuing service provider. The payment consultancy rieger.fi is part of the European Payment Consulting Association (EPCA).
Mikko is married, father of three, with a dog to fit the Helsinki suburbian stereotype. He holds a Bachelor and a German Dipl. Ing. degree in Computer Engineering and an MBA from the Kellogg School.
Åsa Granberg is a Financial Industry expert that has a background from global market leading tech companies, international fintech unicorns and Nordic Banks e.g. Nasdaq Technology & Exchanges, Raisin, Deposit Solutions, Nordea, DNB, IDEMIA and has executed large deals with the big five Wall Street Investment Banks. She has shared international stages with names like Steve Wozniak, Michael Douglas, Dr Phil, Mel Gibson, Charlie Sheen and Brooke Shields. Åsa was awarded Top Entrepreneur of the Year 2018 by a global magazine. At IDEMIA she is deep diving into the future innovations of Cryptography, Biometrics and Tokenization.
Gints Ozolins is the Chief Technology Officer at Indexo, where he leads the implementation of technical solutions for retail banking and investment management. Prior to joining Indexo, he served as the IT Delivery Director at Cognizant Technology Solutions in Sweden. With over 20 years of IT management experience in the Banking, Telecom, and IT services industries, Gints brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role. His innovative approach to building Indexo's IT landscape has positioned him as a thought leader in the FinTech space.
Arturs Piliksers is the visionary founder and CEO of Bonusukarte.lv, a fintech company specializing in innovative solutions for employee motivation and benefits. Under his leadership, Bonusukarte.lv has developed platforms that optimize tax expenditures and enhance employee satisfaction.
With a strong background in fintech and business development for 25 years, Arturs has been an active participant in industry events. He delivered a keynote at FSMTalks 2024 in Kaunas, sharing insights on Bonusukarte.lv's secure solutions. He also represented Bonuscard at sTARTUp Day 2025 in Tartu, engaging with potential investors ahead of a €1 million seed round planned for Spring 2025.
Arturs is committed to fostering innovation in the financial technology sector, continually seeking opportunities to collaborate and share knowledge with peers and industry leaders.
Igors Uhans drives digital transformation at Helve, enabling AI fluency in both startups and enterprises to accelerate innovation. Previously, he shaped business intelligence data at Accenture, co-founded and led business development at BASAFUL, and spearheaded digital projects at SIA ŠMIA.
Beyond corporate work, he mentors hackathon teams, advises on AI ethics, and supports civic initiatives as a board member at Biedrība Šmiedrība. A hands-on problem solver, Igors pushes for efficiency, emerging tech adoption, and strategic growth across industries.
Does your company want to become a conference sponsor or speaker?
Write us – events@vedicard.eu we will gladly provide more info.
More information coming soon...
Looking forward to see you at the conference!
Vedicard is one of Nordic’s and Baltics leading payment consulting companies offering advice based on passionate payment industry professionals with more than 20 year’s experience in this field.
Vedicard offers quality experts advice, guidance and help starting from strategy development, market research, business modelling, regulatory advices and required document development, supplier selection, solution requirements definition ending with being main integrator, project management, solution design, UAT development, solution implementation, migration and certification as well as training. Vedicard can cover various areas starting from traditional payment cards and banking solutions to emerging new payment methods like mobile, cloud based payments, instant payments and other innovations.
The company’s target customers are financial institutions, Electronic Money Institutions (EMI), payment Institutions, processors, transaction gateways, merchants and retailers as well as payment business start-up.
The European Payments Consulting Association (EPCA) is a European network of independent payments consulting companies, who cooperate in offering advisory services to international and Pan European payments industry players and merchants.
The European Payments Consulting Association (EPCA) was created in 1998 by three independent payment consulting companies – PaySys in Germany, PSE Consulting in UK and PlusCon in Denmark. The founder members recognised they needed a Pan EU network if they were to deliver payments assignments to large International and European clients.
The EPCA network has the full range of capabilities to meet the needs of international payments companies.
1. Personnel Processing Manager of the LTD “Vedicard" (hereinafter referred to as Organizer), reg.nr. 40103500535, tel. +371 29 105 855, e-mail: events@vedicard.eu, https://vedicard.eu/conference/.
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3. The Organizer carries out the processing of personal data in accordance with the requirements of the regulatory enactments, based on the ticket purchase agreement, the rules for attending the events and the consent given by the visitors to the processing of personal data.
4. In the event that the Organizer will involve a third party in the processing of personal data in order to carry out a personal data processing function, the Organizer will ensure that the processing of personal data takes place in accordance with the requirements of the regulatory enactments and assumes full responsibility for any negative consequences for the processing of this personal data.
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