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24 September, Wednesday
Auditorium zones 1 to 4, ADB Headquarters
Building Financial Health and Inclusion

Morning Parallel Sessions [11:15-12:30]

Session A1: Reimagining Financial and Digital Literacy
The gap in financial health and digital finance adoption is holding back economic growth and stability for key sectors. As the financial world rapidly shifts to digital platforms, it's more critical than ever to rethink financial literacy and digital capabilities. It's not just about educating individuals on traditional finance but equipping them with the skills to securely leverage emerging digital tools. By reimagining how we approach financial literacy, we empower individuals, families, and small businesses to make informed, sustainable decisions—particularly focusing on youth and women, who are essential drivers of change.

In this session, we will explore cutting-edge tools like Gamification (Mogaland) for fun and interactive financial learning, Virtual Reality (XRG) to simulate real-world financial decisions, and Carbon Footprint Tracking (Deedster) to promote environmentally conscious financial transactions. Together, these tools are reshaping the way we educate and engage, making finance both accessible and impactful.


Moderator:

Kelly Hattel
Senior Financial Sector Specialist
ADB


Speakers:



Tracy Chang
Co-Founder and CEO Tradelite


Bryan Crosswhite
Co-Founder and CEO
XR Global

Monika Martinsson
Co-Founder
Deedster


Session B1: Investing in Women MSMEs: Innovations and Trends
Women-owned and women-led MSMEs represent a major opportunity for inclusive economic growth but remain disproportionately underserved by formal financial systems. Despite strong repayment histories and growing digital engagement, women entrepreneurs face persistent challenges—including lack of collateral, limited access to networks, and gender biases in credit scoring and service delivery. 

This session will explore how financial institutions, fintechs, DFIs, and policymakers can better design and scale solutions tailored to the needs of women entrepreneurs. It will highlight the role of gender-intentional product design, alternative credit models, capacity building, and blended finance in unlocking capital for women-led businesses and driving inclusive private sector development.

Moderator:

Adnan Rafiq
Senior Investment Specialist
ADB

Speakers:

Aria Widyanto
President Director and
Chief Risk and
Sustainability Officer
Amartha

Joanna Maria Sarah Romero
Lead
Women’s Finance Exchange
Asian Development Bank 

Abid Qamar
Director
Agriculture Credit and Financial Inclusion Department
State Bank of Pakistan

Tharindu Wijesinghe
SME Finance Consultant
ADB

Wati M. Seeto
Manager
Financial Inclusion &
Market Conduct
Reserve Bank of Fiji



Session C1: Innovating Microinsurance: Strengthening Financial Resilience for Vulnerable Communities
This session focuses on how microinsurance is evolving to meet the everyday needs of underserved and vulnerable populations. It will spotlight bundled and embedded insurance solutions—offered through e-commerce, fintech, digital wallets, and microloan platforms—as well as tech-led distribution models targeting gig workers, women, farmers, and other hard-to-reach groups.

Participants will explore how innovations in digital onboarding, mobile claims processing, and behavioral design are addressing long-standing barriers to microinsurance: affordability, awareness, and trust.

Moderator:

Arup Chatterjee
Principal Financial Sector Specialist
ADB


Speakers:

Maria Mateo
Chief Executive Officer 
IBISA Network
Luxembourg

Sabbir Patel
CEO and Managing Director
International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation Foundation

 

Lorenzo Chan
President and CEO
Pioneer Inc. 

 

Raunak Mehta
Co-Founder and CEO
Igloo 

 

Tserendejid Purevjav
Senior Referent
Insurance Market Department, Financial Regulatory Commission of Mongolia