Business Review Webinars interviews Darryl Proctor, Product Director of Payments at Temenos on their webinar Payments Modernisation: Creating a Truly Digital Bank (APAC Perspective) 

Darryl Proctor,
Product Director, Payments, Temenos

BRW: What do you hope the audience will learn from this webinar?

To date there has been much talk of what a digital exactly is. At a recent bank community event with a group of leading banks, the Digital Think Space which we sponsored by Temenos, a clear split in the way that digital is seen and understood is present. At this webinar, Payments Modernisation: Creating a Truly Digital Bank (APAC Perspective), we are looking to really dig down into what a true digital bank is. There is a need for banks in general to look way beyond just channel delivery, to realise the real value that digital enablement can provide.

In Asia Pacific, payments offer banks a US$1.1 Trillion payments opportunity by 2021 (in APAC) , but banks will find it extremely difficult to access this if they have don’t have a digital infrastructure. This webinar looks at the importance of payments modernization to banks within APAC, the impact of the new environment (Open Banking, DLT, instant payments etc.) within the region and the real business case to allow banks to realise the digital opportunity from a payments perspective.

BRW: What discussions do you look forward to having with the audience?

As part of the webinar we will be conducting a survey to allow us to both gauge what is important and see any trends. This survey will allow us to shape the session further and future opinion pieces that we can share. We will ask questions to highlight the audiences perceived benefit of Instant Payments, the impact of Open APIs and Instant Payments on card usage and the importance of Payment Modernization for your organization for example.

BRW: What do you enjoy most about your role?

Everyday is different. I’m lucky to both be involved in the design and development of new solutions to meet the changing needs of the market and also have direct interactions with differing clients on a regular basis. This regular contact with differing individuals within financial institutions across the globe, often with very different payment volumes and infrastructures, means that I’m continually analyzing and challenging our solutions to ensure they support our clients needs now and in the future. It certainly keeps me on my toes and makes for an exciting role.

BRW: How did you get into the industry?

I’ve actually been in the banking industry, and specifically transaction banking industry for over 25 years, so you could say that banking runs in my veins now!  Before joining Temenos, l held trade finance consultancy roles at First National Bank of Southern Africa and Standard Bank of South Africa.  I then moved to join Temenos in 1998, so I’ve seen us develop as a company enormously, from having just over 100 people back then to well over 4000 staff now!  We’ve come a long way in my 20 years at Temenos, however, even at the beginning payments was a focus for us; we’ve been processing payments in one form or another since 1998.

I’m lucky as I’ve had the experience of really getting to see every element of an implementation which means I can ensure my team consider all aspects when designing our payments products.  I joined Temenos initially as a principle services consultant and then project manager roles completing 13 implementations before moving into business solutions for a further 10 years. Since 2010 though I’ve been leading product management areas within the business including our Corporate Banking and Treasury divisions and now our Payments product area.  These are exciting times; in my last 3 years managing Payments we’ve really been able to make a name for ourselves within the industry.  Recently we were voted number one best-selling core banking system and number two best-selling payments system by IBS Intelligence and won Payments Innovation of the Year (2018) for our new Payments Hub in the Cloud solution with Microsoft; it’s great to have our solutions recognize

BRW: You’ve worked at Temenos for 20 years… why?

Temenos is different to most if not all companies. It’s so challenging at times but above all the passion that people show, the camaraderie is something that only those that work for us understand. We’re also different than any other banking software vendors in the market.  Although each product division is a specialist in its own right, at Temenos our solutions fit seamlessly together to form a single, embedded solution.  From a personal perspective, this means that I’m working closely with experts that understand every element of the transaction journey; allowing me to call on these experts when designing payments solutions.  Knowing that I’m designing solutions that consider all aspects (analytics, core-banking, digital channels, financial crime mitigation) means that I know my solutions are robust and I feel confident that we offer the best in the market. I also truly believe in our management. They push hard as all leaders do, but they are always there to guide and support.

BRW: Where is your favourite place in the world and why?

This is a tough question. I’ve had the extreme pleasure and fortune to have visited over 60 countries, but even more luck to have made a life and lived in 5 countries in 3 continents. My home country is South Africa and town is Johannesburg. If however I have to choose a favourite, it’s probably Cape Town South Africa. That for the sheer diversity, sheer natural beauty and the friendly nature of the people. Interestingly, how Cape Towns people are, reminds me a lot of how friendly people are in Singapore. Welcoming and warm, diverse yet local. The world is truly global!

Join Temenos for a webinar entitled ‘Payments Modernisation: Creating a Truly Digital Bank (APAC Perspective)’ on 8th May at 3PM (SGT) / 12:30 (IST)

Register Here!

A conversation with Cory Wargacki, Key Account Management at NDT Global

Cory Wargacki currently holds the position of Manager, Key Account Management with NDT Global Canada.

Cory graduated with a diploma in Electronics Engineering Technology from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. He joined NDT Global in 2004 as an electronic technician.

Throughout his career, he has held many different roles in the pipeline inspection industry from calibrating, repairing, and operating In-Line Inspection tools, through to managing of Key Accounts for the Canadian region. Within Cory’s current role, he is an avid speaker at regional technology events and conferences.

BRW: What do you hope the audience will learn from this webinar?

Through discussion of different technologies and methodologies used to assess corrosion in a pipeline, I hope the audience will increase their knowledge base on the advantages of Ultrasonic technology for detection and sizing of corrosion features that are present within aging infrastructure.  The webinar will focus on how pipeline operators can better understand the value added benefits of utilizing Ultrasonic wall measurement technology and how this technology fits into their Integrity Management Plan.

BRW: What discussions do you look forward to having with the audience?

I look forward to hearing about the audience’s experiences with differing ILI technologies for corrosion assessment in pipelines.  Have they seen limitations in the technologies they have chosen? I am also interested to hear some feedback – are current technologies meeting the requirements of their Integrity management programs?

BRW: What do you enjoy most about your role?

I have always been fascinated by technology and how quickly it can advance.  In my current role, I enjoy working alongside pipeline operators determining which solutions NDT Global can provide to ensure the integrity of their assets.  Through this close collaboration with my clients, I am rewarded by finding solutions to often interesting and challenging situations that exist in the industry.

BRW: How did you get into the Industry?

I entered the industry 14 years ago as an Electronic Technologist with NDT Global repairing and calibrating In-Line inspection equipment.  As I learned more about the industry and technology, I moved forward into a field role running ILI projects and now into the Manager, Key Account Management for the Canadian region.  The knowledge I have garnered from these different roles in the In-Line inspection industry has helped me thoroughly understand the pipeline integrity industry and given me the ability to understand the requirements of the pipeline operators who have partnered with NDT Global as their Ultrasonic In-Line inspection provider.

BRW: What is your favorite place in the world and why?

I have been very fortunate that throughout my career I have been given the opportunity to travel globally and experience many different countries and cultures. Through all of my travel, I would have to say that my favorite place in the world is anywhere I have not yet had a chance to experience.

Join Cory Wargacki on 26th June for a webinar entitled ‘Exploring The Limitations and Advantages of ILI Corrosion Inspection Technologies‘ at 3PM London/10AM New York

Register Here!

A conversation with Robin Livingston, Environmental Health & Safety Manager at CordenPharma, Colorado.

Robin Livingston has a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame. She started working at the CordenPharma Colorado facility (then Roche) in 2001 as an Environmental Engineer.

She later expanded her role to become Environmental, Health, and Safety Manager, helping her team obtain SafeBridge Potent Compound Certification in 2013.

BRW: What do you hope the audience will learn from this webinar?

If your company is looking to outsource or manufacture highly potent compounds, ensuring worker protection is obviously a priority. But how do you know that you or your CDMO are doing all you can to protect employees and reduce liability? Containment of highly potent compounds is a multi-faceted endeavor that goes far beyond the installation of good containment equipment. Through this webinar, I hope to motivate the audience to strengthen their own potent compound containment programs or their CDMO selection by approaching it from all directions, including Engineering Controls, a Containment Culture, Process Development, Occupational Health Pre-Planning, and an ongoing Containment Execution Cycle. At CordenPharma, we refer to these elements as the pieces of the “Containment Puzzle.” Ensuring that all of these pieces are in place will give you a more robust program, where employees can have confidence that they are protected, and your company and/or your customers will know that their liability is minimized.

BRW: What discussions do you look forward to having with the audience?

During the webinar we will discuss practical approaches to use when solving containment challenges.  All facilities, all processes, and all products offer unique challenges, and I expect that the audience will have a wide variety of issues that they are currently addressing.  I look forward to discussing ways to solve these challenges and help the audience select the appropriate CDMO or protect their workers by strengthening the softer, intangible elements of a highly potent containment program.  Although all of these challenges are specific to individual circumstances, the approaches addressed can be applied to a wide variety of containment programs.

BRW: What do you enjoy most about your role?

I absolutely love my job, and it is really because of the outstanding people I get to work with every day. At CordenPharma, everyone is dedicated to both delivering quality product to our customers, and also to ensuring that safety is the priority. Employees at every level of the organization take pride in our role as a leader in containment of highly potent compounds, and I am so fortunate to work at a company that has that priority engrained in our culture. This job is also a lot of fun. As a CDMO, we are presented with a wide variety of projects, each with unique Environmental, Health & Safety challenges that are so gratifying to solve. I am never, ever bored at work!

BRW: How did you get into the industry?

When I got my Chemical Engineering degree, I hoped to eventually find my way into either the pharmaceutical industry or the environmental protection arena. So when I started working here at the CordenPharma Colorado facility (then Roche) in 2001 as an Environmental Engineer, I was thrilled to be able to combine both. Then when I was later given the opportunity to expand my role to Environmental, Health, and Safety Manager, I was immediately captivated by the world of highly potent compound containment, and it has remained one of my favorite parts of my job.

BRW:  Where is your favorite place in the world and why?

The beach. Feet in the sand. Brain turned off. Listening to the waves crash. I am a busy working mother of three active children, so the vast majority of my life is filled with invigoratingly wonderful activity, but I don’t relax much. There are no beaches near Colorado, so when I get the opportunity, I fully appreciate the chance to go there to recharge.

Join Robin Livingston on 4th April for a webinar entitled ‘Critical Aspects of a Robust Highly Potent Compound Program’ at 8:00 MDT / 10:00 EDT / 15:00 BST / 16:00 CEST.

Register Here!

A conversation with Bob Aldridge, Senior Business Strategy Manager at AVEVA

Bob focuses on AVEVA’s Integrated Engineering & Design and Information Management Solutions for the power industry. Bob has worked at AVEVA for more than 35 years, in a wide variety of roles ranging from product development and deployment through to marketing and strategy – all with a focus on the process plant and power industries. Before joining AVEVA, Bob worked for a UK chemicals company, and was educated at Nottingham University where he holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering.

BRW: What do you hope the audience will learn from this webinar?

Digitalisation offers so many opportunities, yet it can be daunting to know how and where to get started. The webinar will look at ways in which EPCs (Engineering, Procurement and Construction companies) can begin their journey by moving to the latest generation of integrated, data-centric tools. These tools focus on creating and managing the data that, that can not only underpin the EPC process itself, but also deliver to the newly emerging requirements of the power plant operator. This enables clients to gear up their own digitalisation programs as they onboard new plant. During the webinar, we will learn how companies adopting this approach are not only better placed to win more work, but also gain from major productivity and efficiency benefits too. For power plant operators too, the opportunities are enormous, but they too can often face the challenge of how to get started and how to progress from a document-centric world.

BRW: What discussions do you look forward to having with the audience?

I am looking forward to discussing some of the tools and technologies that enable companies in the power sector to make major steps forward as they begin their own digitalisation journeys. I am also looking forward to learning more about the challenges and successes that the industry faces. The best bit of a webinar is always exchanging ideas and getting fresh perspectives from industry leaders, so I am really looking forward to hearing what people have to say.

BRW: What do you enjoy most about your role?

I’ve always been fascinated by engineering and the size, scale and complexity of the projects our customers carry out. I like to be a part of that. Although I have been in this industry for more than 35 years, I always learn something new every time I talk with one of our customers. They all have different ways of working, new challenges and problems to solve. There are always opportunities to apply new technologies to make things more efficient and effective. But above all, it’s the people you meet and the things you learn from them – their insights into engineering, the challenges they face in their daily work, their culture and lifestyles – that are the most valuable.

BRW: How did you get into the industry?

I was attracted to AVEVA because of the way the company was helping to shape the future of the power and process industries, embracing innovative software technology to help boost efficiency and increase productivity. I began working with companies like EDF, Areva (now Orano) and Alstom Power (now part of GE), working closely with them to understand their challenges and to help develop and deploy solutions. I’ve been at AVEVA for over 35 years now, and in that time I have witnessed incredible growth and change throughout the sector. I’m proud that AVEVA has kept pace with our customers, helping them to continue to innovate and grow.

BRW: Where is your favourite place in the world and why?

Throughout my career, I have had the chance to travel extensively, something I greatly enjoy. I love seeing new places, meeting new people and learning about new cultures and ways of life. There are so many places I have enjoyed visiting it’s hard to pick just one. Maybe Hawaii, the beaches, scenery, are snorkelling are all simply amazing but then again, I’ve been able to visit many parts of Asia, and that’s amazing – there is always something new to see on every street corner.

Join Bob Aldridge on 7th March for a webinar entitled Digitalising the Power Industry at 3PM London/10AM New York.

Register Here!

A conversation with Mr. Harpal Singh, Director at ACG Inspection

Mr. Harpal Singh started his career with an instrumentation company and worked extensively with aviation, automobile and railway industries to conceptualize and develop systems for testing and validating the quality of components. Carrying forward his interest, Mr. Singh started working on promoting packaging quality inspection systems for pharmaceutical industry.

In his current position, he is the Director of ACG Inspection Systems Pvt Ltd and is responsible for international markets, marketing strategies and new product trends and development. In his 10 years of experience, he has been closely associated with anti-counterfeiting endeavours which are being rolled out to globally regulated markets.

BRW: What do you hope the audience will learn from this webinar?

There will be 4 main take aways for audience

• Understanding the global need an implementation on Serialization
• Understanding the Partner selection criteria
• Understanding need of core serialization team and its structure
• Our experience and product customization to suit their needs

BRW: What discussions do you look forward to having with the audience?

I expect audience to come up with their concerns on implementation and training

BRW: What do you enjoy most about your role?

I have been a part of this global change in pharmaceutical production scenario which is slowly moving to 100% reconciliation and maximum protection for the patient safety and I enjoy that.

BRW: How did you get into the industry?

Being involved with technology products right from the inception of my career and also having a great technology friend Mukund with me, we understood the core issues of Inspection in Pharma and started building vision products for it.

Soon we realised that vision will protect quality but we need protection from the counterfeits as well to protect Pharma brand and ensure patient safety and our technology background helped us to scale the solution to where it is today.

BRW: Where is your favourite place in the world and why?

I must say that having travelled and met a large number of experts on Serialization I have learnt a lot from US, India and Europe as they have a really strong ecosystem who has a deep understanding of manufacturing and the effects of Serialization on it.

Join Mr. Harsh Singh on 7th March for a webinar entitled ‘Successful Track and Trace implementation: Sharing Experiences and Solutions’  at 15:00 (CET)

Register Here!

A post-webinar interview with Lee James – CTO, EMEA at Rackspace

BRW: What did the audience gain from attending your webinar?

That multi-cloud is prevalent across a number of industries and our customers. Our customers feel comfortable with this approach to help drive their business.  But they highlighted that they must choose the right partner to help build the right integration, organisational model, cost optimisation and security model.

BRW: What would you say is the biggest challenge currently being faced by your industry?

Expertise is regularly the top issue being faced by our customer’s. As new capabilities are released across multiple cloud services, leveraging these capabilities for business benefits at speed while being secure, integration and optimised is critical and having multi skilled expertise across your organisation and in areas outside of IT is key.

BRW: What was your favourite part about presenting to a live audience?

I always get the greatest pleasure from presenting our opinion and getting feedback especially in Q&A.  I love to hear what others think and their thoughts and ideas.  I love how in live sessions it can be really interactive.

BRW: If you could give one piece of advice to another presenter, what would it be?

Be yourself/authentic, show your passion, be to the point and welcome all feedback!

BRW: What has been the highlight of your career?

Every time a customer (either internal or external) has thanked my team for delivering value.  Hearing others praise the solutions and services is the greatest highlight. Really shows that you made a difference!

The webinar entitled ‘Multi cloud: How can your business benefit?’ presented by Lee James is still available to watch on-demand.

Click Here to watch the webinar.