FinTech Australia appoints Ross & Imam to its board

FinTech Australia has announced a series of new appointments to its board following its Annual General Meeting.

Jodi Ross, currently serving as Chief Risk and Compliance Officer at Tiimely, has been appointed as a new board member. With over two decades of experience in areas such as lending, regulatory frameworks, and compliance, Ross is recognised for her work in consumer empowerment through regulations and technology. Her insight into AI-driven lending technologies and the Consumer Data Right regime will enhance FinTech Australia's strength in regulatory and lending matters.

Jodie Imam, Co-founder and CEO at Tractor Ventures, has also joined the board to fill a casual vacancy. Imam's experience extends over 20 years in the fields of entrepreneurship, venture capital, and revenue-based financing models for tech companies. Her previous engagements include roles at several organisations such as SBE Australia, Wade Institute of Entrepreneurship, and Innovation Bay. In addition to her new role, Imam serves as a non-executive director at Private Media and is active in mentorship roles.

Sarah Gorman, Chair of FinTech Australia, commented on the appointments, stating, "Australia's fintech ecosystem has never been stronger and that's evident in the strong field of candidates, all women, that nominated in 2024. I want to commend all the excellent candidates that put themselves forward for the role, who regardless of the result we will aim to involve more deeply in the organisation's operations in the future."

Gorman further remarked, "Both Jodi and Jodie bring a wealth of experience and differentiated expertise to the Board, as we grow the value we deliver to our members. Whether that's supporting our members to help unlock funding; supporting our members on their own growth journey, or how we grow our policy impact against a complex and evolving regulatory environment."

CEO of FinTech Australia, Rehan D'Almeida, added, "FinTech Australia's board is a brains trust for our association. Not only do they manage our governance, but they proactively ensure that we maintain our positions as the most trusted and independent voice of the fintech industry. I look forward to working with both Jodie and Jodi in helping the organisation better represent its members and address some of the key challenges facing the fintech sector."

The new appointments align with a productive year for FinTech Australia, marked by achievements in policy advocacy and other significant initiatives. Among these accomplishments is the successful facilitation of collaborations between fintechs and banks through the Banking Reverse Pitch and with government bodies by enabling tender participation with the NSW Treasury. FinTech Australia also wrapped up the year with a well-attended flagship conference and promoted international engagements in locations such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Ross and Imam join existing board members including Sarah Gorman, Brian Collins, Christian Westerlind Wigstrom, Vinnie D'Alessandro, Dominic Pym, Michael Saadat, Harry Godber, and Cathryn Lyall. These elections and appointments are part of the board's role in governing the decision-making processes of FinTech Australia and ensuring it serves the best interests of the fintech industry.