Dr. Kombe Kaponda is an award-winning best emerging technologies and Fintech researcher 2024 as recognised by the ICT association of Zambia. He is a leading regional financial technologies architect, financial inclusion advocate, public speaker, and published author with over 20 years of experience in the industry. He is a highly motivated and self-driven financial markets networks Infrastructure (FMI) specialist leading initiatives on Digital transformation leveraging on emerging technologies including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Machine learning (ML) and Distributed Ledger technologies (DLT) . Kombe is also a leading regional ICT Infrastructure, Payments Systems innovations and technology professional, financial inclusion, public speaker, published author who is a highly motivated financial markets networks infrastructure (FMI) specialist, the current lead of the team researching on the feasibility for Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in Zambia. He is a seasoned financial regulator leading initiatives such as the development of Fintech frameworks, guidelines, capacity building in the industry and regulations, Regtech, Suptech and InsuTech industry.

He is currently leading the implementation of the ICT strategy for the Bank of Zambia for the period 2024 – 2027 themed, promoting inclusive and sustainable development in a digitised world. Also leading the Digital transformation strategic initiative for the Central Bank focusing on driving the central Banks modernization through the strategic adoption of digital technologies. This includes leading initiatives that enhance operational efficiency, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance, while fostering innovation in financial services. I’m currently playing a key role in aligning digital strategies with the bank’s core mandates including monetary policy, financial stability, and payment systems oversight ensuring that digital tools support resilience, transparency, and inclusivity. Additionally, I’m leading the Digital Transformation working group (DTWG)collaborating across departments to implement data-driven decision-making, manage change, and build digital capacity within the Bank.

Dr. Kaponda has also lead initiatives in Digital Transformation at the Central Bank and financial technologies working group and is currently leading a team’s researching on the feasibility Digital Currency and an active contributor to SADC and the global fintech and digital innovations agenda, participating in the IMF-World Bank Technology Community of Practice (CoP), a CBDC technology CoP which is a private and informal community focusing on payments efficiency, R&D and research about CBDC technology for mutual global learning. He has also served on the ITU (International Telecommunication Union)Architecture Interoperability Committee, Taxonomy on CBDC, Digital Currency Ecosystem Global Initiative Working Group and is an alumni graduate of the United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI).

He holds a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), Master’s Degree in ICT Regulation, Policy and Management (MEng.),Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSc.), Certified Digital Transformation Executive, Chartered Digital FinancePractitioner (CDFP). He is a Certified Digital Finance Practitioner (CDFP) by Tufts University under the Fletcher School ofLaw and Diplomacy. Kombe is a certified FinTech Professional from the University of Cambridge, Judge Business School,Executive Education, certified in Blockchain ethics and Risks by the University of Hong Kong and certified in data science and analytics using R programming by Harvard University. He also holds several payments and ICT vendor certifications including Artificial intelligence (AI) in finance and Cybersecurity in digital financial services, Project Management,Disciplined Agile® Scrum Master (DASM) Certification, Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) for project management,ISO/IEC 27001, Certification in Blockchain, EC-Council NIST SP 800-53 framework, ISACA COBIT Certification, CISCO,Microsoft, , CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, Extreme networks Network Admission Control (NAC), Enterprise WIFI,ITIL service management, Fiber Optics Associations (FOA) CFOS/D, CFOT.

Outside of professional life, Kombe is a keen follower of the latest developments in the Financial Technologies ecosystem,Blockchain & DLT technologies for development, passionate about farming for food security, and likes DIYing and recreational Golf.