Black in Fintech launches speaker index & advisory board

Black in Fintech has launched a speaker index for Black professionals across financial services and fintech as it expands with a new advisory board.

The index is designed to raise the visibility of Black operators, founders and leaders across areas including product, policy, engineering and marketing, and is now open for industry use.

Alongside the launch, Black in Fintech has appointed five advisers from established fintech and payments businesses: Perpetua Gitungo, Compliance Director, LATAM & MEA at Wise, Iana Vidal, Head of UK Policy at Block, Anthony David King, Founder of ADK & Fintech Investor, Kaley Addo, Head of UK Operations at Upvest, and Fumbi Banjoko, Senior Director, Global Sales Development, Visa Direct.

The organisation was founded by Valerie Kontor to address what it describes as a persistent gap in representation in financial technology, particularly in the spaces where industry discussions take place. Since launching in London, the community has grown through events, partnerships and other initiatives aimed at Black professionals, founders and allies.

Representation gap

The expansion comes as questions around diversity in financial services remain live across the sector. Black in Fintech says Black women account for 1.3% of the fintech workforce, a figure it argues points to a broader issue spanning hiring, progression and influence, not just visibility.

Kontor set out the rationale for the group's work in comments released with the announcement.

"Black in FinTech is about making honest conversations happen, helping create meaningful connections and building long-term opportunities. The reality is that representation is still low. Black women make up just 1.3% of the fintech workforce, so this is not merely a visibility issue. It is about creating more pathways into the industry, while also changing who gets seen and heard once they are in it. If we want fintech to reflect the people it serves, we have to be more deliberate about both," said Valerie Kontor, Founder, Black in Fintech.

The speaker index marks a practical step for an organisation that has so far built its profile largely through events and discussion forums. By compiling a directory of Black voices across business functions, Black in Fintech aims to make it easier for companies, conference organisers and media outlets to identify speakers and commentators from backgrounds that are often underrepresented.

The advisory board adds senior oversight as the organisation grows. Its members span compliance, public policy, investment, operations and sales, giving the group links across several parts of the financial technology market.

Board support

Gitungo said the initiative had developed from an informal movement into a more structured organisation.

"I am very excited about the direction that 'Black In Fintech' is heading. From being a movement to becoming a strong organisation that curates programs that bring everyone along on this journey. The vision of the founder, supported by the advisory board and the core team, will bring to life the reality for those who wish to join Fintech while supporting those already in the space. The future is Black and Bright," said Perpetua Gitungo, Compliance Director of LATAM & MEA at Wise.

Vidal linked the issue to wider industry change and talent development in fintech.

"If fintech is to maintain its relevance in a changing world, firms must continue to develop diverse talent who can unlock the next wave of innovation. Black in Fintech has a key role to play in driving this transition. It will help to spotlight, champion, challenge and inspire lasting and meaningful systems change across the industry, with Black leaders, founders and investors at the centre of this moment," said Vidal.

Black in Fintech describes itself as a UK-based community and platform focused on increasing representation, access and opportunity across financial services. Its work has included community-led events and panel discussions, including a launch event under the banner "Fintech for the Culture" and a Black History Month panel with Wise.

The group is organised around three areas: building community, shaping industry conversations and widening opportunities for Black talent to enter and progress within fintech. The addition of a speaker index and a senior advisory board suggests it is now formalising those efforts as it seeks a larger role in how the sector discusses representation.

The new directory is now live and open to industry use.