Ecommpay hosts London fintech event for women leaders

Ecommpay is hosting an in-person London event for International Women's Day 2026 focused on leadership and the financial barriers affecting women's progress in payments and fintech.

Aligned with the 2026 International Women's Day theme, Give to Gain, the early-evening event will take place at K&L Gates' London offices in the City. Ecommpay is organising the session with the European Women Payments Network, K&L Gates and Women of FinTech.

The agenda will explore how access to money and financial services shapes career outcomes and business growth, alongside workplace pressures across life stages, from entry-level roles to executive positions.

"International Women's Day provides the essential focus on the issues facing women in all walks of life," said Miranda McLean, Ecommpay's Chief Marketing Officer.

"Inclusivity in payments is a driving mission for Ecommpay and we're excited to provide a forum for FinTech and Payments professionals to come together to discuss some of the big challenges that need to be overcome so that women can achieve stronger outcomes across their careers, business and life," McLean added.

Money and access

The first discussion, Money, Power & Access - Financial Inclusion as a Foundation, will examine the relationship between payments infrastructure, access to capital and economic independence, and how these factors can support equality and leadership opportunities.

Catherine Adam, Partner at K&L Gates London and Head of the London Women in Profession Network, will moderate. Speakers include Joanne Dewar, Trustee at Street Child; Hannah Williford, Investment Writer at AJ Bell; and Nadia Edwards-Dashti, Chief Customer Officer at Harrington Starr.

The session reflects a wider industry debate about who can access financial products and business funding, and how those conditions shape the pipeline of founders and leaders. Payments firms and fintech platforms sit close to that debate because of their role in everyday transactions and account access.

Purpose and partnerships

A second session will take the form of a fireside chat, Give to Gain - Purpose, Partnerships & Shared Growth. It will explore how corporates, founders and charities work together on inclusion, mentorship and social impact.

Speakers include Gillian Ridley Whittle, Founder and CEO at Peachaus; Rebecca Goshawk, Director of Business Development at Solace Womens Aid; and Elisabeth Phillips, Director of Global Corporate Fundraising and UK Philanthropy at Women for Women International.

By pairing charity and philanthropy perspectives with commercial ones, the session will consider how business programmes intersect with support services and fundraising. It will also look at how cross-sector partnerships are built and sustained despite different incentives and governance models.

Careers and care

The third discussion, The Juggle Is Real - Careers, Care & Generational Inclusion, will focus on workplace structures and how they affect women at different stages of life, from early career progression to leadership pathways.

McLean will moderate. Panellists include Aishat Apesin, Data Analyst at Freemarket; Allison Donnelly, Director of fscom; Nadja Bennett, Strategic Accounts Director at Truelayer; and Sophia Furber, Fintech Research Analyst at S&P Global.

The line-up brings together perspectives from compliance, payments technology, data and industry research. The session reflects a broader focus in financial services on retention and progression, including how organisations measure inclusion and what practical changes can improve outcomes.

Health at work

The event also includes a contribution from Peachaus, described as an innovative women's health business. It will provide bra fitting expertise during the evening, which organisers link to productivity and confidence at work.

Peachaus aims to fit 1 million women in the UK by 2030 by offering bra fitting in corporate offices. Its participation adds a workplace wellbeing angle to an event otherwise centred on payments, leadership and economic participation.

Sector context

Ecommpay describes itself as a global payments platform headquartered in London. It provides global and local acquiring and offers more than 100 payment methods, alongside payment processing and orchestration via a single API. The platform also includes features such as open banking, recurring billing and direct debits.

Ecommpay is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Payment Services Regulations 2017 to provide payment services. It is also a principal member of Mastercard and Visa, and its payment platform has been certified to Level 1 PCI DSS.

The event is expected to bring together participants from legal, technology, financial services and the third sector. Organisers have positioned it as a knowledge-sharing forum, with discussions linking financial inclusion to workplace realities and leadership pathways.