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Ellis Odynn, MBA

Technology Consulting at EY | Board Chair at Digital Finance Institute | WXN Top 100 Most Powerful Women | Named Most Innovative FinTech Businesswoman | Top 14 Women in FinTech & Blockchain

Ellis Odynn, MBA, is a leading figure in the global FinTech and AI sectors, renowned as Canada's first Chief AI Officer.

Recognized as one of Canada's 'Top 100 Most Powerful Women', Ellis has garnered accolades like 'Most Influential FinTech Businesswoman', 'Top Women in FinTech & Blockchain', and 'Top 20 Most Influential Canadian Women in Cryptocurrency'.

She is a sought-after speaker at prestigious events like the Financial Action Task Force, APEC, and ACAMS, advocating on FinTech, AI, and financial crime.

Ellis is a technology leader at EY, specializing in technology strategy and transformation, with an earlier role as the Executive Director and Chief AI Officer at the Digital Finance Institute.

Passionate about education and inclusion, Ellis runs a charitable organization benefiting refugee girls in Africa and the Middle East.

Her educational background includes an MBA from Queen's University, studies in AI at MIT Sloan, and a BA from The University of British Columbia.

Additionally, she has a diverse professional portfolio having held roles in organizations like EY, DFI, Canada FinTech & AI Awards, and several international conferences.

Highlights

May 12 · linkedin

Excited to share the publication “Becoming a Global Artificial Intelligence in Finance Hub” from our roundtable of AI in finance experts at the Singapore FinTech Festival. I was proud to have represented Canada and participated in this AI thought leadership session.     Key takeaways from the report include:   As global financial centres establish themselves as leading AI in Finance hubs, five essential drivers are necessary to support the growth and development of AI adoption in finance. They are (1) AI talent; (2) collaboration between ecosystem stakeholders; (3) technology infrastructure to support AI development; (4) investment to fund AI start-ups and projects; and (5) regulatory environments that provide stability for AI advancements.

There is a global scarcity of AI talent, with only an estimated 5.7 million AI technology specialists worldwide. The scarcity extends across various AI-related positions, including principal data engineers, data analysts, and lead AI scientists. In the face of intense global competition for a limited talent pool, organizations must strategize on attracting the right individuals with the requisite skillsets to harness AI.

The strength of an AI in finance ecosystem lies in the collective knowledge, resources, and expertise of its participants. Collaboration is the key to unlocking value and driving economic and societal impact.

Establishing a globally interconnected network of AI expertise is crucial for smaller countries to compete with larger AI hubs. Forging robust research partnerships that bridge academic institutions and industry players is key to driving innovative advancements and elevating the overall vitality of the ecosystem.

In the ever-evolving realm of AI technology, the role of regulatory frameworks has grown increasingly pivotal. Many countries have already taken proactive measures to develop guidelines and frameworks designed to foster the responsible use of AI.

Elevating the quality of talent is imperative in bridging the existing talent gap. Governments should actively nurture dynamic AI hubs to attract technology professionals and allocate resources to educational reforms geared towards upskilling the workforce.

Government grants and financial support are pivotal to the growth and success of AI in finance. Grants are recognized as an area where regulatory bodies hold the potential to profoundly impact the success of AI FinTechs.

Download the full report here: https://hubs.ly/Q02vtgry0

Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada | Haut-commissariat du Canada à Singapour | High Commission of Canada in Singapore | Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) | Elevandi | Umang Moondra | Xuchun Li | Michael Zeltkevic | Donald MacDonald | Chiangkai Er | Geraldine Wong, PhD | Gordon Tveito-Duncan | Jennifer Zhang | Juan Madera | Genping Liu | Mourid Nasri | Meital Raviv | Nicholas Stott, CFA | Vadim Shpak | Tomasz Kurczyk | Shayan Hazir | Na Zhou | Cornelius Choong

Apr 16 · linkedin

I'm excited that open banking is coming to Canada! The new framework, as outlined in Budget 2024, promises to encourage innovation while safeguarding data sharing by Canadians. This is a major step forward for Canada's financial services sector, and I can't wait to see the positive impact it will have. #openbanking #fintech #financialinnovation #Canadabudget2024

Ellis Odynn, MBA
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Location

Toronto, Ontario, Canada