As digital payments continue to grow among preferred ways to pay, the need for identification and authentication to ensure safe and secure payments is fundamental. Cyrielle is joined by Joni Brennan, President of the Digital ID & Authentication Council of Canada (DIACC) and Ian Glazer, VP, Identity Product Management, Salesforce and Founder and President of IDPro, to discuss the improvements to digital identification in recent years as well as what additional action needs to be taken to push Canada to the next level, while keeping information secure.

The expectation of speed in the payments industry has seen a significant demand in recent months. Consumers want their money in and out of their accounts the moment they press ‘send’. Similarly, merchants need to be paid faster, complete payroll and business-related payments and purchases. To boot, every actor in the process wants to reduce the risk of fraud in their payment platforms. The PayPod host Cyrielle Chiron is joined by Brad Pragnell, Principal, 34 South 45 North and "Paymentologist" Lance Homer to analyze how the payments ecosystem in Canada has adapted to increased demand for real-time rail and the role infrastructure innovation will play in taking Canada to the next stage in payment evolution.

The COVID-19 digital environment is demonstrating the extreme importance of protecting payments and securing transactions. From individual to business, Canadians have had to shift their habits from in-person to digital, relying on online shopping, using new video platforms, like Zoom for meetings, and even receiving private advice, from health to finance, digitally. With this, we are seeing a rise in cybercrime as fraudsters are quick to take advantage of this shift -- everything from fake websites to phishing attacks to selling government cheques on the dark web. How do Canadian businesses and individuals stay protected as their whole life moves online? Host Cyrielle Chiron is joined by Alex Frappier, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Training at the CanCyber Foundation and Martin Kyle, Payments Canada’s CISO, to explore current cyberspace issues and the importance of protecting against fraudsters.

Canadians have consistently demanded more digital and modern payments options -- what changed in the last few months in the face of a global pandemic? A lot. Cyrielle Chiron of Payments Canada is joined by Tracey Black, newly appointed CEO of Payments Canada and David Chance of Fiserv and Chair of Payments Canada’s Stakeholder Advisory Council, to discuss the impact COVID-19 is having on payment trends -- where has cash gone? what are consumers doing and why do merchants need to follow the trends…and pronto.

Now in its second season, The PayPod looks to pick up right where we left off from Season 1 with new topics, new questions and new voices to debate the answers and discuss the challenges of today. Guiding our journey are the needs of Canadians, including consumers, financial institutions, businesses, start-ups, and governments. Hear Cyrielle Chiron, Head, Research and Strategic Foresight at Payments Canada and host of The PayPod, interview leading experts and respected thought leaders about the changing payments landscape, the needs of Canadians and how payments Modernization will deliver on them.

The way we pay is changing at an unprecedented rate. But what’s driving this transformation? Payments Canada's annual Consumer Pulse Survey finds younger Canadians aren’t settling for traditional payment methods. Millennials and Gen Z want easier, faster and more convenient options to meet their needs and expectations. Join our host, Justin Ferrabee, COO of Payments Canada, and guests Sue Britton, CEO of Fintech Growth Syndicate; Alvin Chan, Payments Innovation Lead, Digital & Innovation at Ravel by CF; and Rubina Ahmed-Haq, personal finance journalist, as they share their unique perspectives on today's changing consumer payment preferences, and predictions for the future.

Guests:
Sue Britton, CEO of FinTech Growth Syndicate

Alvin Chan, Payments Innovation Lead, Digital & Innovation at Ravel by CF

Rubina Ahmed-Haq, personal finance journalist

The language of payments is standardizing through the gradual adoption of the ISO 20022 payments messaging standard. Jurisdictions around the world are slowly adopting the standard for the many benefits that its rich payments data can provide. But adoption of a global payments standard is a complex challenge: To maximize the benefits and reach the industry's full potential to deliver innovative products and services, full market adoption is required. How can Canada lead the way to a future of dataful payments? Mike Sigal, founder of 20022 Labs, and Andrew Higgins, leader of IBM Payments Centre-Canada, join The PayPod host Justin Ferrabee to discuss how we can drive ISO 20022 adoption in Canada and abroad.

Canada is at a competitive disadvantage because we do not yet have the frameworks in place to support new payment experiences - some that are commonplace in other parts of the world. PayTechs of Canada is a new association focused on advocating on behalf of the burgeoning Canadian paytech industry. Host Justin Ferrabee is joined by founding members Ben Harrison, Head of Partnerships & Policy, Portag3; Laurence Cooke, Founder & CEO, NanoPay; Shirley Matthew, VP Payment and Card Product, Peoples Group; and Harinder Takhar, CEO, Paytm Labs to explore how paytechs will revolutionize the way consumers and businesses pay in Canada.

Guests:
Ben Harrison, Head of Partnerships & Policy, Portag3
Laurence Cooke, Founder & CEO, NanoPay
Shirley Matthew, VP Payment and Card Product, Peoples Group
Harinder Takhar, CEO, Paytm Labs

Justin Ferrabee is joined by Malcolm Fowler, chief product and partnership officer of Moneris; Curt Binns, executive director of the Canada region of the ATM Industry Association; and Neville Arjani, director of research at Payments Canada, to discuss the future of cash in Canada. Research has shown continued declines in cash transactions over the past few years and many countries around the globe have even shifted to an entirely digital, cash-free society. Will Canada be next to embrace this change? Listen in on a discussion about whether cash will remain king, digital currencies and the future of polymer paper currency and metal coins in Canada.

Guests:
Malcolm Fowler, chief product and partnership officer of Moneris
Curt Binns, executive director of the Canada region of the ATM Industry Association
Neville Arjani, director of research at Payments Canada

Justin Ferrabee is joined by a panel of female leaders bringing change to the payments industry. Elena Litani, director of banking and capital markets solutions, nanopay; president and founder of The Fletcher Group, Jennifer Tramontana; and Shemina Jiwani, SVP business development, AscendantFX discuss their role in the modernization of the payments industry. Being modern is about more than technology and infrastructure - it means supporting and embracing a diverse workforce, where female leaders are the norm. Hear from these leaders and listen in on an important discussions about how the payments industry is being shaped by women, the challenges and obstacles women continue to face in the industry, and the possible solutions in achieving balance in the workforce.

Guests: Elena Litani, director of banking and capital markets solutions, nanopay
Jennifer Tramontana, president and founder, The Fletcher Group
Shemina Jiwani, SVP business development, AscendantFX