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, Portag3Laurence Cooke, Founder & CEO, NanoPayShirley Matthew, VP Payment and Card Product, Peoples GroupHarinder 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 MonerisCurt Binns, executive director of the Canada region of the ATM Industry AssociationNeville 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, nanopayJennifer Tramontana, president and founder, The Fletcher GroupShemina Jiwani, SVP business development, AscendantFX

Justin is joined by Shannon Lee Simmons, author, financial planner and founder of The New School of Finance; freelance journalist and author Ceri Marsh; and, David Cravit, vice president, ZoomerLive and ZoomerU to discuss millennial, generation X and baby boomer’s payments needs. Ultimately, Canadians want more choice for payment options that are safe, secure, efficient and reliable. As each of the respective generations go through various life stages, respective needs and wants evolve – in some unexpected ways as well. Host:Justin Ferrabee, COO Payments Canada As Chief Operating Officer, Justin is responsible for the organization’s information technology and corporate functions, including operationalizing Payments Canada’s vision and strategic plan for payments in Canada. Read more about Justin at payments.ca.Guests:Shannon Lee Simmons, author, financial planner and founder The New School of Finance (millennial)Ceri Marsh, freelance journalist and author (generation X)David Cravit, vice president, ZoomerLive and ZoomerU (baby boomer)

Justin is joined by Dan Kelly, President & CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), and Siena Dixon, Head of Marketing and Communications of Ollie Quinn, to discuss small and medium-sized businesses’ payments needs. The payments landscape continues to evolve, making it more important than ever for businesses to keep pace. However, a recent Leger survey conducted by Payments Canada noted that Canadian businesses still use credit cards, cash and cheques as top payment methods. The trio discusses how we must continue to modernize the ecosystem to help Canadian businesses grow, keep customers, clients and stakeholders happy as well as keep pace with other countries that have already made friction-free payment options a top priority.Host:Justin Ferrabee, COO Payments Canada As Chief Operating Officer, Justin is responsible for the organization’s information technology and corporate functions, including operationalizing Payments Canada’s vision and strategic plan for payments in Canada. Read more about Justin at payments.ca.Guests:Dan Kelly, President & CEO, Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)Siena Dixon, Head of Marketing and Communications, Ollie Quinn

Welcome to The PayPod podcast, a multi-episode series of everything to do with Canada’s ambitious payments modernization mission. In this inaugural episode, Justin Ferrabee and Jan Pilbauer of Payments Canada are joined by Lauren Fleming, a financial services advisor from Ernst & Young who recently completed a study for Payments Canada that, among other insights, quantified that the manual matching of payments to invoices cost businesses billions of dollars a year. Lauren explains how, according to the study, a good portion of between $3 and $6 billion dollars annually, currently invested in reconciling account receivables and payables, could be eliminated, ushering in a new wave of service and product innovation among fintech and paytech companies.