About Us
AFRICA BORN
Ebony BaaS (Banking as a Service) is a South African company with registration number 2025/309841/07. It is a multi-sector financial business group focused on using new technologies to promote financial inclusion and expand business opportunities in emerging economies and the broader global market. With the release of its cloud-based marketplace multi-tenanted platform, Ebony brings a new dimension to FinTech. This one-of-a-kind technology enables us to provide multiple services such as online payments, financial transactions, processing, financial products, cross-border trading and tax collection. All accessible via a single application.
FOUNDERS
Audrey Mokhobo - Audrey is the visionary behind Ebony Women’s Empowerment Banking, known as Ebony BaaS, and a strong advocate for women’s empowerment. She is an energetic and highly skilled industry leader, dedicated to driving any business she is involved in from conception to commercial implementation and beyond, with a focus on building for humanity at the core of everything she does.
Busi Nkomonde - Busi is a skilled legal professional with over 15 years of experience in corporate governance, commercial law, and financial management. She has a proven track record in advising on complex legal matters, negotiating high-stakes transactions, and ensuring regulatory compliance. With a background in financial institutions, law firms, and development agencies, Busi excels in leadership, strategic thinking, and client relations. She is dedicated to building partnerships that drive success and address everyday challenges faced by women and children.
Lumka Bam - Lumka oversees the day-to-day operations of Ebony. Lumka has 28 years’ experience in the fields of accounting, development economics and entrepreneurship and serves on a variety of boards and committees. Lumka served her Articles of Clerkship through the Institute of Commercial and Financial Accountants of South Africa
Nick FitzGerald - Nick, founder of TALICO Technologies, a pioneer in the provision of cloud services with a strategic focus on the promotion of business growth through the combination of Innovation and application of cloud disruptive technologies. Nick’s experience spans over 30 years in the Broadcast, Media, and FinTech, a successful business leader and visionary entrepreneur, Nick launched and listed TV2U, an OTT company using TALICO’s IP, on the Australian ASX in 2016.
ZIMBABWE TEAM
Miriam N Muza - Miriam brings over 30 years of banking experience to Ebony, having held executive roles in Africa's largest banks. As head of Corporate Banking at Capital Bank, she was instrumental in developing a Microfinance Lending Model as a revival strategy for the bank. Previously, she had been instrumental in the establishment of a corporate banking regional office in Maincaland for MBCA Bank Ltd (now Nedbank Zimbabwe Ltd). Miriam was also part of a team of managers that successfully launched the Standard Chartered Bank Zimbabwe's Small Business Unit, focusing on lending to SMEs and later at the Credit Services Division of the same Bank, to manage up or out a non-performing/non-compliant lending book. Her entrepreneurial vision centres on empowering women's financial inclusion, which will be key to Ebony Zimbabwe's success.
Charles Nyemba - Charles is an experienced executive leader with a diverse background spanning retail, commercial and corporate banking, insurance, business development, and microfinance. In his role as Head of Credit and Risk at Standard Bank Group, he successfully managed a lending portfolio that exceeded $3 billion, covering 16 African countries.
Steve Wadi - Steven heads operations at Ebony Zimbabwe, bringing extensive experience from Steward Bank. His expertise includes managing banking operations, processes, and procedures, centralised payments, system administration, digital banking support, project management, treasury back office, and mobile money operations.
Barbra Gatsi - Barbra is a chartered accountant with extensive experience in financial and investment operations. She manages business strategy, financial reporting, and treasury functions, driving growth by overseeing financial performance and conducting risk assessments. Barbra has held key non-executive director roles at prominent financial institutions, including Emeritus Reinsurance, where she chaired the Audit, Risk, and Compliance Subcommittee, and contributed to the strategic direction at the Financial Securities Exchange.
BANKING TEAM
Kesh Talwar - Global Payments expert with 30+ years of hands-on experience and knowledge. Led large business units at companies like First Data, Mastercard, Ingenico, Citi and also at FinTechs for the past 7 years. Last major role was as CEO of Moven, where he worked closely with the founder and Chairman, Brett King, the futurist and global fintech guru and grew the Enterprise business.
Nabil Bader - GCC Payments Pioneer. Responsible for leading region-based initiatives across the entire GCC. Working with both Public and Private Sector stakeholders. Help shape and enable public policy that enables millions of unbanked workers to receive their paycheck on time through the establishment of Wage Protection Systems (WPS). Co-Founder and Director of Workers Bank Philippines.
Victor Olusegun Adeniji - Segun has over 38 years of financial services sector experience. His footprint encompasses multilateral development finance, investment banking and asset management at top-flight institutions including The World Bank/International Finance Corporation (IFC). He read Economics at Pembroke College, Cambridge University, where he earned BA and MA degrees in 1986 and 1990, respectively. In 2001, he was nominated as one of the 100 Global Leaders for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum.
Liaqat Fayyaz - Liaqat is an accomplished project and product director with over 25 years of award-winning software development experience. Specialising in managing complex, multi-phase, high-profile and mission-critical projects in broadcast, IPTV, TV Everywhere/OTT. Mr. Fayyaz has a proven track record of successfully delivering high-profile projects to the industry. He has extensive experience of working in the digital distribution environment and emerging technologies
STRATEGY TEAM
Dan Sansom - Dan is a PRINCE2 qualified, AGILE and SCRUM experienced digital lead with many years dedicated to project management and production. He has worked as an independent digital consultant, worked in-house at a digital agency, and led digital delivery at a progressive publicly owned OTT company, which has given him the best possible insight into the digital arena on a large scale. His extensive experience covers many varying industries such as OTT, hospitality, charity, gaming, education, the arts, sports, fashion and retail.
Sebastian Savolainen - Sebastian Savolainen is a Swiss-born Finn with a multicultural background who graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the Royal Polytechnical School of Stockholm and a Master of Science from Aalto University in Helsinki. With over a decade of experience in the investment and financial industries, he has become a seasoned executive with a wealth of expertise in the blockchain and fintech sector.
Tacis Gavoyannis - Tacis brings a wealth of experience managing P&L of £148 million and teams of 1200 people in 73 countries. A strategic consultant in start-up, scale-up, SME and corporate environments with turnaround and growth experience, particularly in emerging markets, new technologies and growth. Tacis specialises in SME acceleration through mentoring, heading key projects in the UK, the Netherlands, Singapore and China. He also sits on Boards in an advisory position in the UK, Portugal, and Singapore.
Peter Matthews - Founding partner and Executive Creative Director of Matthews & Charter Ogilvy Advertising - rated in the top three most creative agencies in South Africa by Financial Mail. Awarded ‘Agency of the Year’ by Reader’s Digest. Peter went into producing and Directing Commercials, Music Videos and Feature films. Peter is in an advanced stage of development at Film and Animation Studios in KZN, South Africa. Partnered with the ex-Chairman and CEO of the Pinewood Studios Group in the UK, Ivan Dunleavy.
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Shelley Keir - Shelley has been with TALICO since 2015 as a Key Account Manager. Previously, she spent over 12 years at one of the top 5 high street banks, honing her skills in connecting with customers and addressing their needs. This expertise is crucial in her role at TALICO, where she manages client relationships from project introduction to launch and aftercare. Additionally, Shelley has experience in the security sector and served as a training advisor on the BAFTA-nominated film Kajaki.
Tara Peaches Enahoro - As an attorney, she heads all the commercial agreements at the company. At her private practice, TPC Enahoro Law Group, Tara’s full-service practice specialises in corporate law, business/non-profit formation and organisation, commercial agreement drafting and negotiating, intellectual property advising and registration, and business strategy. She graduated from the University of Buckingham, England, with a first-class Juris Doctorate and a distinction in Commercial and International Law LLM.
Briant Biggs - Briant Biggs is the Founder and CEO of Unanimous Games (UG), he is the Head of Mobile Strategies of RocNation and Former Founder and CEO of Swagger Wireless. Since its founding in 2008, Roc Nation has grown into the world’s preeminent entertainment company. Working in every aspect of modern entertainment—with recording artists and producers, songwriters and more. Briant is responsible for the culture, vision and strategies of the business.
David Adams - David specialises in corporate and financial management and is a qualified accountant and chartered secretary with over 30 years of commercial experience in executive leadership roles in the food service, technology and bio-technology sectors. He has experience within start-up and scale-up organisations, strategic management, corporate planning, business development, technology and governance, implementation and change management at CEO, CFO, COO and board level
TEAM EXPERIENCE
At Ebony, we are dedicated to delivering an unwavering commitment, giving nothing less than 100%. Our noble mission centres on bridging the gender gap in financial access, ensuring that everyone has a fair opportunity to thrive. Utilising advanced investment management strategies and cutting-edge technology, we empower businesses to flourish, enabling them to grow and diversify their portfolio funds effectively.
BRANDS WE WORKED WITH
Our success is based on a deep understanding of the market landscape, supported by a dynamic team that is at the forefront of our innovative offerings. As our visionary CEO states, "True equality will emerge from a proactive transformation of banking and financial services practices." Together, we are not only changing the narrative but also paving the way for a more equitable financial future.
PROJECTS
Project Steering Committee - Ebony's project steering committee is responsible for guiding and overseeing the deployment of projects and related business activities. Their role is to ensure alignment with the organisation's goals and strategic direction. The committee provides high-level guidance, approves project plans and budgets, and manages risks. Typically, the committee includes senior executives, project managers, sponsors, and other key stakeholders from both Ebony and the client.
PARTNERS
We understand that collaboration and engagement with our suppliers is critical to achieve our sustainability ambitions, so we are working to identify good practice, share knowledge and learn from each other wherever possible. This is not only to support our own progress, but to share knowledge and identify how we can work together and learn from each other.
CSR (CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY)
Women in Prison is an Ebony “trust” that supports women affected by the criminal justice system and advocates to end the harm caused by imprisonment to women, their families, and communities. We collaborate within the community and in prisons to assist women and girls facing structural inequalities through programs aimed at challenging oppressive systems. We celebrate the strength and diversity of women while challenging privilege and oppression. Our commitment includes educating and mentoring women in prison, helping them transition back into society through safe halfway houses, and assisting them in finding work and educational opportunities.