Blog Archives
Randy Repka
Randy Repka is the Chief Growth Officer at AIR and is based in Stowe, Vt. Since coming aboard at the beginning of 2020, Randy has planned and produced an array of regulatory Techsprints in partnership with both U.S. and non-U.S. agencies. In addition to consulting with regulators and financial firms on innovation techniques and solution- building, she published “How To Produce a TechSprint: A Manual for Regulators,” and has developed many templates and resources designed to help organizations stand up and manage their own TechSprints.
Lexi Frazier
Lexi was a founding member of the original three-person team, along with Jo Ann Barefoot and David Ehrich, that launched AIR in 2019. As Chief of Staff, she oversees numerous operational, administrative, human resources and strategic activities, as well as marketing, communications and events. As AIR was getting off the ground, Lexi led activities relating to branding, public relations, website management and content creation. She provides ongoing leadership in managing rapid growth focused on productivity, program management and communications. She plays a role in AIR’s public policy work and leads …
Shelley Anderson
A seasoned TechSprint leader, Shelley spent 16 years at the U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority before coming to AIR in January 2022. Starting in 2015, she was part of the FCA’s Regtech team, designing and leading TechSprints and developing the regulator’s approach to interacting with the global Regtech ecosystem. Specializing in innovation for vulnerable consumers, Shelley has designed programs that look at the barriers faced by digital financial services consumers, and at how both regulators and firms can design better products for inclusion.
F. Christopher Calabia
F. Christopher Calabia joins AIR with three decades of experience in financial regulation. He is enthusiastic about AIR’s mission to promote the responsible use of technology for the public good. Currently Chris is Head of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Programs at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Digital Currency Initiative. He leads research engagements with central banks and other stakeholders to advise policymakers on the potential risks and opportunities associated with the launch of this new digital asset. In that vein, Chris began his career as a central banker …
Aye Diallo
Aye Diallo joined the Alliance for Innovative Regulation in 2022 as TechSprint and Innovation Program Manager where she works with global partners to conceive of and implement TechSprints and other initiatives aimed at using digital technology to solve financial and regulatory problems. Prior to joining AIR, Aye worked as a program developer and project manager leading efforts to create a more equitable startup community through Gender Equality in Tech (GET) Cities Chicago. She then worked in D.C. at a public relations firm, using economic analysis …
Elise Donahue
Elise joined AIR as the Finance & Operations Manager in early 2023. She supports and manages day-to-day financial and administrative activities, including organizational and project budgets, AIR’s operational policies, and internal controls. Prior to joining AIR, Elise held business management and administrative positions at growing firms in the Boston area for over six years, primarily in the financial services sector. She worked most recently as the business operations manager at Crowninshield Financial Research in Brookline, and before that at Cabot Investment Technology …
Mariama Jalloh
Mariama joined AIR in April 2023 and works with a diverse group of partner organizations and other stakeholders to develop, launch and facilitate TechSprints and other innovation-focused programs. Throughout her career, she has successfully delivered advisory services to financial services clients, specializing in business transformation, program management, system implementations and process refinement. A former Director in KPMG’s Advisory Group, Mariama provided expert advice to Fortune 500 companies on business integration and financial models …
Danae Kelly
Danae joined the team as Executive Assistant in February 2023. In her primary role, she supports CEO Jo Ann Barefoot and Executive Director David Ehrich with scheduling, travel planning and logistics, and provides additional administrative support. Danae came to AIR with a diverse career background in account and operations management, logistics, event planning, and executive administration for both nonprofits and consulting firms. Most recently, she spent nearly a decade as an executive assistant at a growing healthcare consulting startup in the Washington …
Nitya Malladi
Nitya joined AIR in May 2023 as a Program Manager. She collaborates with diverse global partners on TechSprints focusing on the potential of data mining and AI to enhance financial inclusion. She also provides consulting and technology education services for regulators in emerging markets. Prior to joining AIR, Nitya spent eight years working in credit, payments and strategy roles at prominent Indian banks and other financial services firms. As a result of this experience, she has an in-depth understanding of the impact and market nuances resulting from new regulatory processes …
Grace Mathebula
Grace Mathebula joined AIR in October 2022 as a TechSprint Manager, based in Gauteng, South Africa. She manages TechSprints and sprint-related projects that help regulators and others innovate in the areas of financial inclusion, among other things, working with partners and the AIR team to meet program objectives. As a senior PMP-certified project manager and certified SCRUM Master, she has over 14 years of experience managing projects and programs in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and data analytics. For most of that time, she focused on credit risk process …
Joseph Schember
Joe joined AIR in November 2021 as its first Global Head of Marketing and Communications. He leads marketing activities across all channels with a strategic focus on increasing AIR’s brand awareness, expanding its reach and optimizing communications for the greatest impact. His focus areas include website management, social media marketing, email marketing, speaking appearances, podcast promotion, public relations, fundraising materials and event support. Joe has over a decade of marketing experience in the graphics and publishing sector from his previous roles …
Katie Smith
Katie, who joined AIR in 2022, leads and supports TechSprint-related initiatives and other innovation programs across the organization. She has always been passionate about mission-driven work, including protecting vulnerable customers and the environment, which are both AIR priorities. Prior to working at AIR, Katie had a long career in traditional financial services. During 15 years at American Express, she filled many leadership roles across numerous business areas, including Prepaid Cards, Customer Experience and Travel. Her most recent roles primarily focused on managing the …
Mike Thompson
Mike joined AIR as a Program Director in April 2023 with more than 11 years of prior regulatory compliance experience. He worked at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for over eight years where he led or participated in examinations of community and regional banks across the U.S., including several of the most complex banks overseen by the agency. Mike also served as an instructor at the FDIC’s compliance examination schools and provided consumer compliance training internally and to regional industry groups …