Charmaine Oak

Charmaine Oak is an accomplished author and a prominent figure in the payments industry with over 27 years of experience. She is the author of 'The Digital Money Game' and co-author of 'Virtual Currencies – From Secrecy to Safety'. Charmaine's work involves collaborating with industry experts to shape the future of commerce. Through her Digital Money Group on Linked In and Twitter @ShiftThoughtDM, she shares insights and influences the direction of the payments landscape.

Charmaine's expertise lies in building and launching innovative banking and payment solutions based on extensive research on global payment trends. Her unique self-service portal and country Viewports enable businesses to identify and capitalize on emerging opportunities quickly. With a rich background encompassing mobile technology, banking, and payments, she has held key roles across various functions such as market development, business development, marketing, sales, product development, technical architecture, and modeling. Noteworthy contributions include her tenure at Western Union, France Telecom/Orange, Royal Bank of Scotland, LogicaCMG, Smartstream, and Wipro.

Charmaine Oak consults with clients worldwide, specializing in areas like FinTech, Mobile Financial Services, NFC, Contactless, Mobile Payments, Telecoms, Remittances, and Digital Wallets. Her entrepreneurial mindset and ability to identify growth avenues benefit a diverse clientele, including retail banks, regulatory bodies, mobile operators, merchants, and payment processors. Her educational background includes a Master's in Marketing and Management from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute Of Management Studies, and a Bachelor's in Economics and Commerce from Sydenham College Of Commerce & Economics.

As the Co-Founder, Director, and Digital Money Practice Lead at Shift Thought, Charmaine continues to drive innovation and excellence in the payments industry. Her previous roles at Western Union, Royal Bank of Scotland, Orange UK, LogicaCMG, SmartStream Technologies, and Wipro have equipped her with a deep understanding of market dynamics and customer needs. With a focus on Business Development, Market Development, and Product Development, Charmaine remains at the forefront of the ever-evolving FinTech landscape.