Joana brings two decades of experience in risk, finance, and fintech innovation. As LATAM Head of Merchant Risk at PayU, she oversees merchant onboarding, compliance operations, and fraud prevention across one of the world’s most dynamic regions. Her leadership has delivered measurable impact, cutting response times in half through automation, redesigning anti-fraud guarantee models, and embedding data-driven decision-making into PayU’s regional strategy.

Joana held senior roles at Citi, Scotiabank, and private debt funds, where she built credit risk models, managed billion-dollar portfolios, and guided organizations through volatile market cycles. With an MBA and engineering background, she blends analytical rigor with practical execution, helping platforms expand securely while navigating complex AML/KYC frameworks.

She'll share hard-won insights from the front lines of Latin America’s fintech ecosystem, where regulatory pressures, fast-moving fraud, and the push for financial inclusion collide. Expect a candid perspective on how to manage growth without compromising trust.